Growth Curve Analysis for Simultaneous Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods are inadequate for simultaneously and efficiently detecting antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against Salmonella spp. in a short timeframe, as they often require extensive screening and cannot distinguish between growth inhibition and biofilm reduction.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing growth curve analysis by comparing the optical density of microorganisms with and without a composition or compound, identifying antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities through changes in growth phases, allowing for rapid high-throughput analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional screening methods are used to detect antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities, then comprehensive evaluation can be achieved, but the screening process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidscreening time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines antimicrobial and anti-biofilm detection into a single growth curve analysis method. By measuring optical density at multiple time points during microbial growth, the method simultaneously evaluates both antimicrobial activity (inhibition of growth phases) and anti-biofilm activity (reduction of stationary phase biomass), eliminating the need for separate screening assays and significantly reducing detection time while maintaining comprehensive evaluation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If traditional methods are used to evaluate antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities, then detailed analysis can be performed, but the complexity of the screening process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivity differentiationVSAvoidscreening procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the microbial growth curve into distinct phases (lag, exponential, stationary) and evaluates compound effects on each phase separately. By analyzing which specific phases are inhibited, the method differentiates between antimicrobial activity (affecting growth phases) and anti-biofilm activity (affecting stationary phase), providing detailed activity classification through a relatively simple optical density measurement approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive screening for both antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities is performed, then accurate identification of effective compounds can be achieved, but the throughput of the screening process decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompound identification accuracyVSAvoidscreening throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The growth curve analysis method serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects antimicrobial activity, anti-biofilm activity, and provides kinetic information about compound-microorganism interactions. This single multi-functional assay replaces multiple specialized tests, enabling accurate identification of compounds with different modes of action while maintaining high screening throughput through automated optical density measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables simultaneous and distinguishable detection of antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities, facilitating the identification of effective compounds against Salmonella spp. and other microorganisms, thereby addressing the limitations of existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

determining the growth of the microorganism by measuring the optical density in intervals during the incubation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical density measurement: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4314318B1A method for identifying a composition or compound having antimicrobial and/or Anti-biofilm activities against a microorganism of interest
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA
  • EP4314318B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4314318B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP4314318B1 patent drawingFigure 1E~1F

AI summary

The present invention generally relates to the field of microbiology, and more specifically to the field of antimicrobials. The present invention is based on a novel approach for searching active compositions or compounds having antimicrobial and/or anti-biofilm activities against a microorganism of interest based on growth curve analysis. The present invention provides a method for identifying a composition or compound having antimicrobial and/or anti-biofilm activities against a microorganism of interest, comprising the steps of a) providing a composition or compound, b) bringing the composition or compound in contact with a microorganism of interest in a growth medium; c) incubating the microorganism in the presence of the composition or compound; d) determining the growth of the microorganism by measuring the optical density in intervals during the incubation under c); e) preparing a growth curve from the measurement obtained under d); and f) analyzing the growth curve to determine if the composition or compound has antimicrobial and/or anti-biofilm activities against the microorganism.