title: Bacteriophage formulated into a range of semisolid and solid dosage forms maintain lytic capacity against isolated cutaneous and opportunistic oral bacteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial agents is of grave concern. Further research into the development of bacteriophage as therapeutic agents against bacterial infections may help alleviate this problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To formulate bacteriophage into a range of semisolid and solid dosage forms and investigate the capacity of these preparations to kill bacteria under laboratory conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bacteriophage suspensions were incorporated into dosage forms such as creams, ointments, pastes, pessaries and troches. These were applied to bacterial lawns in order to ascertain lytic capacity. Stability of these formulations containing phage was tested under various storage conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A range of creams and ointments were able to support phage lytic activity against Propionibacterium acnes. Assessment of the stability of these formulations showed that storage at 4 °C in light-protected containers resulted in optimal phage viability after 90 days. Pessaries/suppositories and troches were able to support phage lytic activity against Rhodococcus equi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report here the in-vitro testing of semisolid and solid formulations of bacteriophage lytic against a range of bacteria known to contribute to infections of the epithelia. This study provides a basis for the future formulation of diverse phage against a range of bacteria that infect epithelial tissues.
authors.affiliation: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Teagan L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8885-5668
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Tereen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Odgers
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrovski
authors.affiliation: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Marion Joy
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Spark
authors.affiliation: La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tucci
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D004304:Dosage Forms; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004304:Dosage Forms
keywords: bacteriophage; bacteriophage therapy