Preparation and use of biofilm-degrading, multiple-specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures

Abstract

The present invention relates to isolated structures containing degradative enzymes produced from a marine organism. The enzymes produced are based on the carbon source upon which the marine organism is growing. The enzymes are found in structures that can be isolated such that the degradative enzymes are easily harvested.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method for preparing biofilm degrading, multiple specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures which are specifically tailored to remove targeted biofilms. [0002] The present invention also is directed to methods for using hydrolytic enzyme mixtures in both industrial and therapeutic applications. The industrial applications include but are not limited to the use of biofilm-degrading, multiple specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures for removing or preventing the formation of biofilms in water cooling towers, industrial process piping, heat exchangers, in food processing or food preparation, in potable water systems, reservoirs, swimming pools, or related sanitary water systems, and on membranes such as those used for desalinization, industrial processes, or related applications. [0003] The therapeutic applications include but are not limited to the use of therapeutically-useful, multiple-specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about creating a mixture of enzymes that can break down complex polysaccharides found in biofilms. This mixture can be used to remove or degrade biofilms from industrial surfaces, improving efficiency and hygiene. It can also be used therapeutically to help fight infections caused by biofilm-producing pathogens. The enzyme mixture can be administered through various routes, including oral, pulmonary, nasal, IV, IP, and intra-ocularly."

Problems solved by technology

In an industrial setting, the presence of these biofilms causes a decrease in the efficiency of industrial machinery, requires increased maintenance, and presents potential health hazards.

For example, the surfaces of water cooling towers become increasingly coated with microbially produced biofilm slime which both constricts water flow and reduces heat exchange capacity.

Food preparation lines are routinely plagued by biofilm build-up both on the machinery and on the food product where biofilms often include potential pathogens.

Because of this complexity and diversity, non-specific hydrolytic enzymes are ineffective in degrading these biofilms and consequently ineffective in reducing or eliminating the undesirable biofilm.

Because of this complexity, non-specific hydrolytic enzymes or hydrolytic enzymes with a single specificity are ineffective in degrading these biofilms and consequently ineffective in reducing or eliminating the disease condition.

At the present time, there are no therapeutic products which are commercially employed to degrade and remove these disease related, pathogen-produced biofilms.

Currently, biofilms are most commonly removed using physical abrasion, a process which is both inefficient and incomplete.

Furthermore, many antimicrobial agents are toxic and damaging to the environment.

Many reports have been published describing the properties of numerous isolated polysaccharide-degrading bacteria; however, relatively little is understood concerning how intact bacteria degrade insoluble complex polysaccharides or how the multiple enzymes produced by the organism interact (Salyers et al., 1996).

Animal species, particularly humans, exposed to these oral plaque-forming bacteria are at risk of developing caries.

This biofilm is also the substrate for pulmonary infections by opportunistic pathogens characteristic of the disease. iv) Implantable medical devices, such as artificial valves, stents, and catheters, can become colonized by pathogens such as Streptococcus sp., leading to premature failure of the devices and / or life-threatening secondary infections. v) contact lenses can become coated with biofilms and colonized by pathogens.

Chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of mortality in cystic fibrosis patients.

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