166 results about "Biofilm growth" patented technology

The present invention provides a gallium-containing composition for coating / impregnating a device or device surface to prevent biofilm growth formation. The present invention also provides a method of preventing or inhibiting biofilm growth formation. The present invention also provides methods for killing established biofilms.

The present invention is directed to a stable, soluble, antimicrobial composition concentrate comprising pyrithione or a pyrithione complex in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 30 weight percent, a zinc source in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10%, and an organic amine component in an amount of from about 30% to about 80%, said percents being based upon the total weight of the composition concentrate. The invention is also directed to methods of controlling the growth of free-living microorganisms or biofilms using the antimicrobial composition of the invention, and products made using the antimicrobial composition of the invention.

The present invention is directed to an antimicrobial composition, comprising pyrithione or a pyrithione complex; and a zinc or copper or silver source selected from the group consisting of zinc or copper or silver salts, oxides, hydroxides, sulfates, chlorides, metals, and combinations thereof; wherein the weight ratio of the zinc or copper or silver source to the pyrithione or the pyrithione complex is in the range from about 1:300 to about 50:1, and wherein the antimicrobial composition has an enhanced biocidal effect against a variety of free-living microorganisms or biofilms. Also disclosed is a method of inhibiting the growth of free-living microorganisms or biofilm utilizing the above antimicrobial composition, as well as use of such antimicrobial compositions in various products including fuels, fluids, lubricants, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, soaps, cosmetics, plastic or woven or non-woven fibers, pharmaceuticals, and as preservatives for the above products.

A compact high efficiency combined biological and physical unsaturated wastewater treatment filter configured for periodic backwashing is disclosed. The filter utilizes packed media and removes pollutants and pathogens from wastewater and other dirty water sources. The filter comprises a periodic backwashing means to less the chance that biofilm growth will clog the media pores. However, such backwashing still leaves sufficient biofilm attached to the media to maintain a very high level of treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the filter utilizes high frequency dosing to cause pore saturation at or near the surface during dosing and shortly thereafter in order to maximize distribution uniformity and to induce downward airflow into the media. The system provides a number of unexpected benefits; including allowing a very low distribution pressure and providing high oxygen transfer at low energy utilization into the filter media for aerobic biodegradation of pollutants.

A filter medium capable of removing microorganisms from a fluid such as water. The filter medium includes particles of activated carbon, particles of a substantially insoluble inorganic material having an isoelectric point greater than the fluid being filtered. A low melt index binder, preferably with a melt index of less than about 1 gram per 10 minutes, binds the particles of activated carbon and particles of inorganic material, such that the binder will become tacky at elevated temperatures without becoming sufficiently liquid to substantially wet the particles of activated carbon and inorganic material. An antimicrobial material can be incorporated into the filter to prevent biofilm growth. The use of a biocidal material in combination with the high isoelectric point material provides a trap-and-kill mechanism for microorganism removal.

A substantially dry disposable device for creating ready-to-use solutions effective in cleaning and inhibiting the growth and formation of biofilms on surfaces and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The device is impregnated with a concentrated formulation comprising a fermentation supernatant directly as obtained from the fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least one non-ionic surfactant, at least one fragrance, at least one dye and at lest one preservative. The composition used in the impregnation is a stable, fairly viscous, dark amber solution that can readily be impregnated into a non-woven, dried and conveniently packaged and stored for subsequent use.

A method and apparatus for determining the effect of various agents on the growth of biological material (biofilm), microbially-influenced corrosion and the deposition of organic and inorganic contaminants is disclosed. The method and apparatus allow for the modeling of the growth of biological contaminants and the deposition of organic and inorganic materials on industrial equipment surfaces, such as those used in the pulp and papermaking industry. The device consists of a tray which includes recessed areas for receiving coupons, as well as fluid inlets and fluid outlets for permitting the flow of liquid samples over the coupons. The design and configuration of the apparatus provides a great deal of versatility in testing various biocidal and other agents under select environmental conditions.

The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of at least one of the electrodes (cathode and / or anode) of a fuel cell, before the said cell is operated, and before or after the said electrode is placed in the said cell, comprising the step consisting in forming a biofilm on at least part of the surface of the said electrode, by immersing the said electrode in a medium capable of causing the growth of biofilms, the said biofilm being intended to catalyse the reaction at the electrode, and the step consisting simultaneously in subjecting the said electrode to a polarization potential. The invention also relates to a fuel cell comprising at least one electrode covered with a biofilm, obtained before the said electrode is placed in the cell, and to the electrode.

A system using electrochemically-activated water (ECAW) for manufacturing, processing, packaging, and dispensing beverages including: (a) using ECAW to neutralize incompatible residues when transitioning from the production of one beverage to another; (b) using ECAW to rehabilitate and disinfect granular activated charcoal beds used in the feed water purification system; (c) producing a carbonated ECAW product and using the carbonated ECAW for system cleaning or disinfecting; (d) using ECAW solutions in the beverage facility clean-in-place system to achieve improved microbial control while greatly reducing water usage and reducing or eliminating the use of chemical detergents and disinfectants; (e) further reducing biofilm growth in the processing system, and purifying ingredient water without the use of chlorine, by adding an ECAW anolyte to the water ingredient feed stream; and / or (f) washing the beverage product bottles or other packages with one or more ECAW solutions prior to packaging.

This invention relates to solid cleaning compositions and the method for using the solid compositions to clean appliances and other soiled surfaces. The solid cleaning composition is generally comprised of a majority by weight of a cleaning active system; ingredients for forming the cleaning active system into a solid form; and optionally, a fragrance. The solid cleaning composition is ideally suited for reducing and / or eliminating microbial growth, including biofilm growth, contained within and / or on appliances, particularly those appliances that have water contact surfaces such as washing machines and dishwashers. The solid cleaning composition further provides reduction and / or elimination of undesirable odor and staining typically associated with such microbial growth.

The present invention provides polyphenolic compositions derived from a plant that inhibit the formation of a biofilm. Also provided are combinations that comprise at least one phenolic phytochemical and at least one antimicrobial agent that inhibit the growth of an established biofilm. Further, the present invention provides methods for inhibiting the formation and growth of biofilms.

A process for reducing and / or eliminating biofilm growth and removal thereof formed during operation of pressure-induced filtration systems such as reverse osmosis systems. The systems and methods are particularly suitable for use with pressure-driven membrane filtration, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.

Bacteria accumulations on the interior walls of a fluid conduit are detected by placing a bacterial target substrate in the conduit. The substrate is structured to allow bacteria to colonize it at at least the rate of accumulation expected on the conduit walls or at an accelerated rate in order to preempt normal bacteria accumulation on the walls. A bacteria getter may be used to accelerate bacterial colonization of the substrate. An excitation signal interrogating the substrate causes autofluorescence in the presence of bacteria, specifically from NADH and / or NADPH present. The autofluorescent emission is transmitted to a detector and processor. In one system when the presence of bacteria at a preset level is detected there is initiated a diversion of the fluid into an auxiliary subsystem during which the primary subsystem is remediated. In one configuration, a wall portion is transparent and the biofilm target substrate is integral with the transparent wall portion and the sensor head is attached to the outside of the transparent wall portion. It can be made as a removable and / or disposable cell in which the transparent wall portion is a glass plug that fits into a hole in the conduit. The biofilm target substrate can be a getter affinity surface formed on the inside surface of the glass plug. Various means are used for obtaining accelerated biofilm growth.

The present disclosure provides methods of treating water sources, including, but not limited to, dental unit water sources, in order to reduce the titer of bacteria and other pathogens in those water sources and also to inhibit biofilm growth and maintenance in surfaces, such as dental unit water lines, that come into contact with those water sources. The disclosure also provides solid compositions comprising silver citrate which are suitable for use in the disclosed treatment methods, and further provides methods for preparing such solid compositions.

A system and method for monitoring or detecting a level of biofilm growth in a fluid system and controlling operating parameters of the fluid system based a measured level of growth. The monitoring system and method comprises a dye injection system for periodically injecting dye into a portion of fluid from the fluid system, passing the portion of fluid though a narrow lumen tube to achieve laminar flow and using a light source and optical sensor to detect a transmission or emission indicating a level of biofilm growth in the tube corresponding to a level of growth on components in the fluid system. Information based upon the measurements or calculations made by the monitoring system may be used to manually or automatically alter various operating parameters to control the fluid system and aid in maintaining stable operation of the fluid system within preferred specifications.

Provided is a fresh water production method applying a combined water-treatment technology employing a plurality of semi-permeable membrane units, the method enabling prevention of problems caused by growth of a biofilm and allowing effective use of an injected chemical agent and an injected neutralizing agent. The fresh-water production method produces fresh water by treatment of source water by a semi-permeable membrane treatment device, the concentrated water resulting from the treatment by the semi-permeable membrane treatment device is mixed with other source water, and the water mixture is treated by a second semi-permeable membrane treatment device. A first chemical agent is injected continuously or intermittently into the source water and a second chemical agent is injected continuously or intermittently into the source water.

The invention relates to a wastewater treatment technology for manual wetland by using a reinforced compound stuffing in a multilevel shift process, which comprising the following steps: firstly, the wastewater is sent into a desilting basin unit to remove the sundries and suspended substances in the water body; secondly, the wastewater is sent into the wetland group unit to be purified and then discharged; wherein, the wetland group unit comprises a plurality of vertical current wetland units connected in series with each other and the wastewater is sent into the wetland units in sequence during the purifying treatment. When one wetland unit is in the process of purifying wastewater, the other wetland units are kept in an empty bed status. The invention has the advantages that firstly, the shift between the anoxic form and the aerobic form is realized in time and space, the denitrification capability of the wetland system is increased greatly and the problem that the bed is blocked due to the excess growth of the biomembrane on the stuffing carrier is avoided; secondly, the water quality of the effluent is favorable, the elimination efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus is up to 95%, the effluent of the domestic wastewater treated by the technology can reaches the wastewater renovation standard; thirdly, the shock resistance loading ability of the system is high, the occupied area is small, the technology is not only suitable for domestic wastewater in urban areas, wastewater with high concentration nitrogen and phosphorus, but also applicable for lake and river water bodies which are seriously eutrophicated.

A substantially dry disposable device for creating ready-to-use solutions effective in cleaning and inhibiting the growth and formation of biofilms on surfaces and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The device is impregnated with a concentrated formulation comprising a fermentation supernatant as obtained from the fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least one non-ionic surfactant, at least one fragrance, at least one dye and at lest one preservative. The composition used in the impregnation is a stable, fairly viscous, dark amber solution that can readily be impregnated into a non-woven, dried and conveniently packaged and stored for subsequent use. It can then be lifted or immersed into water to reconstitute an appropriate use-dilution.

A system using electrochemically-activated water (ECAW) for manufacturing, processing, packaging, and dispensing beverages including: (a) using ECAW to neutralize incompatible residues when transitioning from the production of one beverage to another; (b) using ECAW to rehabilitate and disinfect granular activated charcoal beds used in the feed water purification system; (c) producing a carbonated ECAW product and using the carbonated ECAW for system cleaning or disinfecting; (d) using ECAW solutions in the beverage facility clean-in-place system to achieve improved microbial control while greatly reducing water usage and reducing or eliminating the use of chemical detergents and disinfectants; (e) further reducing biofilm growth in the processing system, and purifying ingredient water without the use of chlorine, by adding an ECAW anolyte to the water ingredient feed stream; and / or (f) washing the beverage product bottles or other packages with one or more ECAW solutions prior to packaging.

The present invention provides polyphenolic compositions derived from a plant that inhibit the formation of a biofilm. Also provided are combinations that comprise at least one phenolic phytochemical and at least one antimicrobial agent that inhibit the growth of an established biofilm. Further, the present invention provides methods for inhibiting the formation and growth of biofilms.

Peroxyformic acid compositions for removal of biofilm growth and mineral deposits on membranes are disclosed. In particular, peroxyformic acid compositions are generated in situ or on site generation for the reduction and prevention, of biofilms and the mitigation of mineral buildup on the membranes. The compositions according to the invention are compatible with the membranes under application of use conditions.

The invention relates to a method for constructing an electro-catalytic bacterial biofilm at an anode of a microbial electrochemical reactor. The method comprises the following steps: firstly assembling the microbial electrochemical reactor and connecting with circuits, wherein the first path is formed by connecting a fixed resistor between the anode and a cathode in series, and the second path is formed by connecting a direct current stabilized power supply, an ampere meter, a variable resistor and a working contact of a cycle time relay between the anode and the cathode in series; then injecting a bacterial growth culture medium liquid into an anode chamber, inoculating a bacteria source, conducting the first path to carry out prestart on the microbial anode, measuring the anode potential change to obtain a polarization curve and determining an ultimate current value of the anode; and after electro-catalytic bacterial biofilm is stimulated by using ultimate pulse current to grow, successively obtaining a new ultimate current value again, then stimulating again under the new ultimate pulse current, repeating the steps till no significant growth of the ultimate current exists and finishing construction of the anodic electro-catalytic bacterial biofilm. The electro-catalytic bacterial biofilm can stably run under relatively high working current.

Multi-drug resistant superbugs are a persistent problem in modern health care. This invention provides an antimicrobial endolysin-Lysostaphin triple fusion protein, comprising (1) an endolysin CHAP endopeptidase domain, (2) an endolysin amidase domain, and (3) a Lysostaphin glycyl-glycine endopeptidase domain. The domains are derived from two proteins that show antimicrobial synergy when used in combination. The protein has specificity and exolytic activity for the peptidoglycan cell wall of untreated, live Staphylococcus aureus from many growth phases i.e. stationary, logarithmic and biofilm growth. The recombinant triple fusion protein comprising the three functional antimicrobial domains is designed to be refractory to resistance development.

Multi-drug resistant superbugs are a persistent problem in modern health care. This invention provides an antimicrobial endolysin-Lysostaphin triple fusion protein, comprising (1) an endolysin CHAP endopeptidase domain, (2) an endolysin amidase domain, and (3) a Lysostaphin glycyl-glycine endopeptidase domain. The domains are derived from two proteins that show antimicrobial synergy when used in combination. The protein has specificity and exolytic activity for the peptidoglycan cell wall of untreated, live Staphylococcus aureus from many growth phases i.e. stationary, logarithmic and biofilm growth. The recombinant triple fusion protein comprising the three functional antimicrobial domains is designed to be refractory to resistance development.

This invention discloses a continuous backwashing aeration biofilter, comprising a cylinder, a feed water distribution system inserted into the cylinder and used for feeding raw water, an aeration system inserted to the cylinder and used for feeding air, a clear water drainage system arranged on the cylinder and used for draining treated clear water, a filter material box arranged at the bottom of the cylinder and communicated with an inner chamber of the cylinder, a filter material cleaning device arranged at the top of the cylinder and communicated with the inner chamber of the cylinder and used for cleaning the filter material, and a filter material lifter used for lifting the filter material. The filter material box contains the filter material used for retaining suspended solids and facilitating the growth of a biofilm. The filter material box, the filter material lifter and the filter material cleaning device are connected in turn through a filter material lifting pipe. This continuous backwashing aeration biofilter realizes continuous backwashing of the filter material without shut-down, is capable of continuously running, convenient for operation, energy-saving and high in processing efficiency.

The invention discloses efficient biological deodorization equipment. The efficient biological deodorization equipment comprises a dripping filter (1), wherein the dripping filter (1) is successively provided with a demister (9), a first spray thrower (71), a first porous aggregate bed layer (61), a second spray thrower (72), a second porous aggregate bed layer (62) and a gas diffuser (5) from top to bottom; the gas diffuser (5) is communicated with an air blower (2), and the bottom of the dripping filter (1) is respectively communicated with a liquid inlet of a fungus liquid tank (3) and a liquid inlet of a first water pump (41); a liquid outlet of the fungus liquid tank (3) is communicated with the liquid inlet of the first water pump (41), a liquid outlet of the first water pump (41) is respectively communicated with the liquid inlet of the first spray thrower (71) and a liquid inlet of second spray thrower (72), and the fungus liquid tank (3) is internally provided with deodorization fungus liquid. The efficient biological deodorization equipment provided by the embodiment of the invention has the advantages of improving the growth rate of a biological membrane, shortening the growth cycle of the biological membrane, improving the deodorization capacity, and effectively preventing the porous aggregate bed layer from being blocked.

The invention discloses a biological membrane and activated sludge composite sewage treatment system, belonging to the technical field of sewage treatment. The biological membrane and activated sludge composite sewage treatment system comprises a reaction tank, wherein the reaction tank is sequentially divided into an anoxic / anaerobic region, an anoxic region, an aerobic composite region and an aerobic region from front to back; the aerobic composite region internally comprises a circulating flow partition wall, an arc-shaped guide wall, suspended filler for growing a biological membrane, an aeration plate and a blast blower, wherein the aeration plate is located below the suspended filler, the blast blower is connected with the aeration plate through an aeration pipeline, the circulating flow partition wall is transversely arranged in the aerobic composite region, the arc-shaped guide wall is located at an extension part of the circulating flow partition wall, a region I and a region II are internally and respectively provided with a propeller for stirring pollutants. Activated sludge and the biological membrane on the added suspended filler simultaneously coexist in a biological tank, so that the microbial biomasses of different populations in the biological tank are increased, and the tank capacity required by nitration reaction is greatly reduced.

This invention is a diagnostic plate that can be used to select antibiotic combinations with efficacy against microorganisms growing as a biofilm. The plate allows growth of biofilm on a plurality of projections, and the subsequent simultaneous challenge of biofilms on all projections of the plate to independent concentrations and combinations of anti-biofilm agents. Resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics is higher when they grow as a biofilm, as compared to when they grow in a planktonic state which is usually used to determine their level of antibiotic sensitivity. Growth of microorganisms that slough off the biofilm in the anti-biofilm agent challenge determines the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) which relates to sensitivity of the microorganisms in a planktonic state. Growth of any surviving microorganisms from the biofilm in a subsequent recovery step determines the Minimal Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) which relates to the sensitivity of the microorganisms growing as a biofilm. Enumeration of the surviving microorganisms in the recovery step determines the Minimum Biocidal Concentration (MBC).

The invention discloses a method for controlling membrane pollution by quorum quenching immobilized strains. The method includes the steps: firstly, performing directional separation on bacteria in activated sludge taken out from a sewage treatment plant by the aid of a minimum medium method, and separating out purified single colonies; secondly, performing verification of quorum quenching function on the separated purified single colonies to obtain functional strains with the quorum quenching function; thirdly, performing imbedded immobilization on the functional strains by the aid of porous natural materials to form imbedded immobilization bacteria; fourthly, adding the imbedded immobilization bacteria into a bio-film growth reactor, and performing comprehensive verification on membrane pollution prevention effect. According to the method, membrane pollution caused by bio-films on the surface of a filtering membrane can be efficiently prevented by the aid of immobilized quorum quenching bacteria, and cost is low.

Methods for treating patients in which damaged tissue or an indwelling prosthetic device or catheter has a bacterial biofilm growing thereon, to at least partially disrupt said biofilm, by administering at least one antibacterial enzyme that is lethal or damaging to the biofilm-forming bacteria in an amount that is effective to at least partially disrupt the biofilm upon contact therewith. Methods for prophylactically treating a patient, and methods for disinfecting or sterilizing a surface ex-vivo to remove a biofilm or prevent biofilm growth are also disclosed, as well as implantable articles susceptible to biofilm growth to which a prophylactic coating of an antibacterial enzyme has been applied.