World Conference on
Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

Biography:

Gopal Nath as a pioneer of Bacteriophage Therapy research in India, he has demonstrated that MDR/PDR bacteria can be treated by this alternative approach. He has conducted human trials on role of bacteriophages in wound healing. He has organized the “International Conference on Bacteriophages in River Ganga” and also founded the “Bacteriophage Society of India”. For the first time, he and his collaborators at NKI, Netherland established that Salmonella Typhi infection induces malignant transformations. He has published articles in journals like Lancet, Cell and Journal of Bacteriology. He had been at the editorial board of World J Gastroenterology. He has been one of the Judges of prestigious International King Faisal award in 2015. His efforts in bacteriophage therapy has led to visible transformation in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Abstract:

Phage therapy has the potential to be one of the alternatives / complements to antimicrobials. In the past, this approach was not found satisfactory because it was used empirically and with poorly characterized phages. In addition, the clinical applications often stuck in various regulatory circles. Therefore, well characterized bacteriophages using Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are required for scientific and medicolegal reasons. S. aureus is the commonest (72%) etiological agent implicated in osteomyelitis a clinical condition notoriously known for its chronicity due to poor vascular perfusion, variation in tissue pH and oxidative microenvironment apart from presence of biofilm and sequestrum. We have developed and treated for acute and chronic osteomyelitis in rabbit by using bacteriophage cocktail. Twenty rabbits were included in the study. They were divided into control A (n=4), control B (n=4) and experimental group (n=12). Osteomyelitis was created in all the rabbits. No treatment was given to control A group rabbits. Experimental group rabbits were treated with 4 doses of cocktail of five virulent bacteriophages at the interval of 48 h in the 3^rd week of infection. Control B group rabbits were also given 4 dose of phage cocktail in 6^th week. Comparison between three groups was done on the basis of observation of clinical, radiological, microbiological, and histopathological examination.

Total duration for observation was 7 weeks. Experimental group rabbits recovered well from the illness in the next two weeks of the therapy. Appetite and activity of the rabbits improved, local oedema, erythema and induration subsided. There were minimal changes associated with osteomyelitis in X-ray and histopathology also showed no signs of infection with new bone formation. Control B group rabbits also recovered well from infection. Local bacteriophage therapy is very effective treatment option for chronic osteomyelitis caused even by MDR S. aureus.

 

Biography:

As a pioneer of Bacteriophage Therapy research in India, he has demonstrated that MDR/PDR bacteria can be treated by this alternative approach. He has conducted human trials on role of bacteriophages in wound healing. He has organized the “International Conference on Bacteriophages in River Ganga” and also founded the “Bacteriophage Society of India”. For the first time, he and his collaborators at NKI, Netherland established that Salmonella Typhi infection induces malignant transformations. He has published articles in journals like Lancet, Cell and Journal of Bacteriology. He had been at the editorial board of World J Gastroenterology. He has been one of the Judges of prestigious International King Faisal award in 2015. His efforts in bacteriophage therapy has led to visible transformation in the treatment of infectious diseases.

 

Abstract:

Phage therapy has the potential to be one of the alternatives / complements to antimicrobials. In the past, this approach was not found satisfactory because it was used empirically and with poorly characterized phages. In addition, the clinical applications often stuck in various regulatory circles. Therefore, well characterized bacteriophages using Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are required for scientific and medicolegal reasons. S. aureus is the commonest (72%) etiological agent implicated in osteomyelitis a clinical condition notoriously known for its chronicity due to poor vascular perfusion, variation in tissue pH and oxidative microenvironment apart from presence of biofilm and sequestrum. We have developed and treated for acute and chronic osteomyelitis in rabbit by using bacteriophage cocktail. Twenty rabbits were included in the study. They were divided into control A (n=4), control B (n=4) and experimental group (n=12). Osteomyelitis was created in all the rabbits. No treatment was given to control A group rabbits. Experimental group rabbits were treated with 4 doses of cocktail of five virulent bacteriophages at the interval of 48 h in the 3^rd week of infection. Control B group rabbits were also given 4 dose of phage cocktail in 6^th week. Comparison between three groups was done on the basis of observation of clinical, radiological, microbiological, and histopathological examination.

Total duration for observation was 7 weeks. Experimental group rabbits recovered well from the illness in the next two weeks of the therapy. Appetite and activity of the rabbits improved, local oedema, erythema and induration subsided. There were minimal changes associated with osteomyelitis in X-ray and histopathology also showed no signs of infection with new bone formation. Control B group rabbits also recovered well from infection. Local bacteriophage therapy is very effective treatment option for chronic osteomyelitis caused even by MDR S. aureus.