The Super Bowl may be over, but our team is always training to compete against Super Bugs! Super bugs, or multi-drug resistant bacteria, are bacteria that cannot be killed using two or more antibiotics. Any species of bacteria can become a super bug, and misusing antibiotics is the leading factor contributing to this growing problem. A 2015 White House Report identified several super bug threats, many of which we use in our research here at TransPharm. We have validated studies using carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Acinetobacter, and many other super bugs. Have a question about which pathogens and models we specialize in? Contact us at your convenience. There are no half-time shows here; we work around the clock to complete studies for our fans. We don’t have turf or a stadium, but we pride ourselves on being champions in our field for the past 10 years. Several of our clients have published data on novel therapeutics to combat super bugs, and we think that’s something worth cheering for.

TransPharm has added a new animal model of induced chronic osteomyelitis (bone infection). Osteomyelitis results in pain, loss of mobility, and significant morbidity. Current treatment requires prolonged antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement of sequestra (dead bone). Due to poor drug penetration into the bone and an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutics. Our model serves as a screening tool to identify which antimicrobials are most clinically efficacious. Animals are challenged via injection into the cancellous bone marrow through the anterior surface of the proximal tibia. The infection is allowed to incubate for up to 4 weeks before the tibia is harvested for CFU enumeration. The induced chronic osteomyelitis model is currently available for S. aureus and S. epidermidis infections in Sprague-Dawley rats. Additional validations are available upon request.

We are searching for TransPharm’s Next Top Model! Our team has been focused on validating new murine models of infectious disease, including Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia, Staphylococcus epidermidis peritonitis, Streptococcus pyogenes soft tissue infection, and Acinetobacter baumannii deep wound infection. Upcoming validations will follow-up on the 2017 summer internship program projects as well as validating new comparators against H. influenzae, P. acnes, and VRE. Contact us today to request a validation or no-obligation quote.

We’ve got spring feVRE! Many bacteria live in our gut and on our skin, usually without causing problems. However, serious infections can occur when these bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, or VRE, are one such threat. Although healthy people are unlikely to become infected with VRE, those who are hospitalized or have weakened immune systems are especially at risk. TransPharm has a well-established murine model of VRE colonization in the gastrointestinal tract, one of the most common sites for infection. Antibiotic pre-treatment provides consistent results, with fecal shedding peaking on Days 3-5 and observed through Day 15. Our screening studies are flexible enough to accommodate studies with prophylactic and/or daily dosing. We also have personnel and areas of our facility dedicated specifically to VRE work. Contact us today for a quote!

January 2017 marked our 9 year anniversary and the close of another great year here at TransPharm. With 17 new clients in 2016, the TransPharm family now spans over 6 continents. As a result of our continued growth, we were able to reach a major milestone in November: a total of $10M in revenue since I founded the company in 2008. Increased demand also allowed us to welcome some new faces to our team – Brianne Fiero (Associate Scientist) in April, and Brittany Dixon (Scientific Writer) and Emily Gilles (Laboratory Technician) in October. 2016 was also a year of physical growth. A 2,100 sq. ft. addition to our facility, including an expanded animal vivarium and a procedure room, was completed in May. This new space contains both a negative pressure room and a positive pressure room, with corresponding bioBUBBLE® enclosures in each, meaning separate, dedicated areas for C. difficile and germ-free work, respectively. The renovations have already proven advantageous to our clients who currently work in the C. difficile therapy development field. Please contact us for more information.