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Singa toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria are emerging foodborne pathogens worldwide. They are natural residents of the cattle gut and are transmitted to humans through contaminated food. Only specific srotypes (e.g. O157, O104) are problematic within a large group of commensal E. coli microbiota. Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect and kill bacterial cells. They recognize the host through bacterial cell receptors, which defines their lytic range. Isolation of bacteriophages able to infect a single E. coli serotype is possible and will be used to recognize bacterial surface O – antigens as receptors. We will use naturally occurring bacteriophages against the most relevant STEC serotypes of Portugal. They will be encapsulated and administered to live ruminat animals, as a way to condition the animal gut microflora gently and favorably, thereby facilitating international food trade and improving animal and public health.
Reference: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029628
Total funding: 233,992.70 €
Funding for CECAV/UTAD: 18,750€
Leading institution: Universidad do Minho
Partners: Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P. (INIAV); Laboratório Ibérico Internacional de Nanotecnologia (LIN); Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD).
Research leader at CECAV: Maria José Gomes
