Use of thermolysin to reduce or eliminate bacterial biofilms from surfaces

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for the reduction or elimination of bacterial biofilms on biological and non-biological surfaces, as well as methods for the treatment of wounds, skin lesions, mucous membrane lesions, and other biological surfaces infected or contaminated with bacterial biofilms using compositions comprising thermolysin.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating a surface on or within a surgical wound infected or contaminated with a bacterial biofilm, the method comprising administering to the surface a composition comprising thermolysin, wherein the bacterial biofilm is reduced or eliminated. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is administered to a biological surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the biological surface is internal organs, body cavity, oral cavity, bone tissue, muscle tissue, nerve tissue, ocular tissue, urinary tract tissue, lung tissue, trachea tissue, sinus tissue, ear tissue, dental tissue, gum tissue, nasal tissue, vascular tissue, cardiac tissue, epithelium tissue, epithelial lesions, vaginal tissue, and/or peritoneal tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is administered to a non-biological surface. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the non-biological surface is a medical device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the medical device is a urinary tract prosthesis, urinary tract catheter, peritoneal membrane catheter, peritoneal dialysis catheter, indwelling catheter for hemodialysis, indwelling catheter for administration of chemotherapeutic agents, cardiac implant, pacemaker, prosthetic heart valve, ventricular assist device, synthetic vascular graft, synthetic vascular stent, prosthesis, percutaneous suture, tracheal tubing, or ventilator tubing. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the surgical wound does not include necrotic tissue. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the surgical wound is not in need of debridement. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bacterial biofilm is a gram-positive biofilm comprising a  Staphylococcus  sp. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the  Staphylococcus  sp. is  Staphylococcus aureus.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bacterial biofilm is a gram-negative bacterial biofilm comprising a  Pseudomonas  sp. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the  Pseudomonas  sp. is  Pseudomonas aeruginosa.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the concentration of the thermolysin is at an amount that results in a reduction or elimination of the bacterial biofilm on the surface. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the concentration of thermolysin is from 0.00001 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the concentration of thermolysin is from 0.0001 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein thermolysin is the only active ingredient in the composition that reduces or eliminates the biofilm. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutical carrier, an antibacterial agent, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a lotion, solution, suspension, liquid, emulsion, cream, gel, ringing gel, ointment, paste, aerosol spray, aerosol foam, non-aerosol spray, non-aerosol foam, film, or sheet. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the composition consists essentially of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the thermolysin. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the composition consists of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the thermolysin.