Category: Latest News

What is the impact of virulent bacteriophages on vibrio cholerae infection and their use in preventing cholera?

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy

During Florence Targeting Antibiotic Resistance congress, Dr Minmin Yen will give a presentation about the impact of virulent bacteriophages on vibrio cholerae infection and their use in preventing cholera.

Minmin Yen is working in microbiology at Tufts University, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences. In 2016, she was awarded for her short oral presentation during Paris Phage Therapy Congress regarding this strategic topic.

Minmin Yen is completing her thesis research in the laboratory of Andrew Camilli, where she is investigating the population dynamics between Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, and virulent bacteriophages. Her current work shows that a bacteriophage cocktail is successful in preventing cholera disease in two animal models when administered up to 24 hours prior to V. cholerae infection. Following her graduation, Minmin will continue her bacteriophage cocktail work in the Camilli Lab as well as pursue a Master’s in Public Health at Boston University. In the future, she hopes to combine her background in biological engineering and microbiology to reduce health inequities around the world.

Tuberculosis and antibiotic resistance: researchers in Lille invent a new prototype drug

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy

Lille researchers (Inserm, University of Lille, Pasteur Institute of Lille, CNRS) * invented a prototype drug (SMARt-420 **) capable of suppressing resistance to ethionamide, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis. This work is published in the journal Science *** dated March 17, 2017 and opens a new way in the fight against resistance to antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance, a major global health issue Antibiotics are universally regarded as one of the greatest medical advances of the twentieth century. They have transformed human health by allowing the cure of previously severe or life-threatening infections. They are also essential for patients particularly vulnerable to infections such as those with certain cancers or diabetes, persons receiving organ transplants, or undergoing surgical procedures.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which is transmitted by air and mainly affects the lungs. The treatment of tuberculosis combines several antibiotics over a period of six months. The continuing increase in the number of strains of antibiotic-resistant Mtb is particularly worrying. In 2016, of the 10 million new cases of tuberculosis reported worldwide, 500,000 were considered multiresistant to antibiotics, causing the death toll of one in every two patients.

Fighting tuberculosis by fighting resistance to existing antibiotics Resistance means that the antibacterial effect of an antibiotic no longer manifests itself. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, resistance to antibiotics is caused by genetic mutations often considered to be difficult to reverse.
The study of researchers in Lille shows that it is possible to constrain the tuberculous bacillus resistant to the antibiotic ethionamide to return to a state of complete sensitivity.
Like many antituberculosis drugs, ethionamide is a pro-antibiotic. These drugs, inactive as such, must be activated inside the bacteria to kill it. Resistance to pro-antibiotic ethionamide occurs when genetic mutations alter this mechanism of bioactivation.

Ref: Reversion of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by spiroisoxazoline SMARt-420

*Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille – Docteur Camille LOCHT, et le laboratoire  « médicaments et molécules pour agir sur les systèmes vivants » – Professeur Benoît DEPREZ
** Small Molecule Aborting Resistance
*** “Reversion of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by spiroisoxazoline SMARt-420”
 

Global pharmaceutical industry calls on governments to work with them to beat the rising threat of drug resistance

Posted on by Targeting Phage Therapy

More than 80 leading international pharmaceutical, generics, diagnostics and biotechnology companies, as well as key industry bodies, have come together to call on governments and industry to work in parallel in taking comprehensive action against drug-resistant infections – socalled ‘superbugs’ – with a joint declaration launched today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The statement sets out for the first time how governments and industry need to work together to support sustained investment in the new products needed to beat the challenges of rising drug resistance.

During Florence 2017 Congress which will be held next October, the scientific committee will highlight the recent advances, mechanistic and strategies to develop new tools for treatment of many infectious diseases. Phage Therapy 2017 will provide a unique and cutting edge conference to discuss strategies and challenges of all phagotherapy related fields. 

Stakeholders from the academic, regulatory and industrial sectors will be gathered to discuss many hot topics related to this hot topic.

For more information about the calls, please click here.