ATHENS, Ohio -- A recommendation from the Ohio Technology Action Board has moved Ohio University one step closer to receiving a $750,000 grant to support research on bovine mastitis -- a bacterial infection that affects the quality of cows' milk and costs the dairy industry $1.8 billion a year.
The board recommended the State Controlling Board approve the grant, which is part of a $1.125 million project involving the university and GeneBact Biotechnologies in Marietta that aims to develop a more effective treatment for the disease, which studies suggest may be developing resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Bacteria that cause bovine mastitis grow in the udders of dairy cows. Before symptoms of the disease appear, the infection causes scarring on the animal's mammary tissues, which decreases milk production. Once the infection is diagnosed, farmers pull the animal from the milking line and treat the infection with antibiotics.
When the healthy cow returns to the milking line, trace amounts of antibiotics can get into the milk that is sold to consumers, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance in humans. And now, another problem is on the horizon: Studies suggest the bacteria may be growing resistant to penicillin and streptomycin -- commonly prescribed antibiotics -- leaving farmers with few options for treatment.
The TAF grant will support research involving a new design of small protein molecules called peptides that seem to attack bacteria more effectively than conventional antibiotics. The peptide design, which is under review for a U.S. patent, was developed by Jack Blazyk, professor of biochemistry in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and principal investigator on the new grant.
Late last year, Blazyk began working with GeneBact Biotechnologies, a Marietta-based company that has developed a new test to detect bovine mastitis in the early stages of the disease. Blazyk and the company's president, Jim Thacker, combined their resources for a TAF grant: Ohio University will do the basic science needed to develop the treatment and GeneBact will coordinate the clinical trials and subsequent commercialization.
"Our role is to identify the most effective antimicrobial peptides we have that can kill the specific bacteria that cause mastitis in a milk environment," said Blazyk, whose studies have resulted in the development of 40 to 50 peptides. Blazyk is collaborating with Ohio University Associate Professor of Virology Bonita Biegalke on the research, which was published last year in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The studies have received funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Blazyk's earlier studies were focused on the peptides' application in human disease treatment. And although the work in the immediate future will be directed at developing a new drug to treat a disease in animals, what the researchers learn along the way will aid in their search for new drugs to treat bacterial infections in people.
"We would like to be able to extend this to human infections, so this is a good starting point in demonstrating efficacy in an animal model," Blazyk said. "Our long-term goal is to develop new treatments for human infections."
That goal is shared by GeneBact, said Thacker, who notes the potential for economic development that this partnership could yield.
"This area is still an economically depressed area. It relies on old, even declining, industries, which is very tenuous economic footing," Thacker said. "What we need to do is establish a high-growth industrial base, and biotechnology is part of that."
GeneBact has set up a temporary research space at the university's Research and Enterprise Park on West State Street, and plans to move into the new Innovation Center building when construction is completed next year.
"GeneBact's plans to put its research department in our new Innovation Center fits in well with our concept of building a knowledge-based industry in Athens," said John Bantle, vice president for research at Ohio University. "We are delighted to have them as partners."
Ohio University and GeneBact put up matching funds for the TAF grant; the university will contribute $125,000 and GeneBact will provide $250,000. The partners hope to have a drug on the market within five years.
The Technology Action Fund, a program administered by the Ohio Department of Development, was established in 2000 by Ohio Governor Bob Taft to help develop Ohio's technology sector. This is Ohio University's fourth TAF award.
