Bacteriophages to control AMR Salmonella in poultry industries

AMR Salmonella as been detected in poultry facilities and our solution is based in a mix of bacteriophages to control several strain of Salmonella, applying the mix through the drinking water and spraying it on cattery bed. Results shows significant reduction in Salmonella population and clean product at slaughterhouse.

Benjamin Patricio Araneda Herrera. Biochemist. PhD. Biotechnology. CEO

We control AMR Salmonella without antibiotics. Helping to avoid antibiotics use, then reducing the probability of AMR bacteria generation. Each year worldwide, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420 000 deaths. 30% of foodborne deaths occur among children under 5 years of age. WHO estimated that 33 million years of healthy lives are lost due to eating unsafe food globally each year, and this number is likely an underestimation (https://www.who.int/activities...). The AMR bacteria in poultry industry is every year more relevant problem, the market is asking for products and productions without antibiotics, but at the same time the AMR bacteria force the use of antibiotics mixes to control it, the problem is big !. Our technology include a step of sequencing of genome of each bacteriophage that we select, that information allows us to identify, characterizes, and analyzes that sequences to detect AMR genes with some potential to transfer resistance to the bacteria (when the bacteriophages is not lytic, for example). If we contrast the bacteria genome sequences and the bacteriophages sequences we can have enough information to apply algorithms, or IA, or searching on gene-bank database to understand possible mechanism of resistance transfer.

The solution allows to avoid the antibiotics use in the poultry productions activities. Allows to decrease the possibility of AMR bacteria generation, and at the same time allow to control AMR bacteria when are present in the field. We did several pilot test and then we start to treat several millions of chickens per months helping to remain the chickens Salmonella negative.

Our technology provide a strategy to control AMR bacteria in the field, because we developed a methodology to apply bacteriophages in thousands of chickens at the same time, and remain it Salmonella negative until the slaughterhouse. That procedure could be used for all the industry in the world.

The technology first can help the poultry industry, but ultimately is a benefit for all the populations because we have the possibility to produce safe food, safe protein. 

On the other hand if we have the possibility to sequencing bacteria and bacteriophages and study both sequences and analyze that information we can discover potential ways of resistance generation in the bacteria and how it can be transferred to others bacteria. With that information understand how can we management the poultry or livestock production to decrease the AMR production for the future.

We would like to start commercial activities in big poultry producers countries, like Brasil Mexico, United States, India, China, etc. And we are studying the ways ti replicate the strategy in other animals productions, like aquaculture (salmon, shrimps, etc), porks, and pets included !.

We are always monitoring the Salmonella count in the breeding shed, and positive or negative chickens frequency at slaughterhouse. 

The main barrier is the time to comply the procedure to comply the necessary  regulation to have registered product ready to commercialize it or have the permission to establish a local laboratory or facilities to produce locally, then registered and sell the bacteriophages mixes.

This could be an opportunity to make visible our solution, and maybe that help to generate a fast track for regulations and permissions. On the other hand if we have the price we can dedicate resources to study sequences and generate validatable information about AMR generation and transfer, and help us to understand natural process and manipulate it or avoid it.

Poultry industry coulb be a great partner to test end penetrate the market. A established laboratory in that area could help to get registered product as well.