Aerosol phage therapy for in vivo Burkholderia cepacia complex respiratory infections

• Author / Creator

  Semler, DD

• In recent times, increased attention has been given to evaluating the efficacy of phage therapy, especially in scenarios where the bacterial infectious agent of interest is highly antibiotic resistant. In this regard, phage therapy is especially applicable to infections caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) since members of the BCC are antibiotic pan-resistant. Aerosol drug delivery is a common therapeutic delivery method for respiratory ailments and yet aerosol phage therapy has not previously been demonstrated to be effective for BCC infections.
  This study outlines the development of an in vivo model for evaluating aerosol delivery of phage therapeutics using a Nose-Only Inhalation Device (NOID). Immunocompromised mice infected with Burkholderia cenocepacia demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial concentration when treated 24 h post-infection provided that the phage therapeutic was delivered at a sufficient concentration. This method shows promise for future evaluation of aerosolised respiratory phage therapeutics.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Burkholderia cepacia complex
  • Nose only inhalation device
  • In vivo phage therapy
  • Aerosol phage therapy

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R36M3397Q

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.