Bacteriophage Applications - Historical Perspective and Future Potential

Roderick A. Slavcev, PhD, MBA, MRSB, CBiol.Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor of Business and EntrepreneurshipSchool of Pharmacy, University of WaterlooPresident, Mediphage Bioceuticals, Inc.

1. Introduction: What are Bacteriophage: a. Discovery and early phage work (including work with bacterial genetics, phage display, and phage therapy).- b. Bacteriophage pathogenesis and host range.- c. Bacteriophage growth dynamics.- d. Bacteriophage pharmacokinetics( including mammalian host tolerance ).- 2. Applications with Bacteriophage: a. Phage Therapy.- i. Past - why phage therapy was unsuccessful in the past and what can (and is currently) being done to improve the system.- ii. Present /Future - current research objectives and future considerations.- Host range and how it can be expanded.- Lethal agent delivery systems (bacteriocidial).- Lethality without lysis.- b. Phage Vaccines and Phage Immunostimulation.- i. Mammalian immune response to phage.- ii. Phage vaccine delivery vehicles.- iii. Phage Immunotherapy.- c. Phage as Delivery Vehicles: i. Phage for gene delivery.- Phage display for specific cell targeting.- Considerations for use and benefits in comparison to current systems.- ii. Phage as Drug Carriers.- Selectivity and cell attachment.- Phage T2 as a potential cancer therapeutic.- Phage for delivery to the brain and CNS (including current work with Alzheimer's and drug addictions ).- d. Phage for Bacterial Detection: i. History of Phage bacterial detection.- ii. Methods (replication assays, conjugation with bioluminescence, labelling etc. ).- iii. Potential uses in healthcare and industry.- e. Phage for the targeting of Biofilms.- i. Phage candidates and important bacterial targets.- ii. History and potential uses in healthcare and industry.- f. Phage device coatings: i. Current phage coating practices and research.- ii. Callenges (notably phage orientation).- iii. methods to overcome these challenges.