Alginate encapsulation enhanced the gastrointestinal stability and bactericidal efficacy of an optimized Salmonella phage cocktail for oral delivery in poultry feed
Issued Date
2026-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00325791
eISSN
15253171
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105025054165
Pubmed ID
41411863
Journal Title
Poultry Science
Volume
105
Issue
2
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Poultry Science Vol.105 No.2 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Prachoochote S., Janesomboon S., Phothaworn P., Withatanung P., Nale J.Y., Galyov E.E., Clokie M.R.J., Korbsrisate S., Muangsombut V. Alginate encapsulation enhanced the gastrointestinal stability and bactericidal efficacy of an optimized Salmonella phage cocktail for oral delivery in poultry feed. Poultry Science Vol.105 No.2 (2026). doi:10.1016/j.psj.2025.106272 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/114586
Title
Alginate encapsulation enhanced the gastrointestinal stability and bactericidal efficacy of an optimized Salmonella phage cocktail for oral delivery in poultry feed
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Corresponding Author(s)
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Abstract
Salmonella is a leading cause of gastroenteritis, and it is transmitted via contaminated water and food sources, especially poultry products. Many serovars are resistant to frontline antibiotics, necessitating the need for alternative treatment strategies. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy offers a promising alternative to antibiotics for Salmonella infection control in poultry, however, oral delivery is limited by the highly acidic gastric environment. Thus, this study aimed to optimize a cocktail of encapsulated phages to preserve and enhance their shelf-life, viability, target release and activity in the digestive tract of chickens. The phage cocktail, consisting of three strictly lytic Salmonella phages (ST-W23, SE-W112, and ST-W139) isolated from wastewater, exhibited a broad host range, lysing ∼83 % (107/129) of 25 important Salmonella serovars identified from chicken farms. To enhance stability in acidic conditions, the phage cocktail was encapsulated in alginate–CaCO<inf>3</inf> jelly beads. Under simulated gastric conditions, a single application of the encapsulated cocktail reduced S. Typhimurium growth below detectable limits within 3 h post-treatment and inhibited further regrowth for 24 h. Furthermore, the encapsulated phages maintained high viability for at least a month at room temperature, eliminating the need for cold storage logistics. This study demonstrates an effective phage encapsulation technique for optimal phage storage, oral administration and therapeutic efficacy to control intestinal Salmonella in poultry and protect public health. Further work will focus on upscaling phage production and testing in poultry farms.