Bacteriophage-containing therapeutic agents

Abstract

The present invention relates in its broadest aspect to combined phage/antibiotic therapy. More particularly, it relates to use of (i) one or more bacteriophages and (ii) one or more antibiotics in the manufacture of a combined product for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration of (i) and (ii) to treat a bacterial infection characterized by biofilm formation, for example an infection comprising or consisting of P. aeruginosa . Treatment in this context may be either therapeutic or prophylactic treatment. Also provided are deposited bacteriophages each exhibiting different strain specificity against P. aeruginosa and combinations of such bacteriophages, e.g. a panel of six deposited bacteriophages which was found to be effective against a high percentage of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from canine ear infections.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a bacterial infection characterised by biofilm formation which comprises administering to a human or non-human animal in need thereof one or more bacteriophages capable of targeting bacteria of said infection and simultaneously, separately or sequentially thereto one or more antibiotics. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the one or more bacteriophages are selected from NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41176, NCIMB 41177, NCIMB 41178, NCIMB 41179, NCIMB 41180 and NCIMB 41181 (deposited at the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria), and mutants thereof which retain the ability to target  P. aeruginosa.    
     
     
         28 . canceled 
     
     
         29 . A non-therapeutic method of removing, reducing or preventing bacterial contamination characterised by biofilm formation, said method comprising applying to the site or prospective site of said contamination one or more bacteriophages capable of targeting bacteria of said contamination and simultaneously, separately or sequentially thereto one or more antibiotics or antiseptics. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein one or more bacteriophages are selected from NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41176, NCIMB 41177, NCIMB 41178, NCIMB 41179, NCIMB 41180 and NCIMB 41181 (deposited at the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria), and mutants thereof which retain the ability to target  P. aeruginosa.    
     
     
         31 . A non-therapeutic method of removing, reducing or preventing bacterial contamination comprising or consisting of  P. aeruginosa , said method comprising applying to the site or prospective site of said contamination one or more bacteriophages selected from NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41176, NCIMB 41177, NCIMB 41178, NCIMB 41179, NCIMB 41180 and NCIMB 41181 (deposited at the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria), and mutants thereof which retain the ability to target  P. aeruginosa.    
     
     
         32 . A method of detecting the presence of  P. aeruginosa  in an in vitro sample, which comprises contacting said sample with one or more bacteriophages selected from NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41176, NCIMB 41177, NCIMB 41178, NCIMB 41179, NCIMB 41180 and NCIMB 41181 (deposited at the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria), and mutants thereof which retain the ability to target  P. aeruginosa  and determining whether said bacteriophage(s) are capable of killing bacteria in said sample. 
     
     
         33 . A method of identifying a bacterial strain selective for one of the bacteriophages NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41 176, NCIMB 41 177, NCIMB 41178, NCIMB 41179, NCIMB 41 180 and NCIMB 41181, the method comprising the steps of measuring plaque formation by said bacteriophage in a number of bacterial strains and selecting a strain which allows at least 1000 times more plaque formation by said bacteriophage than by any of said other bacteriophages. 
     
     
         34 . A bacterial strain identified by the method of  claim 33 . 
     
     
         35 . Use of one or more bacterial strains according to  claim 34  to identify and/or quantify bacteriophages present in preparations intended for therapeutic use and/or to identify strains present in tissue samples obtained during such therapeutic use or following such use. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26  comprising administering a plurality of bacteriophages capable of infecting the same bacterial species, each member of said plurality of bacteriophages having a different strain specificity. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more antibiotic is/are administered after said one or more bacteriophages. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said bacterial infection comprises or consists of  Pseudomonas aeruginosa.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method is a method of prophylactic treatment. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising administering an alginase. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said one or more bacteriophages are comprised in a contact lens solution or additive. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the contact lens solution or additive further comprises one or more antibiotics. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said infection is an infection selected from the group consisting of infection of a skin burn or other skin wound, a lung infection, an ocular infection, and an ear infection. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said infection is a canine ear infection.