Thomas Häusler - What we asked, and his responce.
Dear Thomas Häusler,
We've made some modifications to our project. We have decided to focus on C. jejuni campylobacter and use Bacteriophage to kill campylobacter on the surface of skin. This would be similar to hand sanitizer but instead of killing 99.9% of bacteria, we are trying to isolate specific types that are harmful towards humans, including campylobacter. We were wondering if you knew anything or could lead us in the right direction on how we would go about this, so far we've found an article where they have used bacteriophage to destroy campylobacter internally. Would there be anyone who you could provide as another contact? We would appreciate your thoughts on our class's new proposal. We appreciate you emailing us back despite your involvement in Japan. Thank you for your time.
We've made some modifications to our project. We have decided to focus on C. jejuni campylobacter and use Bacteriophage to kill campylobacter on the surface of skin. This would be similar to hand sanitizer but instead of killing 99.9% of bacteria, we are trying to isolate specific types that are harmful towards humans, including campylobacter. We were wondering if you knew anything or could lead us in the right direction on how we would go about this, so far we've found an article where they have used bacteriophage to destroy campylobacter internally. Would there be anyone who you could provide as another contact? We would appreciate your thoughts on our class's new proposal. We appreciate you emailing us back despite your involvement in Japan. Thank you for your time.
Hi [Chem3],
On the one hand, phages have been applied topically for a long time, between the 1910s and 1940s in the West and since then in the Soviet union, and now Russia and other countries. To my knowledge, there have been very few, if any, reports about adverse effects of topical application (but very much more so if injected). On the other hand, phage therapy in all its possible application forms is not a therapy with official approvement of any Western country medical authority, like the FDA. One factor is certainly the purity of the phage preparation: Safety is highest if no remnants of bacteria remain in the phage preparation. Bacterial debris can cause a reaction of the immune system, something not advisable.
- Thomas Häusler
On the one hand, phages have been applied topically for a long time, between the 1910s and 1940s in the West and since then in the Soviet union, and now Russia and other countries. To my knowledge, there have been very few, if any, reports about adverse effects of topical application (but very much more so if injected). On the other hand, phage therapy in all its possible application forms is not a therapy with official approvement of any Western country medical authority, like the FDA. One factor is certainly the purity of the phage preparation: Safety is highest if no remnants of bacteria remain in the phage preparation. Bacterial debris can cause a reaction of the immune system, something not advisable.
- Thomas Häusler
Ian Connerton - What we asked, and his responce.
Dear Ian Connerton,
Our honors Chemistry class is working on isolating and killing Campylobacter on the surface of the skin, similar to Hand sanitzer, but instead of killing 99.9% of germs we are trying to only kill the ones harmful to the human body, (including: Campylobacter ) We recently came across your article (http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/71/11/6554) while researching Campylobacter and bacteriophage. If we are correct, you researched removing any traces of Campylobacter from chicken. My question are; Is it possible to use these bacteriophages you used (CP8 and CP34bacteriophages) for a topical use or basically external? Can these bacteriophages be easily produced? What is the most practical conditions for the Bacteriophage to live with? Thank you.
Our honors Chemistry class is working on isolating and killing Campylobacter on the surface of the skin, similar to Hand sanitzer, but instead of killing 99.9% of germs we are trying to only kill the ones harmful to the human body, (including: Campylobacter ) We recently came across your article (http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/71/11/6554) while researching Campylobacter and bacteriophage. If we are correct, you researched removing any traces of Campylobacter from chicken. My question are; Is it possible to use these bacteriophages you used (CP8 and CP34bacteriophages) for a topical use or basically external? Can these bacteriophages be easily produced? What is the most practical conditions for the Bacteriophage to live with? Thank you.
Dear [Chem3],
Is it possible to use these bacteriophages you used (CP8 and CP34 bacteriophages) for a topical use or basically external?
They can be fed to chickens before slaughter and kill between 99 and 99.999% of the Campylobacters in the chicken. This can still leave up to 100 per gram of their intestinal contents but would have an impact on people getting ill. This has been estimated at a 30-fold reduction in the number of people getting sick form the bug. You can also put them on chicken meat where they will remove between 90 and 99% of the target bacteria. Can these bacteriophages be easily produced? Yes they can be produced but in the quantities required to use on poultry would require serious investment in an industrial process. What is the most practical conditions for the Bacteriophage to live with? The bacteriophage are hardy and will withstand a lot of things but not cooking. To get them to grow you have to culture their host bacteria ie the Campylobacter. That is more difficult because it only grows when the oxygen is reduced so you would have to control this in a fermenter. I hope this helps.
- Ian Connerton
Is it possible to use these bacteriophages you used (CP8 and CP34 bacteriophages) for a topical use or basically external?
They can be fed to chickens before slaughter and kill between 99 and 99.999% of the Campylobacters in the chicken. This can still leave up to 100 per gram of their intestinal contents but would have an impact on people getting ill. This has been estimated at a 30-fold reduction in the number of people getting sick form the bug. You can also put them on chicken meat where they will remove between 90 and 99% of the target bacteria. Can these bacteriophages be easily produced? Yes they can be produced but in the quantities required to use on poultry would require serious investment in an industrial process. What is the most practical conditions for the Bacteriophage to live with? The bacteriophage are hardy and will withstand a lot of things but not cooking. To get them to grow you have to culture their host bacteria ie the Campylobacter. That is more difficult because it only grows when the oxygen is reduced so you would have to control this in a fermenter. I hope this helps.
- Ian Connerton