Previous Investigations Much current work in phage therapy focuses on the application of lytic bacteriophages. However, lytic phages are sometimes difficult to isolate and may have other disadvantages. Novolytics takes a different approach. Novolytics Research – Lysogenic Phages Prophages present within target organisms can be induced and then specially altered using Novolytics proprietary ABSEPT process, to ensure the selection of a panel of phages capable of infecting the appropriate bacterium. These altered phages have an increased host range compared to the wild type, which are often specific to just one strain of bacterium, and can be used to control the species from which they were obtained. Most bacteria contain prophages and so are susceptible to this approach. The use of lysogenic phages by Novolytics is a key differentiator between their phage work and that conducted by other organisations. Overcoming Antibacterial Resistance – the Novolytics approach It is Novolytics’ aim to develop phage therapies to treat a number of problematic bacterial infections, initially targeting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In their report “The Path of Least Resistance” (1998), the UK Department of Health suggest that the problem of MRSA is primarily one of hospital cross-infection rather than the repeated evolution of resistance. The spread of MRSA is increased where patients are moved from ward to ward, or between hospitals and nursing homes. Patients who have suppressed immune systems are at greater risk of contracting this infection, which can result in increased hospitalisation stay, increased morbidity and mortality and increased cost to the community at large. Effective treatment is heavily dependent upon the identification and treatment of carriers. Novolytics is developing an aqueous suspension to treat nasal carriage of MRSA, thus significantly reducing the incidence of MRSA transmission. In the longer term it also intends to develop a device to help identify the nasal carriage of this organism so that treatment can be initiated. Product applications Wound care - humans Primary target areas include applications of phage products as injectable or topical treatments where antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective. Wound care – animals Novolytics is currently seeking partners or collaborators in the area of wound care in animals, treating costly infections in dairy cattle, race-horses, pigs, sheep etc. Sterilisation Phage products may also have a future role in the disinfection of medical devices, food and drink industry equipment or farmyard machinery and enclosures. Crops As an environmentally natural product, phages can be used in the form of a spray as a natural disease control in plants, treating or preventing plant attack by bacteria.