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Methods for Producing and Using Polymyxins (Colistins A and B)

Detailed Technology Description

Application(Product)Highyield production of Colistins A and BProblemsAddressed    (benefits/advantages)Increasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria presents a criticalproblem for public health. Limited therapeutic options have forced infectiousdisease clinicians and microbiologists to reappraise the clinical applicationof relatively old polymyxin antibiotics, thus creating an increased need forthis class of com-pounds. Resistance to polymyxin (aka Colistin) is currentlyvery rare, rendering attractive their use against certain bacterial strains.Nevertheless, in vitro, polymyxin has had excellent activity against a varietyof gram-negative bacteria, including those that are resistant to other classesof antimicrobials (e.g., penicillin and amino glycosides).Polymyxins are also used to neutralize or absorb LPS contaminatingsamples that are intended for use in e.g. immunological experiments.Minimization of LPS contamination can be important because LPS can evoke strongreactions from immune cells and therefore distort experimental results.Outside the medical and veterinary arenas, the use of antibioticsby biotech/biopharma as additives to biofermentation mixtures is a ubiquitousmeans to eliminate contamination of broth by extraneous microorganisms.

*Abstract

UGA investigators havedeveloped a technique that provides a novel source for antibiotics with broadspectrum activity against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria.

Additionally five isolatesof the organism used to produce colistins inhibited growth of both E. coli andS. aureus.

 

Advantages

• Efficient three-step purification protocol

• Produces antibacterial compounds  identical to commercial antibiotics as well asadditional antibacterial compounds with activity against Gram-positive bacteria

• High yield  

   

Potential Applications

•  Production andpurification of antimicrobials in large scale from simple culture media

•           In the competitive exclusion (CE) of organisms such as 

  foodpathogens

• As an additive to probiotics for farm animals

Inventor

• Dr.Joy D. Peterson

   

TechnologyDevelopment and IP Status

Production in lab scale hasbeen optimized.

Issued US Patent  7,935, 503

Country/Region

USA