Sampling cattle helps the ‘superbug’ battle

A Queensland feedlot is helping an Australian start-up with expertise in antimicrobial resistance to fight a common cattle disease.

AgriCureX scientist Dr Miranda Pitt prepares bacteria collected from cattle with bovine respiratory disease for phage hunting. The work is helping researchers identify phages that may one day provide a more targeted way to manage bacteria linked to BRD.

Led by Professors Jon Iredell and Ruby Lin and CEO Belinda Vassallo, the team from AgriCureX, based at Sydney University’s Knowledge Hub, hopes to develop an alternative to the use of antibiotics in animals.

Using their experience with phages to successfully treat human respiratory disease, they are looking to fight a similar illness, bovine respiratory disease (BRD), a common problem in cattle herds, especially calves.

Predator-like phages can identify and overcome infections caused by these bacteria without harming the host animal, whether human, cattle, or other livestock.

Feedlot staff are collecting samples from cattle for the research. They are taking nasal swabs from the animals to assess the presence of bacteria that cause BRD.

Professor Iredell has been working on phage therapy with international affiliates since 2007.

He said: ”Phages are viruses that specifically target bacteria without causing harm to humans or animals. They are the most abundant organisms on Earth and are found wherever bacterial populations exist, including in cattle. They have been used successfully as antiseptics in human medicine for more than a century.

Prof Lin said: “Due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, phages have enjoyed a renaissance in modern medicine to treat difficult-to-treat infections.”

The feedlot sampling work is overseen by veterinarians and co-funded by MLA.

The sampling technique is similar to what humans underwent during COVID nasal swab testing. Staff take samples from the cattle during a normal yarding, without requiring an additional muster.

The scientists are hoping to collect samples from more than 500 feedlot cattle and about 200 from beef properties, to give a variety of geographical conditions and breeds.

The sampling will continue throughout 2027. The integrated data will inform the feedlot on infection-control practices and help AgriCureX scientists formulate phage cocktails to treat cattle with BRD. The first small pen trial is scheduled to start in mid-2027.

The company is developing a genomics-led platform to tackle BRD. Prof Lin explained: “Historically, the narrow host range of many phages made it difficult to predict whether a particular phage would work.

“However, today, whole-genome sequencing and improved bioinformatics provide much more information. Sequencing can help identify the bacteria, distinguish closely related strains and pinpoint genes associated with antimicrobial resistance. This creates the possibility of a more precise strike rate.”

MLA is supporting the work and said the project was a strong example of collaboration between producers, researchers and industry.

An MLA spokesperson said: “ It can help address antimicrobial resistance while supporting the health and productivity of Australia’s cattle industry.

“By collecting samples under practical feedlot conditions, the research will generate valuable information about the bacteria associated with BRD and help guide the development of more targeted approaches to disease management.”

Content courtesy of BeefCentral.