DEFINED DOSE THERAPEUTIC PHAGE
The invention provides therapeutic, defined-dose anti-bacterial phage preparations, methods to make such preparations, methods to treat bacterial infections using such preparations and methods to diagnose bacterial infections using such preparations.
1 . A method of reducing a bacterial population in a subject in need of treatment, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an isolated phage tail that inhibits growth of a target bacterium, thereby reducing the growth of the bacterial population.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said subject is a human.
3 . A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject in need of such treatment, said method comprising a step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated phage tail, wherein said isolated phage tail inhibits growth of a target bacterium, thereby treating the bacterial infection.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said subject is a human.
5 . A method of treating a bacterial colonization in a subject experiencing colonization by a target bacterium, said method comprising administering to said subject a defined dose therapeutic anti-bacterial composition comprising an isolated phage tail, thereby treating said bacterial colonization.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said subject is a food, work, display, or companion animal.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said subject is a food, work, display, or a companion animal.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said target bacterium is Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas , or Streptococcus.
9 . The method of Claim wherein said method further comprises administering a second therapeutic or antimicrobial agent.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said method results in a relative decrease in said population of at least 10-1000 fold.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said method results in a decrease in detectability of said population by at least 5-50 fold.
12 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said subject is a primate, a food, work, display, or companion animal.
13 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered parenterally, orally, topically, by inhalation, catheter, or drain tube.
14 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered in combination with a second therapeutic selected from an anti-microbial, and an anti-inflammatory agent.
15 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said subject is a human.
16 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said target bacterium is a pathogenic, nosocomial, or pyogenic bacterium.
17 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said target bacterium is an Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas , or Streptococcus bacterium.
18 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said colonization has already been treated with an anti-microbial or antibiotic.
19 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said composition is administered parenterally, orally, topically, by inhalation, catheter, or drain tube.
20 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said target bacterium has been diagnosed to be susceptible to said composition.