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Zawartość zarchiwizowana w dniu 2022-12-23

Elaboration of a new strategy for control of the pathogens related to Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile based on application of the specific bacteriophages.

Cel

Duration of the project: 36 months

To minimize the risk of newly emerging and re-emerging drug-resistant human gastro-intestinal infection caused by C. perfringens and C. difficile it is planned:
-To study the circulation of C. perfringens and C. difficile in different poultry farms and human clinics.
-To built up a collection of strains of C. perfringens and C. difficile derived from different sources, such as chicken carcasses, water, cages, slaughter and processing facilities, hospital environment and humans (patients).
-To isolate up to 20 new phage clones specific for the species of C. perfringens and C. difficile.
-To screen a new phage collection of against about 200 strains of C. perfringens and C. difficile obtained from the poultry farms and hospitals in Georgia, Ukraine, Belgium and UK.
-To select up to 10 best candidate phages of C. perfringens and C. difficile on the basis of their biological features and the genetic character of their host-phage interaction.
-To study bacteriophage - macro-organism interactions on the animal and human cell models.
-To investigate ability to transduce genes of at least 5 candidate phages (2-3 clones related to each species) with the purpose of avoiding possible spread of drug-resistance and tox genes.
-To elaborate a new inexpensive and efficient strategy based on the application of specific bacteriophage(s) for prevention of spread of C. perfringens and C. difficile infections. Among humans obtained through the food chain and/or from the clinical environment.
-To perform field experiments with phage "cocktails" comprising phage environmental treatment of poultry farm;

The project proposes to evaluate the potential of bacteriophages as a new strategy for combating the spread and survival of C. perfringens and C. difficile in animal husbandry facilities and processing units and in the clinical situation. Due to their strict specificity, efficient anti-microbial action, genetic plasticity and the relative low cost of their production, phages can be considered as an alternative to antibiotics and disinfectants commonly applied for the cleansing of farm and hospital environments. This approach is aimed at increasing sanitation and the ecological purity of production especially in agricultural units. The results obtained through in vitro model studies as well as those that will be obtained in the poultry farms will allow realistic recommendations for further development of the phage preparations and their application in different environments.

Joint efforts of the INTAS and NIS scientists representing different fields of science, such as microbiologists, molecular biologists, immunologists and veterinarians, having complementary experience gives the project a strong interdisciplinary grounding.

The project consists of 9 tasks and 31 sub-tasks. Completion of the project tasks will lead to the following achievements:
This will be the first systematic study of the incidence of Clostridium perfringens in poultry and the poultry farm environment. Some peculiarities may be uncovered due to the operation of non-standard husbandry conditions.

The potential for chickens to act as carriers of Clostridium perfringens have never been studied in Georgia before. The study may reveal new PFGE profiles or other new strains.
In spite of the long history of phage research in Georgia, a phage specific to Clostridium difficile has never been isolated. The present project is the very first trial to isolate new phage types for the construction of a new prophylactic bacteriophage cocktail directed towards the environmental treatment of contaminated surfaces in farms and clinics.

It is anticipated that we will obtain full biological and genetic characterization of at least two new Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. This achievement will enrich the existing knowledge on virulent phages specific against Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. These phages will be placed into the ATCC or similar collections and will be available for further scientific research purposes.

The project will contribute to Fundamental Sciences as well as to practical Poultry Farming and Food Science. Theoretical knowledge leading to elaboration of a new phage preparation against C. difficile will be obtained which will be then used for improvement of Human Health.

Where appropriate, international patents will be filed to protect the groups' IPR.

Reports will be sent to INTAS at the end of each 12 months period.
The results will be disseminated through scientific and popular articles, participation in seminars, symposia and international conferences. (Prior to publication and public presentation of the results the data will be carefully checked for potential conflicts with the ability to patent.)

Zaproszenie do składania wniosków

Data not available

System finansowania

NoE - Network of Excellence

Koordynator

UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON
Wkład UE
Brak danych
Adres
LEWES ROAD
BRIGHTON
Zjednoczone Królestwo

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Koszt całkowity
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Uczestnicy (4)