A research team has developed a PRP lysate that attack biofilms associated with equine joint infections.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) lysate that, when teamed with antibiotics, can eradicate bacterial biofilms common in persistent equine joint infections.

To create the lysate, the research team took blood from horses and isolated the platelets. They then packed 50 times the number of platelets that would be found in an equal amount of blood into their product, and lysed the platelets to release antimicrobial peptides – proteins that attack bacteria. The team separated out the antimicrobial peptides, then after testing them against common bacteria, all the horses’ peptides were pooled together for one lysate product. Synovial fluid from the horses’ knees were collected with taps, and the fluid was seeded with bacteria in the laboratory and allowed to grow biofilms. Finally, researchers tested three methods to attack the biofilms; antibiotics alone, lysate alone, and a combination of antibiotics and lysate.

The researchers found that antibiotics alone were completely ineffective. The lysate alone significantly decreased the bacterial load. The antibiotic and lysate combination, however, completely eradicated the biofilms and bacteria. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jor.24584