From Bacterial Sampling to a Targeted Solution: How HEDROS Develops a Phage Cocktail

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to cost the food sector $953 billion in cumulative GDP losses, as antibiotic use in food production rises beyond 200,000 tonnes per year. At the same time, Vibrio parahaemolyticus—a major driver of bacterial disease in shrimp—is showing increasing resistance to antibiotics traditionally used for its control.

Outbreaks associated with V. parahaemolyticus remain a major threat to shrimp aquaculture, but the bacterial populations present in production systems can vary from farm to farm.

That is why HEDROS developed PhageChooser™, a proprietary AI-driven platform designed to track antimicrobial resistance and support

the development of sustainable, targeted antimicrobial solutions. PhageChooser™ connects diagnostics, phage selection, product development, and field application to provide producers with end-to-end quality assurance throughout the process.

The platform informs and optimizes product development through four key phases.

1. Isolation & Characterization

HEDROS samples farm water, sediment, and shrimp populations to identify and characterize the pathogens present within each production environment.

These isolates are evaluated using an extensive, market-specific library of bacteriophages and bacterial pathogens, creating the biological foundation for a solution tailored to the farm's specific challenge.

2. Cocktail Design & Optimization

Using AI-driven phage matching, bacterial isolates are screened against HEDROS's phage library to identify bacteriophages capable of targeting the relevant pathogen strains.

Complementary phages can then be selected as cocktail candidates based on their activity against the target bacteria and the specific technical requirements of the customer.

This process helps optimize phage combinations for broader and more reliable coverage while maintaining the precision that characterizes bacteriophage technology.

3. End-to-End Formulation

Selected and validated phage cocktails are tested under controlled conditions before being developed into stable and scalable formulations.

This process supports the development of solutions such as FAGOX, HEDROS's bacteriophage-based technology for shrimp production, with applications across hatchery, grow-out, and post-harvest environments.

4. Testing & Application / Market Validation

The final stage translates laboratory results into practical application.

Application programs are adapted to the specific conditions of each farm and supported through field validation, regulatory submission, and ongoing technical assistance.

This allows HEDROS to connect laboratory diagnostics and product development with real-world production conditions while continuously generating information that can further improve future solutions.

The Result: A Precise Solution Built to Customer Specifications

From pathogen isolation to AI-assisted phage matching, formulation, validation, and field application, PhageChooser™ provides a structured pathway for developing antimicrobial solutions around the bacterial challenges that actually exist within each production environment.

PhageChooser™ — precision at every step.