Compositions and methods for handling potential prion contamination

Abstract

A composition and method of treatment for handling potential prion contamination of surfaces is disclosed. The products include and the treatment uses products that include at least one prion digester enzyme selected from a serine protease in solution with a non-ionic surfactant, a hydrotrope and high purity water

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising
 (a) at least one prion digester enzyme selected from the group of serine proteases selected form the group consisting of alcalase, savinase, proteinase K, keratinase, and a nattokinase and mixtures thereof;   (b) optionally one or more additional proteases that are not prion digester enzymes;   (c) optionally a further enzyme selected from the group consisting of one or more lipases, one or more amylases, one or more carbohydrases, one or more cellulases and mixtures thereof;   (d) a surfactant portion consisting essentially of non-ionic surfactant;   (e) optionally a hydrotrope consisting essentially of an alkali metal salt of a sulfated (unsubstituted or mono or di lower alkyl substituted) C 6-10 aryl;   (f) optionally calcium chloride   (g) optionally propylene glycol;   (h) optionally a preservative;   (i) optionally buffer;   (j) optionally one or more corrosion inhibitors; and   (k) high purity water;   having a pH in the range of about 7 to about 11;   said at least one prion digester enzyme in an amount selected from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight based on the complete composition sufficient to degrade a prion material to non-infectious fragments after an exposure time selected from time periods within the range of about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes at a temperature selected from temperatures within the range of 45° C. to 65° C.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one additional enzyme which is not a protease enzyme is present. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one hydrotrope is present. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein said hydrotrope is selected from the group consisting of sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium toluene sulfonate, Dowfax, sodium cumene sulfonate. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said buffer is present and is selected from the group consisting of TRIS buffer, Biocine buffer, or bicarbonate buffer. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said corrosion inhibitor is present. 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a surface potentially contaminated with prion material comprising contacting said surface with a composition of  claim 1  for a period of time selected from at least about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes; scrubbing said surface during at least a portion of the time said composition of  claim 1  is in contact with said surface; and rinsing said surface with water for a period of at least 2 minutes. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 6  wherein said scrubbing includes manual scrubbing. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 6  further comprising exposing said surface to sonication while said surface is in contact with said composition. 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning product comprising a pre-existing cleaner and a prion digester enzyme described in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning wipe for cleaning potentially prion contaminated surfaces comprising the composition of  claim 1  impregnated into a wipe. 
     
     
         12 . A pre-cleaner treatment product for treating a surface potentially contaminated with prion material, said product being the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a surface prior to a standard cleaner treatment wherein said method comprises treating the surface with the product of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising cleaning the surface with an additional cleaner product that does not contain a prion digester enzyme. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1  incorporated into a delivery form selected from an impregnated cloth, wipe, or sponge, a spray, a foam, or a gel. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1  incorporated into a single unit of use delivery container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7  which excludes a pre-cleaning cooking step at a temperature in excess of 75° C. before treating said surface with the composition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  which excludes a pre-cleaning cooking step at a temperature in excess of 75° C. before treating said surface with the composition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising, after said rinsing, subjecting said surface to an autoclave procedure, a steam sterilization procedure, or a gas plasma sterilization procedure, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7  which excludes a pre-cleaning sterilization step prior to decontamination with said composition as unnecessary for prion removal or degradation.