Novel nanoparticle therapeutics as alternatives to antibiotics to control Escherichia coli bacterial infection in ruminants in Ethiopia

The dairy productivity of Ethiopian cattle is largely affected by neonatal mortality caused by infectious diseases. Bovine colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E coli) is mainly responsible for diarrhea in calves. Currently, antimicrobials are the main line of treatment for bovine colibacillosis. The emergence of multidrug-resistant E coli strains, responsible for high mortality and morbidity, demonstrates an urgent need for the development of alternative antimicrobials.

The central hypothesis of this research project is that small molecule inhibitors and antimicrobial peptides targeting the outer membrane proteins of E coli can be developed into safe and effective therapies for multidrug-resistant infections. The main objective is to develop an innovative delivery system and evaluate its efficacy, safety and applicability against bovine colibacillosis. The study outcomes can lead to a more effective means for managing calf diarrhea in Ethiopia, which will promote sustainable animal agriculture, improve food security and reduce reliance on antibiotics. These findings will have broader implications for mitigating antimicrobial resistance in other low- and middle-income countries. 

This project is part of the InnoVet-AMR 2.0 program, a four-year partnership between IDRC and the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care. The initiative is aimed at reducing the emerging risk that antimicrobial resistance in animals poses to global health and food security.