AB Agri and Intralytix investigating the use of bacteriophages as a natural alternative to antibiotics for animal health applications
Both companies believe there is potential to use the abundant probiotic microorganisms to intensify natural processes, thereby tackling bacteria and boosting gut health without the need for a broad-spectrum antibiotic medication.
The new partnership follows AB Agri’s collaborative research project with the University of Leicester earlier this year, which centered around the delivery of bacteriophages in feed for broiler chickens. The study demonstrated a low dose of bacteriophages reduced targeted pathogenic bacteria levels in chickens to below detection limits; a result that could have far-reaching impact in poultry production and food hygiene. This new partnership between AB Agri and Intralytix is initially investigating one animal health pathogen, with the potential to move on to other targets and indications.
AB Agri’s Innovation Director, Dr. Nell Masey O’Neill said “We need to produce our food in a more sustainable way to meet growing demand and higher standards and are very excited about the opportunities ahead. We are at the development stage with the team at Intralytix, researching the efficacy and safety of bacteriophages in animal nutrition. By using naturally occurring bacteriophages we would be building on the existing mode of action in the gut, putting back what should already be present.”
Intralytix Founder and CEO, Dr. Alexander Sulakvelidze, said: “Bacteriophages have been around for three billion years and are the most ubiquitous organisms on earth. They are the natural enemies of bacteria and can very effectively kill targeted specific bacteria without affecting anything else, ensuring an unprecedented level of safety for an antimicrobial.”
Intralytix, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, USA. The Company is focused on using its core bacteriophage technology platform for developing and commercializing innovative bacteriophage-based products for food safety, animal health, human therapeutics, oral care, cosmetic, and dietary supplements/probiotics applications.
AB Agri manufactures animal feed, nutrition- and technology-based products and offers data services for the agri-food industry. It operates all along the food industry supply chain. It produces and supplies compound animal feed, feed enzymes, specialized feed ingredients, and a range of value-added services to farmers, feed and food manufacturers, processors, and retailers.
