Programmable Nuclease Targeting for Rapid Durable Infection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for rapid and durable treatment of acute microbial infections such as bacterial infections associated with septicaemia, sepsis, or septic shock, particularly in vulnerable populations, and for controlling microbiologically influenced corrosion or biofouling in industrial and domestic systems, while minimizing interference with other medical treatments.

Innovation Solution

The use of programmable nucleases that target specific sites in microbial genomes for selective killing or reducing microbial growth, employing CRISPR/Cas systems with guide RNAs or DNA to program the nuclease for precise genome cutting, enabling rapid and sustained infection control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional antibiotics are used to treat acute microbial infections, then the infection can be treated, but the treatment is not rapid enough and does not provide durable suppression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of microbial killingVSAvoidduration of infection control

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional chemical antibiotics with a programmable nuclease system (CRISPR-Cas) that uses molecular biology mechanisms to directly cut and destroy microbial DNA. This substitution enables rapid microbial killing (achieving 99-100% reduction within minutes) while providing durable suppression that persists for hours, resolving the contradiction between speed and duration of action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanism of action from chemical inhibition to physical genome cutting. By programming the nuclease to target specific sites in microbial genomes, the system achieves both rapid effect (within minutes) and durable action (for several hours), transforming the temporal profile of infection control compared to conventional antibiotics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to ensure coverage of all possible pathogens, then infection treatment coverage is maximized, but interference with other medical treatments increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of microbial speciesVSAvoidinterference with other therapies

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by designing programmable nucleases with specific guide RNAs that target particular microbial genomes. This allows the system to provide broad coverage against multiple pathogen types while maintaining specificity that minimizes interference with host therapies, as the nucleases are programmed to recognize and cut only at specific sequences in the microbial genome rather than acting as broad-spectrum chemical agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses programmable nucleases that can be dynamically configured through guide RNA design to target different microbial species. This dynamic programming capability allows the same platform to adapt to various pathogens without requiring changes to the core nuclease mechanism, thereby maintaining broad coverage while minimizing off-target effects and interference with other medical treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Achieves rapid microbial killing of 99-100% within minutes and maintains effective reduction for several hours, allowing for less frequent dosing regimens and minimizing interference with other therapies, thus improving patient survival and system protection.

Implementation Method 1

The invention uses programmable nuclease cutting of microbial genomes. The targeted cutting provides selective microbe killing or reduction of growth or proliferation to treat or prevent infection.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCRISPR/Cas system:

Implementation Method 2

a programmable nuclease that is programmable to cut a target site comprised by the genomes of microbes that have infected the subject, whereby microbes of the first species or strain are killed, or growth or proliferation of the microbes is reduced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclease cutting:

Data Source

PatentUS20260098259A1Treating and preventing microbial infections

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 SNIPR BIOME APS

AI summary

The invention provides methods for treating or preventing microbial (eg, bacterial) infections and means for performing these methods. In particular, treatment of infections requiring rapid and durable therapy is made possible, such as for treating acute conditions such as septicemia, sepsis, SIRS or septic shock. The invention is particularly useful, for example, for treatment of microbes such as for environmental, food and beverage use. The invention relates inter alia to methods of controlling microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biofouling of a substrate or fluid in an industrial or domestic system. The invention also useful for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections in subjects receiving a treatment for a disease or condition, such as a transplant or a treatment for cancer, a viral infection or an autoimmune disease.