SBIR Phase II: A New Biotherapeutic Approach to Combating Unwanted Bacteria

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II research project will develop a commercial biotherapeutic using a unique bacterial conjugation technology to deliver cytotoxic genes and their products to bacterial pathogens. The Phase I work successfully demonstrated proof of concept by effectively killing multi drug resistant bacteria in vitro. The Phase II project will optimize the technology further to create a treatment for nosocomial (hospital acquired) urinary tract infections. The commercial application of this project will be in the area of anti-infective therapy. The proposed work provides a unique therapeutic approach that can compliment standard antibiotic therapies as well as reduce the dire problem of the burgeoning development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the clinic.