Campylobacter Bacteriophages for Non-Antibiotic Pathogen Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is an urgent need for novel, safe, and effective intervention strategies to reduce the risk of foodborne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria, particularly Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. upsaliensis, due to their increasing incidence and antimicrobial resistance, which current regulations and treatments have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

Development of novel bacteriophages, such as CJLB-4, CJLB-5, CJLB-7, CJLB-10, CJLB-12, CJLB-13, CJLB-14, and CJLB-15, with lytic specificity for Campylobacter species, to control and eliminate bacterial contamination in food products, environments, and animal/human gut colonization, and to modulate gastrointestinal resilience against these pathogens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antimicrobial treatments and current regulations are used to control Campylobacter bacteria, then some level of bacterial control is achieved, but antimicrobial resistance increases and effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of Campylobacter controlVSAvoidantimicrobial resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the principle of converting harm into benefit by using bacteriophages - viruses that naturally infect and kill bacteria - to combat Campylobacter. Instead of relying on conventional antimicrobials that face resistance issues, the invention harnesses the natural predatory relationship between phages and bacteria. The phages specifically target Campylobacter species (C. jejuni, C. coli, C. upsaliensis) through lytic infection, converting the harmful bacterial presence into a beneficial control mechanism that actually reduces bacterial populations without contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

Inventive Principle:

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

2Object-affected harmful factors

If broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents are used to eliminate Campylobacter, then bacterial contamination is reduced, but beneficial microflora are also harmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial contaminationVSAvoidmicroflora integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by utilizing the high specificity of bacteriophages for their bacterial hosts. Each phage preparation targets specific Campylobacter species through receptor-mediated attachment and lytic infection, affecting only the harmful bacteria while leaving beneficial microflora untouched. This localized action at the molecular and cellular level ensures that antimicrobial pressure is applied only where needed - on Campylobacter cells - preserving the overall stability and composition of the beneficial gut microflora community.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If current food safety regulations and treatments are applied, then some Campylobacter control is achieved, but foodborne illness risk remains high due to increasing incidence and resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoodborne illness riskVSAvoidadequacy of current regulations and treatments

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a fundamentally new mechanism - bacteriophage therapy - to replace or supplement conventional antimicrobial treatments in food safety protocols. The phages work through a different biological parameter (viral lysis rather than chemical inhibition), enabling Campylobacter control in situations where traditional antimicrobials fail due to resistance. This parameter change restores reliability to food safety regulations by providing an effective control mechanism that works independently of antimicrobial resistance status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 bacteriophages effectively reduce Campylobacter colonization and infection risk by lysing targeted bacteria, providing a non-antibiotic intervention method that enhances food safety, environmental decontamination, and gut health, while maintaining beneficial microflora integrity.

Implementation Method 1

Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that attach to their specific hosts and kill them by internal replication and bacterial lysis involving a complex lytic cycle involving several structural and regulatory genes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLytic cycle:

Implementation Method 2

bacterial cells are broken open (lysed) and destroyed after immediate replication of the virion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBacterial lysis:

Data Source

PatentUS12419313B2<i>Campylobacter </i>bacteriophages and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 INTRALYTIX INC

AI summary

The present invention is directed to isolated bacteriophages having specificity and lytic activity against strains of Campylobacter species, methods of using the bacteriophages, progeny and derivatives derived therefrom, to control the growth of Campylobacter species in various settings (e.g., food safety, sanitation, modulating microbiome, prebiotics, probiotics).