Bacteriophage Preparations for C. perfringens Lysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing antibiotic resistance among bacteria in poultry and livestock poses a significant challenge, necessitating effective, safe, and environmentally friendly alternatives to antibiotics for reducing morbidity and mortality caused by pathogens like C. perfringens in chickens.

Innovation Solution

Development of purified bacteriophage preparations comprising multiple C. perfringens-specific bacteriophages with lytic activity against various strains, which are administered to reduce chicken mortality and morbidity, and a method for selecting suitable host strains for bacteriophage propagation to produce effective bacteriophage cocktails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections in poultry and livestock, then morbidity and mortality are reduced, but antibiotic resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in reducing morbidity and mortalityVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) to convert the harmful effect of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into a beneficial outcome. The phages specifically target and lyse C. perfringens bacteria, transforming the resistance problem into a solution where bacterial susceptibility to phage infection is exploited to eliminate the pathogen without promoting resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the chemical mechanism of antibiotics with a biological mechanism of bacteriophages. Instead of using chemical agents that can induce resistance, the invention employs viral particles that naturally infect and destroy bacteria through a different mechanism (injection of genetic material and replication within host cells), thereby replacing the antibiotic system with a phage-based system that does not promote resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a single bacteriophage is used to target C. perfringens, then specificity is maintained, but effectiveness against multiple strains is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelytic activity against C. perfringens strainsVSAvoidbreadth of strain coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple bacteriophages into a single cocktail formulation. By combining four or more different C. perfringens-specific bacteriophages, each with lytic activity against at least five different strains, the invention creates a synergistic preparation that maintains individual phage specificity while achieving broad-spectrum coverage against diverse bacterial strains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal bacteriophage cocktail that can function against multiple C. perfringens strains simultaneously. Each phage in the cocktail contributes to the overall effectiveness, and the combination provides multi-functionality where a single preparation can address various strain variations, making the treatment broadly applicable across different infection scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bacteriophage preparations demonstrate high specificity and effectiveness in lysing C. perfringens strains, significantly reducing mortality and morbidity in chickens, while minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance and environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

purified bacteriophage preparations that effectively lyse a plurality of C. perfringens strains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLytic cycle:

Implementation Method 2

each bacteriophage has lytic activity against at least five C. perfringens strains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViral lysis:

Data Source

PatentUS9404089B2Bacteriophage preparations and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2016.08.02 ZOETIS SERVICES LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are purified bacteriophage preparations that effectively lyse a plurality of C. perfringens strains. In one embodiment, a purified bacteriophage preparation includes four or more C. perfringens-specific bacteriophage, wherein each bacteriophage has lytic activity against at least five Clostridium species strains. In another embodiment, the purified bacteriophage preparation includes five or more C. perfringens-specific bacteriophage.