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Bacteriophage-based probiotic preparation for managing Shigella infections
- Small Business Information
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Woman-Owned: NoMinority-Owned: NoHUBZone-Owned: No
- Phase 1
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Fiscal Year: 2009Title: Bacteriophage-based probiotic preparation for managing Shigella infectionsAgency / Branch: DOD / DARPAContract: W911NF-09-C-0167Award Amount: $99,997.00
Abstract:
Diarrhea remains a major public health challenge worldwide, and it also may significantly hamper US troop operations during combat and peacekeeping missions overseas. Antibiotics can be used to treat diarrheal diseases; however, some foodborne and waterborne bacterial pathogens are developing resistance against antibiotics, which limits their effectiveness. Also, antibiotics - because of their broad spectrum activity - may disturb/alter the GI tract's normal and beneficial microflora, which may create additional health problems. Therefore, novel approaches are needed to help prevent and treat bacterial-elicited diarrhea among US troops, thereby improving their combat readiness and performance. Synbiotics (combinations of probiotics and prebiotics) may provide one such approach. However, one potentially useful probiotic intervention that has not received much attention in the past is to use bacteriophages to target "problem" bacterial species in the human GI tract. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, are highly specific, and lyse their targeted bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Thus, synbiotic preparations containing (i) bacteriophages targeting specific diarrhea-causing bacteria, (ii) previously described, bacteria-based probiotics, and (iii) prebiotics may provide excellent protection against diarrheal illnesses among US troops and civilian populations. In this application, we propose to begin developing and testing a synbiotic preparation whose phage component is specifically active against Shigella spp., which are significant diarrhea-causing pathogens.Small Business Information at Submission:Research Institution Information:Intralytix, Inc.
The Columbus Center 701 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202EIN/Tax ID: 522112466DUNS: N/ANumber of Employees:Woman-Owned: NoMinority-Owned: NoHUBZone-Owned: NoUniversity of Florida
Research and Graduate Programs
219 Grinter Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611 5500Contact: Thomas WalshContact Phone: (352) 392-1582RI Type: Nonprofit college or university
Award Information
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Agency: Department of Defense |
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
Award ID: 90053 |
Program Year/Program: 2009 / STTR |
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Agency Tracking Number: A09A-012-0045 |
Solicitation Year: N/A |
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A |
Solicitation Number: N/A |