MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Recent incidences of foodborne illnesses from pathogenic bacteria have warranted research for alternative treatment methods. Foodborne bacterial infections come about from the formation of biofilms, which are naturally-forming aggregations of bacteria that possess enhanced protective qualities against antibiotics. In the context of organic farming, where antibiotics are prohibited, the push for new types of biocontrol is a high priority. A promising option lies in bacteriophage therapy, which uses viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria. Bacteriophage therapy have been shown to be effective in eliminating biofilms at different levels of the food-processing life cycle, evidenced by the existence of bacteriophage-based commercial disinfectants. Furthermore, certain components of bacteriophages such as lytic enzymes have been used successfully in their own right as antimicrobials. As the fight against antibiotic resistance reveals itself to become one of the most prevalent issue of the 21st century, the solution may lie in the bacteriophage.

Reader’s response:

I am an executive at a big pharmaceutical company. Much of our work lies in antibiotics. As you may surmise, our work clashes with the organic farming industry. Many farmers are behind us because they cannot sustain themselves moving towards organic farming practices. Unless you convince the government to allocate more funding towards organic farming, you will not see any expansion of the field. Even then, we will fight this movement to keep the stability of this company.

T -- already done, for exacting review underway now.

Just a few thoughts about your context, including this difficult reader, one market pressure for all farmers -- including big meat, big poultry, big pork -- is that customers often prefer no or low antibiotic inputs. In some cases, consumers will pay more. Ask me about Perdue and their plans to corner the "healthy" chicken market.