Combatting Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infection in Wounds with Amoeba Phage Dressings
Abstract
This proposed project addresses Fiscal Year 2017 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Topic Area: Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem, and if left unaddressed, will cause millions of otherwise preventable deaths and cost millions of dollars. The problem is alarming since there is little economic incentive for companies to develop new antibiotics until bacteria have developed resistance to current antibiotics, which would compete with the new antibiotic. Overuse of antibiotics has also contributed to bacteria developing resistance. As more and more bacterial infections become resistant to antibiotics, the risk of acquiring an infection that is untreatable by antibiotics, a multidrug-resistant (MDR) infection, will continue to grow. Simple cuts and wounds could become life- or limb-threatening infections. Throughout the U.S., addressing antibiotic drug resistance is a top priority as each year antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect nearly two million people and more than 23,000 people die each year from those infections. Innovations that treat or prevent infection, kill MDR bacteria -- all while avoiding contributing to antibiotic resistance -- are needed. We propose testing a novel antimicrobial wound dressing that may be effective against even MDR bacteria. This novel antimicrobial dressing takes advantage of the natural predator-prey relationship between amoebae and bacteria. Willaertia magna c2c Maky, a single-celled amoeba that is harmless to humans but deadly to bacteria, will be placed into a mouse wound infected with MDR bacteria. Amoeba function similar to human immune cells that surround, engulf, and subsequently destroy harmful bacteria. Different concentrations of amoeba will be used to treat the infected wound to determine if the concentration of amoeba is important to the effectiveness. Amoeba have been shown to break down bacterial biofilms, which are clusters of bacteria enmeshed in slime that protect and prevent immune cells and antibiotics from reaching and killing the bacteria. Therefore, the amoeba may also help to make antibiotics that a patient is currently taking more effective. An aspect of the proposal also aims to improve the robustness, shelf-life, and ease-of-use of a final amoeba dressing by finding a freeze-dried version of the amoeba that would be effective upon re-hydration. This would allow the dressing to remain un-refrigerated and in a moisture-proof bag either within a hospital or in the field, making the treatment much more applicable for military and emergency/paramedic use. If this proposal is successful, the concept of using natural predators of bacteria as antimicrobials will gain necessary momentum to move forward toward regulatory clearance or approval for subsequent human clinical use. Ultimately, an effective response to antibiotic-resistant bacteria will require options that present alternatives to antibiotics; we believe this proposal presents one such alternative.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1810290
Entities
People
- Justin T Baker
Organizations
- United States Army