Finding alternatives to antibiotics. (20th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allen, Heather K.; Trachsel, Julian; Looft, Torey; Casey, Thomas A.
• Other Names: Bush Karen guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1323(2014)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 100
• Publication Date: 2014-06-20
• Subjects: antibiotic alternatives -- gut microbiota -- phage therapy -- predatory bacteria -- bacteriocins -- antibiotic prudency; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12468
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract : The spread of antibiotic‐resistant pathogens requires new treatments. As the rate of development of new antibiotics has severely declined, alternatives to antibiotics must be considered in both animal agriculture and human medicine. Products for disease prevention are different from those for disease treatment, and examples of both are discussed here. For example, modulating the gut microbial community, either through feed additives or fecal transplantation, 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 antibiotic resistance selection. Because bacteria can ultimately evolve resistance to almost any therapeutic agent, it is important to continue to use both antibiotics and their alternatives judiciously.