Scientists create antimicrobials that kill disease causing pathogens.

Other options are food supplements and probiotics, bacteriocins, molecules produced by cells of the immune system, phages and phytonutrients to fight animal diseases.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have developed a new method to create antimicrobials that kill disease-causing pathogens, which in turn, can be used as an alternative to antibiotics.

Growing concerns about antibiotic resistance to certain strains of bacteria and increasing restrictions on the use of antibiotics in animals has accelerated the need to find alternatives. Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are working to provide new strategies for enhancing production and improving overall animal health. The research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security.

Viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages (phages), produce enzymes that can be used to kill pathogens. These novel enzymes have been shown to be effective in killing pathogens like streptococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Collaborating with industry, university and federal scientists, Donovan demonstrated that these particular enzymes have molecular domains that can be isolated and will act independently of their protein surroundings. They kill bacteria by eating or chewing up the walls of cells. The enzymes can be manipulated to create an antimicrobial that targets and kills only specific pathogens, which greatly reduces the probability that non-targeted bacteria will develop resistance.

“These enzymes—known as ‘endolysins’—have molecular domains that can be isolated and will act independently of their protein surroundings," Donovan said. “They can be shuffled like cars in a train, resulting in an antimicrobial that targets just the pathogens of interest, significantly reducing the odds that non-targeted bacteria will develop resistance."

In other research, compounds proven to be effective in killing foodborne bacteria may hold potential for treating piglets and calves.

In other research, ARS scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of using food supplements and probiotics, molecules produced by cells of the immune system, and phytonutrients to fight poultry diseases like coccidiosis. They are now applying similar technology to develop alternatives to treat enteric (intestinal) bacterial infections caused by Clostridium, a pathogen associated with necrotic enteritis in poultry.

Source: http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2012/06/scientists-create-antimicrobials-that-kill-diseas.aspx

Aporte de: Sebastián Pizarro Cortés