Compositions and methods comprising serratia peptidase for inhibition and treatment of biofilms related to certain conditions

Abstract

Physiologically acceptable anti-biofilm compositions comprising Serratia peptidase and optionally one or more of bromelain, papain and a fibrinolytic enzyme. Additional components can include antimicrobials, antibiotics, antifungals, herbals, chelating agents, lactoferrin and related compounds, minerals, surfactants, binders, and fillers useful for the inhibition and treatment of gastrointestinal biofilms in humans. Physiologically acceptable anti-biofilm compositions containing these enzymes are useful in the inhibition, reduction and / or treatment of biofilms such as in the ear, vagina, joints, bones, gut, surgical sites and other locations, and are useful for the inhibition, reduction and / or treatment of associated systemic symptoms caused by biofilm associated microorganisms.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]The present application claims the benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 263,776, filed Nov. 23, 2009, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]A “biofilm” is a well known phenomenon and may be defined as a population of microbial cells growing on a surface and enclosed in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric material, which mediates adhesion of the cells to each other and to surfaces. Biofilms are not simply passive assemblages of cells that are stuck to surfaces, but are structurally and dynamically complex biological systems. As compared with cells that are planktonic in nature, bacteria growing in biofilms exhibit a different phenotype with respect to growth rate and gene transcription. See http: / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Biofilm.[0003]Unwanted biofilms have been responsible, for example, for the fouling of cooling-water towers, water pipelines, membrane units and food-proce...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Thus, there has gone unmet a need for improved methods, compositions, etc., related to reduction of biofilms within the ear, vagina, joints, bones, gut, surgical sites and other locations in mammals. The present methods, etc., provide one or more of these and / or other advantages.

Problems solved by technology

Biofilms are not simply passive assemblages of cells that are stuck to surfaces, but are structurally and dynamically complex biological systems.

Biofilms are notoriously difficult to eradicate.