Novel antimicrobial compounds from microbial sources

Authors: Bischoff, Kenneth; Leathers, Timothy; Price, Neil; Skory, Christopher - Chris; Liu, Siqing; Donovan, David; Rich, Joseph

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2016
Publication Date: 12/16/2016
Citation: Bischoff, K.M., Leathers, T.D., Price, N.P., Skory, C.D., Liu, S., Donovan, D.M., Rich, J.O. 2016. Novel antimicrobial compounds from microbial sources [abstract]. Alternative to Antibiotics.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The use of antibiotics for agricultural and industrial applications is a controversial practice. In food animal production, antibiotics are widely administered through medicated feed to treat subclinical infections, as well as to prevent the spread of disease throughout the herd or flock. Antibiotics are broadly applied in apple and pear orchards to protect trees from bacterial infections. Moreover, they have even been described to control bacterial contamination in industrial fermentations. Resistance to antibiotics is an increasing public health problem, believed to originate, at least in part, to the practice of using antibiotics in non-clinical applications, especially the use of drugs important in human clinical medicine. While reducing overall antibiotic usage is part of a strategy to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance, it also limits the availability of acceptable interventions to prevent and control infections and contamination on the farm, which will directly impact global food security and safety as well as animal and human health. Ongoing research in our laboratory on developing new biobased products has identified several promising antibacterial candidates (table below). Specifically, we have identified a variety of bacterial, fungal, and viral products, both large- and small-molecules, that have a range of antimicrobial activities. Amongst these compounds are compounds with exquisite specificity towards the target pathogens. Identification, production and characterization of these novel antimicrobials and their potential applications will be discussed.