Compositions for treating biofilm

Abstract

A two component composition comprises an anchor enzyme complex to degrade biofilm structures and a second anchor enzyme component having the capability to act directly upon the bacteria for a bactericidal effect.

1 . A composition for degrading and or removing biofilms and the sessile cells associated therein comprising: 
 an enzyme    an anchor molecule coupled to an enzyme to form an enzyme-anchor complex, the anchor being capable of attaching to a surface proximal to a cell colony, the anchor being selected from a group consisting of materials that bind to the cellular colony or its components or other bioadhesive molecules;    wherein the attachment to the substrate permits prolonged retention time of the enzyme-anchor complex where the cellular colony and biofilm are present.    
     
     
         2 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the enzyme is selected for its ability to degrade a living cellular colonizing matrix.  
     
     
         3 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the anchor enzyme complex is a fusion protein.  
     
     
         4 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the biofilm is associated with infections selected from the following: ocular, contact lenses, cystic fibrosis, an implanted device, dermal infections, oral plaque; industrial equipment and water handling systems.  
     
     
         5 . A two component composition comprising an anchor enzyme complex to degrade biofilm structures and a second anchor enzyme component having the capability to act directly upon the bacteria for a bactericidal effect.  
     
     
         6 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the anchor enzyme complex contains alginate lyase to degrade the biofilm.  
     
     
         7 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the anchor enzyme complex contains an alginate binding domain.  
     
     
         8 . A composition as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the alginate binding domain is derived from elastase.  
     
     
         9 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the anchor enzyme complex is a fusion protein.  
     
     
         10 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the anchor enzyme complex contains lysozyme to lyse bacteria within the biofilm.  
     
     
         11 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the anchor enzyme complex contains lactoferrin.  
     
     
         12 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein one or more anchor enzyme complexes contain oxido-reductase enzymes that generate active oxygen for the purpose of killing bacteria within the biofilm.  
     
     
         13 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein one or more anchor enzyme complexes contain hexose oxidase for the purpose of generating active oxygen.  
     
     
         14 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein one or more anchor enzyme complexes contain lactoperoxidase for the purpose of generating active oxygen.  
     
     
         15 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein one or more anchor enzyme complexes contain myeloperoxidase for the purpose of generating active oxygen.  
     
     
         16 . An ophthalmic composition for treating contact lenses while either retained within or removed from the eye consisting of an enzyme anchor complex as claimed in  claim 2 .  
     
     
         17 . A composition as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the anchor enzyme complex is a fusion protein whose anchor part is an alginate binding domain and whose catalytic part is alginate lyase.  
     
     
         18 . An ophthalmic composition for treating ocular related infections comprising an anchor enzyme complex to degrade the biofilm associated with the infection and a bactericidal agent to kill individual bacteria that are released from the biofilm structure as it is being degraded.  
     
     
         19 . A composition as-claimed in  claim 18  wherein the bactericidal agent is selected from the group consisting of: Aminoglycoside antibiotic; a Quinolone or Fluoroquinolone antibiotic, a Cephalosporin antibiotic, a Penicillin antibiotic, Tobramycin; is Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Aztreonam, Vancomycin, Streptomycin, is Neomycin, and Gentamicin.  
     
     
         20 . A composition as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the bactericidal agent has an anchor.  
     
     
         21 . A composition as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the anchor is selected from a polysaccharide binding domain and a cellulose binding domain.  
     
     
         22 . A composition for degrading or removing biofilm that is contained in a closed system and the sessile cells associated therein, the composition comprising one or more enzymes selected for their ability to degrade the biofilm.  
     
     
         23 . A composition as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the enzyme is an alginate degrading enzyme such as alginate lyase and an antimicrobial/antibiotic.  
     
     
         24 . A composition as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the antimicrobial/antibiotic has a moiety connected to it so that the antimicrobial/antibiotic agent can be retained at a specific location within a closed system.  
     
     
         5 f. A composition as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the enzyme is an alginate degrading enzyme such as alginate lyase and one or more enzymes that have one-or more moieties connected to them so that the anchor-enzyme can be retained at a specific location within a closed system.