Mauchline man wins fight in the battle of bacteria

Dec 3 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

MRSA could be a thing of the past thanks to a Mauchline doctor.

For he has patented the use of a virus that eats bacteria.

Bacteriophage, which is harmless to humans, animals and plants, is a water-borne virus that infects specific bacteria.

The use of ‘phage’ throughout the world has been widespread but, as naturally occurring products, they were not patentable unless they were genetically modified.

Now Dr Mike Mattey has succeeded in localising, stabilising and patenting phage so that it can be used in active management of bacterial disease.

It comes as antibiotics become less and less effective in the treatment of disease as bacterial resistance to them grows stronger and stronger.

This development could soon see alternative technology resulting in more effective treatments and also contributing to the prevention of hospital superbugs like MRSA.

Phage will eventually be used in food, agriculture, horticulture, veterinary and human medicine, decontamination and packaging.

For now though, concentration will be on wound dressings and wound care products where bacteriophage can play a part in preventing MRSA infection and where results can be achieved rapidly.

Dr Mattey, of the University of Glasgow, said: “By using corona discharge – a process widely used in the printing industry to allow attachment of prints and dyes – we have managed to retain the antimicrobial potency of phage while increasing its stability.

“Pre-clinical trials have already been undertaken on a prototype wound closure and results have been excellent. Over the next 18 months we aim to develop and test additional products in conjunction with targeted companies, and start manufacturing through a soon-to-be spun out company, FixedPhage.”

Dr Mattey was presented with the Nexxus Life Science Innovation Award at a ceremony in Glasgow.

He added: “The Nexxus Innovation Award is hopefully just the first recognition of the potential of our technology and we are very excited to receive this vote of confidence from our peers.”

Graeme Boyle, director of Nexxus, said: “This innovation is a significant breakthrough in the escalating fight against bacterial disease.

“Once again Scottish scientists are at the forefront of world class scientific developments and our universities producing potentially world class companies.”

Dr Mattey has over 35 years of experience in the field of microbial physiology and is one of Scotland’s foremost authorities in biotechnology.

He has worked closely with industry since he started his career at the University of Strathclyde.