Developing a multi-species biofilm model for testing novel antimicrobials

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Today more than ever before, new alternatives to antibiotics are needed to control infectious diseases, asimportant pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant. Microorganisms can also grow in different ways thatmakes them inherently tough to eradicate. Biofilms are a mode of growth where individual cells aggregate andbecome embedded in a resistant and protective extracellular matrix. Many livestock and human infectiousdiseases can be thought of as biofilm-related and often different microorganisms can be part of the samebiofilm. In a previous NSERC Engage grant, we worked with SterileCare Inc., a Canadian biotechnologycompany that has developed a new antimicrobial agent. In the current project, we are proposing to develop amulti-species biofilm model that more closely approximates natural conditions. Modern bacterial taggingtechnology will be used to visualize and enumerate the biofilms, and we will test the killing ability of theSterile Care product either administered alone or in concert with other non-antibiotic treatments. We willexplore the mechanisms of action of the products and work to identify treatment conditions that will lead toimproved intellectual property for the company. SterileCare Inc. hopes to further develop a powerful agent totreat both human and veterinary conditions associated with biofilms and multidrug resistant microorganisms,which falls in line with global Antibiotic Stewardship efforts.