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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301212
Title: Finding alternatives to antibiotics

Author
item Allen, Heather
item TRACHSEL, JULIAN - Iowa State University
item Looft, Torey
item Casey, Thomas

Submitted to: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2014
Publication Date: 6/21/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59368
Citation: Allen, H.K., Trachsel, J., Looft, T.P., Casey, T. 2014. Finding alternatives to antibiotics. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Available: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12468/abstract.

Interpretive Summary: The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens requires new treatments. Cost-effective alternatives to antibiotics are urgently needed in both agriculture and human medicine. Products for disease prevention are different than products for disease treatment, and examples of both are discussed here. Changing the gut microbial community, via feed additives or fecal transplants, could be a promising way to prevent certain diseases. Non-antibiotic approaches for treating bacterial diseases include phage therapy, phage lysins, bacteriocins, and predatory bacteria. Some of these approaches are more powerful when combined with antibiotics, which improves the ability to kill bacteria and decreases the likelihood of developing antibiotic resistance. Because bacteria can evolve resistance to almost any therapeutic, it is important to use both antibiotics and their alternatives only when necessary. Exploring effective antibiotic alternatives will help to improve health and food safety.

Technical Abstract: The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens requires new treatments. The availability of new antibiotics has severely declined, and so alternatives to antibiotics need to be considered in both animal agriculture and human medicine. Products for disease prevention are different than products for disease treatment, and examples of both are discussed here. Modulating the gut microbial community, either via feed additives or fecal transplants, could be a promising way to prevent certain diseases. For disease treatment, non-antibiotic approaches include phage therapy, phage lysins, bacteriocins, and predatory bacteria. Interestingly, several of these methods augment antibiotic efficacy by improving bacterial killing and decreasing resistance selection. Because bacteria can ultimately evolve resistance to almost any therapeutic, it is important to continue to use both antibiotics and their alternatives judiciously.