Bacteriocins: a promising natural alternative to replace antibiotics in poultry production

Bacteriocins are peptides naturally produced by several bacterial strains and endowed with antimicrobial activity against bacteria that are phytogenetically similar to the production strain. The inhibitory capacity of bacteriocins has been widely demonstrated in several dairy, meat, and plant products. Recently, bacteriocins are increasingly mentioned as one of the most promising alternatives to antibiotics in the fight against multidrug-resistant germs in animal production. However, despite the extensive literature on bacteriocins, scientific data on the safety of these molecules for humans and animals is scarce.

For the purposes of this research program, the team will adopt a multidisciplinary approach combining in vitro analysis, in vivo testing, microbiology, genomics, functional proteomics and metabolomics to study the potential of bacteriocins as a therapeutic and prophylactic alternative to antibiotics in poultry production.

This project will generate rigorous scientific evidence and data on the potential for bacteriocins to replace antibiotics to protect against Salmonella and E. coli in poultry operations in developing countries, where antibiotics are still commonly used. Besides their potential to control certain common infections, bacteriocins may also be used to improve the performance of animals, thereby increasing profitability while reducing antibiotic resistance.

InnoVet-AMR is a four-year, CA$27.9 million partnership between IDRC and the UK government’s Global AMR Innovation Fund, which is part of the Department of Health and Social Care. The initiative responds to a need identified by the international scientific and development communities to reduce the emerging risk that antimicrobial resistance in animals poses to global health and food security.