Technology Description:

A team of ARS and Russian researchers have developed a method to control bacteria, such as Campylobacter, colonization in poultry using novel non-pathogenic organisms, which produce peptides that reduce levels of bacteria, especially Campylobacter levels in the bird intestine. These peptides were tested in small trials. Large-scale field trials will be required for commercial applications. The invention routinely reduces Campylobacter numbers by one-million fold when administered during animal production. Currently, no similar product exists. Companies using the invention will need to go through the Food and Drug Administration approval process.

Foodborne bacterial infections are responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses in the United States and worldwide. The Center for Disease Control notes that Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illnesses in humans in the United States. Poultry has been recognized as the primary vehicle for its transmission to humans. Controlling the bacteria in poultry would reduce public exposure and the incidence of human illnesses from Campylobacter.

This technology will be important for both veterinary and medical fields. The invention is an alternative to antibiotics.

Reference:

Please refer to patent applications S.N. 10/644,927 (Docket #0135.03) and S.N. 10/426,688 (Docket #0175.02), "Bacteriocins and Novel Bacterial Strains," which was filed on May 1, 2003. Foreign rights are available.

Inventors:

Norman J. Stern Poultry Microbiological Safety Research Athens, GA  30605-2720 (706) 546-3516 / Fax: (706) 546-3772 nstern@saa.ars.usda.gov	E. Arsenievich Svetoch State Research Center for Applied Microbiology Obolensk, Russia
Nickolay N. Urakov, Boris V. Eruslanov, Larisa I. Volodina, Yuri N. Kovalev, Tamara Y. Kudryavtseva, Vladimir V. Perelygin, Victor D. Pokhilenko, Vladimir P. Levchuk, Valery N. Borzenkov, Olga E. Svetoch, Eugeni V. Mitsevich, Irina P. Mitsevich (Same as second inventor)