Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M16/00—Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic
  • D06M16/003—Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic with enzymes or microorganisms
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N63/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi, animals or substances produced by, or obtained from, microorganisms, viruses, microbial fungi or animals, e.g. enzymes or fermentates
  • A01N63/20—Bacteria; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
  • A61L2/20—Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
  • A61L2/208—Hydrogen peroxide
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
  • A61L2/22—Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/12—Apparatus for isolating biocidal substances from the environment
  • A61L2202/122—Chambers for sterilisation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/20—Targets to be treated
  • A61L2202/24—Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/20—Targets to be treated
  • A61L2202/26—Textiles, e.g. towels, beds, cloths

Definitions

• the present invention relates to methods and compositions for controlling microbial growth on clean room equipment, preferably on clean room clothing. More particularly, the invention is directed to means for the microbial decontamination of such clean room equipment by employing one or more antimicrobial agents of organic origin.
• Clean room environments are of immense value in the fabrication and assembly of many industrial products, including inter alia electronics, semiconductors, spacecraft components, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
• the low density of environmental pollutants such as dust, aerosolized particulates, airborne microorganisms, and chemical vapors within these clean room facilities reduces the amount of both inorganic and organic (i.e. biological) contaminations on and within the products manufactured.
• a clean room has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size (0.1 or 0.5 ⁇ in diameter).
• Clean rooms are classified according to, e.g., the EN ISO 14644-1 standard (class ISO 1 to ISO 9) or the EU GMP Annex 1 standard for sterile pharmaceuticals (class A to D).
• the EN ISO 14644-1 standard class ISO 1 to ISO 9
• the EU GMP Annex 1 standard for sterile pharmaceuticals class A to D
• EU GMP Annex 1 standard corresponding to ISO 5
• SD maximally allowed number of particles amounts to about 3500, in a clean room of class C (corresponding to ISO 7) to about 3.5 x 10 5 , and in a clean room of class D (corresponding to ISO 8) to about 3.5 x 10 6 , respectively.
• the maintenance of a clean environment and the prevention (or at least reduction) of further contamination is essential for the production process of the above-referenced goods.
• an aseptic environment (at least during some production steps) is inevitable for the manufacture of medicaments (cf., e.g., Schicht, H.H. (1998) Cleanrooms Int. 2, 17-28).
• Clean room technology thus aims at the development of various concepts for avoiding contamination.
• equipment inside the clean room such as furniture is designed to generate minimal air contamination. Air entering a clean room from outside is filtered to exclude dust, and the air inside is constantly re-circulated through high efficiency particulate air filters in order to remove internally generated contaminants.
• clean rooms may also be kept at a positive pressure so that in case of any leaks, air leaks out of the chamber instead of unfiltered air coming in.
• One critical source of contamination is the transfer of materials or personnel to or from clean rooms.
• some equipment typically made of materials having a low porosity, such as manufacturing devices (e.g. pipetting robots) or laboratory supplies (e.g., tubes, dishes) can be decontaminated (or sterilized) fairly easy by means of, e.g., autoclaving (that is, heat treatment) or gamma ray treatment.
• the present invention relates to a method for controlling microbial growth on clean room equipment, the method comprising: contacting the clean room equipment to be treated with one or more antimicrobial agents; and incubating the clean room equipment for a pre-selected period of time, wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents are of organic origin.
• the clean room equipment to be treated is clean room clothing.
• the step of contacting the clean room equipments comprises a physical contacting method, preferably selected from the group consisting of spraying and gassing.
• said step of contacting comprises the chemical coupling of the one or more antimicrobial agents to the clean room equipment to be treated.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed are selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, particularly preferably of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, and metabolites produced by said microorganisms. It is also preferred that the one or more of the microorganisms and/or metabolites are isolated or enriched from plants, particularly preferably from the rhizosphere, endosphere or phyllosphere of plants.
• the plants from which the one or more of the microorganisms and/or metabolites are isolated or enriched are selected from the group consisting of Fragaria spec, Brassica napus, Cucurbita pepo, Beta vulgaris, Solanum tuberosum, Sphagnum spec, Viscum album, and Acer tataricum.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed comprise microorganisms of a species selected from the group consisting of Paenibacillus polymyxa, Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Serratia plymuthica, Pantoea agglomerans, and Lysobacter antibioticus.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents comprise one or more metabolites selected from the group consisting of exoenzymes, antibiotics, volatile organic substances, and biosurfactants.
• the method according to the present invention is for controlling growth of any one or more clean room associated microorganisms exemplarily selected from the group consisting of Bacillus spec, Paenibacillus spec, Geobacillus spec, Oceanobacillus spec, Micrococcus spec, Staphylococcus spec, Exiguobacterium spec, Microbacterium spec, Kocuria spec, Pseudomonas spec, Sphingomonas spec, Stenotrophomonas spec, Verticillium spec, Penicillium spec, Candida spec, and Saccharomyces spec..
• the method according to the present invention further comprises: removing the one or more antimicrobial agents from the clean room equipment after having performed the incubation step by means of a physical and/or chemical treatment.
• the present invention relates to the use of a method as defined herein for the microbial decontamination of clean room equipment, preferably of clean room clothing.
• the present invention relates to a kit-of-parts, comprising one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, preferably bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, and metabolites produced by said microorganisms for performing the method as defined herein.
• one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, preferably bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, and metabolites produced by said microorganisms for performing the method as defined herein.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed in the kit-of-parts comprise: microorganisms of a species selected from the group consisting of Paenibacillus polymyxa, Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Serratia plymuthica, Pantoea agglomerans, and Lysobacter antibioticus; and/or one or more metabolites selected from the group consisting of exoenzymes, antibiotics, and biosurfactants.
• the present invention relates to the use of a kit-of-parts as defined herein for the microbial decontamination of clean room equipment, preferably of clean room clothing.
• FIGURE 1 Schematic illustration of the problem underlying the present invention.
• FIGURE 2 Microbial colonization of textile surfaces.
• FIGURE 3 Analysis of the efficacy of antimicrobial agents according to the invention on microbial growth.
• the upper panel depicts an exemplary analysis of the efficacy of antimicrobial agents against Verticillium dahliae.
• the method (dual culture assay) was performed on Waksman agar as described in Berg, G. (1996) J. Plant Dis. Protect. 103, 20-30.
• the lower panel shows an exemplary in vitro assay of the efficacy of antimicrobial agents against Erwinia carotovora.
• the assay was modified from Rasche, F. et al (2006) J. Appl. Ecology 43, 555-566.
• A zone of growth inhibition
• B zone of endophytic bacteria
• FIGURE 4 Analysis of the efficacy of antimicrobial agents according to the invention on microbial growth.
• the bar chart shows the total number of antagonists identified against eleven pathogenic fungi and bacteria known to be inhabiting clean rooms. The analysis was performed using the assay described in Fig. 3, upper panel.
• FIGURE 5 Modified textile-based assay for the evaluation of antibacterial activity of volatile organic compounds.
• VOCs volatile organic compounds
• Selected plant-associated bacteria were tested for their ability to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which inhibit the growth of clean room-inhabiting microorganisms, and thus represent antimicrobial agonists as defined herein.
• VOCs volatile organic compounds
• cells were co-incubated for a defined period of time.
• Bacteria with antagonistic potential were plated on solid media on one half of the dual culture plate.
• the selected pathogen was incubated on a piece of clean room textile (1 x 1 cm) on the other half of the culture plate. Co-incubation was performed for 24 hours. After incubation the textile piece was brought to a staining solution.
• Cells were stained with a bacterial viability kit based on fluorescent dyes which allow live/dead staining.
• FIGURE 6 Analysis of the efficacy of volatile organic compounds according to the invention on microbial growth.
• the bar chart shows the percentage of antagonists producing volatile organic compounds with antimicrobial impact against six pathogenic bacteria and fungi known to be inhabiting clean rooms. The analysis was performed using the assay described in Fig. 5.
• FIGURE 7 Effect of volatile organic compounds produced by Pseudomonas chlororaphis on growth inhibition of Penicillium italicum.
• Dual culture testing confirmed the production by antagonistic bacteria of highly efficient antimicrobial substances which spread via air space and inhibit the growth of tested pathogens.
• Pseudomonas chlororaphis produced volatile organic compounds which strongly reduced the growth of Penicillium italicum as demonstrated in a dual culture assay.
• Cell cultures of both, the antagonist and the pathogen were co-incubated on solid nutrient agar. After 24 hours of incubation a degeneration of the growth was observed as compared to a negative control.
• FIGURE 8 Biological growth control of clean room-inhabiting microorganisms.
• the present invention is based on the unexpected finding that antimicrobial agents of organic origin which are preferably selected from microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi and from metabolites produced by said microorganisms can be successfully used for (biologically) controlling microbial growth, even of extremo-tolerant microorganisms, on clean room equipment, and particularly on clean room clothing. This, in turn, enables a reliably and efficient decontamination of clean room clothing, thus facilitating clean room operations by avoiding the otherwise necessary change of the protective clothing at each and every entry in or leave of a clean room.
• antimicrobial agents of organic origin which are preferably selected from microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi and from metabolites produced by said microorganisms can be successfully used for (biologically) controlling microbial growth, even of extremo-tolerant microorganisms, on clean room equipment, and particularly on clean room clothing.
• the present invention relates to a method for controlling microbial growth on clean room equipment, comprising:
• the one or more antimicrobial agents are of organic origin.
• clean room equipment refers to any goods that are required for a production process in a clean room environment including inter alia clean rooms as such, furniture, any types of devices or apparatuses (e.g., pipettes, robots, centrifuges, work benches, computer systems, and the like), laboratory supplies (e.g., tubes, culture dishes, pipette tips, pens, paper, notebooks, packaging containers, and the like), and clean room clothing.
• devices or apparatuses e.g., pipettes, robots, centrifuges, work benches, computer systems, and the like
• laboratory supplies e.g., tubes, culture dishes, pipette tips, pens, paper, notebooks, packaging containers, and the like
• the term “clean room equipment” refers to clean room clothing, that is, the protective clothing put on before entering a clean room.
• the term “clean room clothing” denotes any type of garment such as, e.g., gloves, face masks, surgical caps, head covers, hairnets, full cover hoods, socks, shoe covers, undergarments, coveralls, jackets, pants, and coats.
• the design of such protective clothing including materials of fabrication as well as functional properties is well known in the art.
• the clean room clothing used is provided with one or more antimicrobial agents of inorganic origin, for example gold and/or silver fibers incorporated in the fabrication materials.
• controlling microbial growth denotes any activity for completely inhibiting or at least reducing the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, archaea, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and the like, in a given environment, particularly in a clean room setting.
• the term relates to biologically controlling microbial growth of said microorganisms, that is, by employing biological means as "growth inhibitors or growth reducing agents.”
• the term “inhibiting”, as used herein, is to be understood as not only to include the prevention of further growth of but also to killing of any given microorganisms.
• reducing denotes any decrease in an microorganism's growth (or growth rate), for example, a decrease of at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% as compared to control conditions (i.e. in the absence of antimicrobial agents according to the present invention).
• antimicrobial agent refers to any compound or means having an inhibitory (or antagonistic) effect on the growth of microorganisms, that is, agents that are capable of at least reducing the growth rate (e.g., bacteriostatic agents with respect to controlling the growth of bacteria) as well as agents that cause toxic effects (e.g., bactericide agents killing bacteria) provided that these compounds or means are of organic origin (i.e. composed of organic compounds).
• the one or more antimicrobial agents are selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, preferably of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, and metabolites produced by said microorganisms.
• “Antagonistic" microorganisms that may be employed in the present invention are characterized by one or more structural and/or functional properties conferring to them a selection advantage as compared to the microorganisms to be treated, thus resulting in a superior growth rate.
• Such organisms include inter alia (i) microorganisms that compete with the microorganisms to be treated for any nutrients and/or any trace elements (e.g., by depleting Fe 3+ via the secretion of iron-chelating siderophores) and/or for living space, (ii) microorganisms that produce (and optionally secrete in form of exoenzymes) lytic compounds such as glucanases, chitinases, cellulases, hydrolases (e.g. lysozyme), and lyases, and (iii) microorganisms that produce antimicrobials/antibiotics, toxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs; i.e.
• biosurfactants i.e. surface-active compounds that enhance the emulsification of hydrocarbons, have the potential to solubilize hydrocarbons and increase their availability for microbial degradation.
• antibiotics include inter alia ⁇ -lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, cephalosporin), tetracyclins, aminoglycoside (e.g., streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin), and macrolides (e.g., erythromycin).
• ⁇ -lactam antibiotics e.g., penicillin, cephalosporin
• tetracyclins e.g., aminoglycoside
• aminoglycoside e.g., streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin
• macrolides e.g., erythromycin
• toxins also includes bacteriocins, that is, proteinaceous toxins produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial species.
• bacteriocins proteinaceous toxins produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of similar or closely related bacterial species.
• examples of such toxins are, e.g., colicin, halocin, nisin, sakacin, and vibriocin.
• volatile organic compounds include inter alia methane, formaldehyde, acids (e.g., acetic acid, dodecanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid), alcohols (e.g., 2-phenyl-2- propanol), ketones (e.g., 2,3-butanedione, and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone), nitrogen (ISO- containing compounds (e.g., pyrrole), sulfur (S)-containing compounds (e.g., 2-methyl- tetrahydrothiophen-3-one), and esters (e.g., tetradecanoic acid, 1 -methylethyl ester).
• acids e.g., acetic acid, dodecanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid
• alcohols e.g., 2-phenyl-2- propanol
• ketones e.g., 2,3-butanedione, and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone
• biosurfactants include inter alia mycolic acid, glycolipids, polysaccharide-lipid complexes, lipoproteins or lipopeptides, and phospholipids.
• one or more metabolites produced by said microorganisms may be employed for practicing the present invention.
• the term "produced by said microorganisms", as used herein, is not to be understood that practicing the present invention necessarily requires the isolation of any "growth inhibitory" metabolites from said microorganisms. Rather, the term merely refers to the fact that said metabolites represent "antagonistic factors" of natural origin produced (and optionally secreted) by microorganisms.
• the method according to the invention may not only be performed with naturally occurring metabolites (i.e. metabolites isolated from antagonistic microorganisms as defined herein) but also with corresponding metabolites that are chemically synthesized or generated by means of recombinant gene technology (see, for example, Sambrook, J. et al. (1989) Molecular, Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2 nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY).
• one or more of the microorganisms and/or metabolites are isolated or enriched from plants, particularly preferably from the rhizosphere, endosphere or phyllosphere of plants.
• rhizosphere denotes the region (layer) of soil (including the root surfaces) that is directly influenced by secretions of a plant's roots and root-associated soil microorganisms.
• endosphere denotes the interior of a plant.
• phyllosphere refers to a plant's leaf surfaces or the total above-ground surfaces of a plant.
• Examples of "antagonistic" microorganisms that can be isolated from the rhizosphere include inter alia Chryseobacterium spec, Enterobacter spec, Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia spec, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Staphylococcus spec, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Examples of "antagonistic” microorganisms that can be isolated from the endosphere include inter alia Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mitis, Serratia spec, Enterobacter spec, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
• examples of "antagonistic” microorganisms that can be isolated from the phyllosphere include inter alia Serratia plymuthica, Pseudomonas putida, and Pantoea agglomerans.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed in a given setting may all be isolated or enriched from antagonistic microorganisms isolated from a single plant species (variety) or from at least two different plant species of the same plant genus or they may be isolated or enriched from at least two plants belonging to different genera.
• the plants are selected from the dicotyledon plants (also referred to as “dicotyledons” or “dicots”).
• dicotyledon plants also referred to as “dicotyledons” or “dicots”
• monocotyledon plants also referred to as “monocotyledons” or “monocots”
• having only a single cotyledon may be employed as well.
• the plants are selected from the group (of dicotyledons) consisting of Fragaria spec. (i.e. strawberry), Brassica napus (i.e. rape or oilseed rape), Cucurbita pepo (i.e. pumpkin or squash), Beta vulgaris (i.e. beet), Solanum tuberosum (i.e. potato), Sphagnum spec. (i.e. peat moss), Viscum album (i.e. mistletoe), and Acer tataricum (i.e. Tatar maple).
• Fragaria spec. i.e. strawberry
• Brassica napus i.e. rape or oilseed rape
• Cucurbita pepo i.e. pumpkin or squash
• Beta vulgaris i.e. beet
• Solanum tuberosum i.e. potato
• Sphagnum spec. i.e. peat moss
• Viscum album i.e. mistletoe
• the method of the present invention may be performed with one or more antimicrobial agents isolated or enriched from any one or more plants, more particularly from any one or more antagonistic microorganisms associated with any one or more plants.
• the method is performed with one or more antimicrobial agents isolated or enriched from any one, any subgroup of any two or more (i.e. any two, any three, any four, any five, any six, or any seven) or all of the eight plants of the group disclosed herein above, and more particularly from any one or more antagonistic microorganisms associated with any one, any subgroup of any two or more (i.e. any two, any three, any four, any five, any six, or any seven) or all of the eight plants of the group disclosed herein above.
• isolated denotes that the antimicrobial agents used in the invention are present in pure (or almost pure) form, for example at least 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% 98% or 99% pure or completely pure (i.e. 100% pure).
• enriched denotes a crude preparation (e.g., a microbial cell extract) subjected to one or more basic purification steps (e.g., a filtration, a precipitation or a centrifugation step), thus resulting in the accumulation of the antimicrobial agents in such preparation which, however, does still include significant impurities.
• enriched preparations may be at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% or 70% pure.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed in the present invention may comprise microorganisms of any one or more microbial species exhibiting an antagonistic (i.e. growth inhibiting or at least growth reducing) behavior towards one or more clean-room inhabiting microorganisms.
• Examples of such "antagonistic" microorganisms include inter alia any species of an organism belonging to the group consisting of the genera Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Agrobacterium, Amycolatopsis, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Burkholderia, Cellulomonas, Citrobacter, Clavibacter, Chromobacterium, Comamonas, Corynebacterium, Chryseomonas, Curtobacterium, Delftia, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Erwinia, Escherichia, Flavobacterium, Frigoribacterium, Gordonia, Herbaspirillum, Klebsiella, Kitasatospora, Kocuria, Kytococcus, Lactobacillus, Leifsonia, Lysobacter, Methylobacterium, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Micromonospora, Morganella, Neisseria, Nocardia, Oerskovia, Paeni
• the method of the present invention may be performed with any species of the antagonistic microorganisms or with any combination of any one or more species belonging to any one or more genera of the antagonistic microorganisms referred to above.
• the method may be carried out with two or more species of microorganisms belonging to the same genus (e.g., Bacillus, Microbacterium or Stenotrophomonas) as well as with two or more species of microorganisms belonging to at least two different genera (e.g., (Enterobacter and Paenibacillus) or (Cellulomonas and Neisseria and Xanthobacter)).
• the one or more antimicrobial agents comprise microorganisms of a species selected from the group consisting of Paenibacillus polymyxa, Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Serratia plymuthica, Pantoea agglomerans, and Lysobacter antibioticus.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents comprise microorganisms of the species Serratia plymuthica and/or of the species Pantoea agglomerans.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents comprise one or more metabolites selected from the group consisting of exoenzymes, antibiotics, volatile organic compounds, and biosurfactants.
• one or more denotes that the method of the invention may be performed with a single type of microbial agent (that is, e.g., a particular microorganism (i.e. a particular species) or a specific metabolite) or with at least two different types of microbial agents, wherein the at least two different types may be, e.g., at least two different species of microorganisms (that may or may not belong to the same genus) or at least two different types of metabolites (that may or may not belong to the same class of chemical compounds) or at least one microorganism and at least one metabolite.
• a single type of microbial agent that is, e.g., a particular microorganism (i.e. a particular species) or a specific metabolite) or with at least two different types of microbial agents, wherein the at least two different types may be, e.g., at least two different species of microorganisms (that may or may not belong to the
• the method of the invention may be performed by employing, for example three different species of microorganisms (e.g., Serratia plymuthica, Pantoea agglomerans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia), with four different types of metabolites (e.g., a glucanase, kanamycin, and two biosurfactants) as well as with a combination of two different species of microorganisms (e.g., Serratia plymuthica, and Pantoea agglomerans) with two different types of metabolites (e.g. two biosurfactants).
• three different species of microorganisms e.g., Serratia plymuthica, Pantoea agglomerans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
• four different types of metabolites e.g., a glucanase, kanamycin, and two biosurfactants
• the choice of (a) particular antimicrobial agent(s) for a given scenario may depend inter alia on the extent of microbial growth (i.e. the quantity) present on or supposed to be present on the surface the clean room equipment to be treated as well as on the nature (i.e. the quality) of the contaminants present.
• the skilled person is also well aware how to select one or more antimicrobial agents for a given scenario.
• the method of the present invention thus further comprises determining and/or monitoring qualitatively and/or quantitatively the microorganisms colonizing the surfaces of the clean room equipment or be treated. Numerous methods for achieving this goal are well known in the art (cf., e.g., Gail, L. and Hortig, H.P.
• the term "contacting" denotes any mode of bringing spatially together the clean room equipment to be treated with the one or more antimicrobial agents.
• the contacting step comprises a physical contacting method.
• the physical contacting method is selected from the group consisting of spraying and gassing of the clean room equipment with the one or more antimicrobial agents (present, e.g., in gaseous form, as an aerosol, a solution or a foam), for example by means of one or more spray heads, nozzles, pump-injectors or spray valves located in an airlock adjacent a clean room).
• the contacting step comprises the chemical coupling of the one or more antimicrobial agents (present, e.g., in gaseous form, as an aerosol, a solution or a foam) to the clean room equipment to be treated.
• Chemical coupling can be achieved either by covalent or non-covalent bonding between the one or more antimicrobial agents and the respective surface(s) of the clean room equipment to be treated.
• covalent bonding refers to a form of chemical bonding characterized by the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between two components, producing a mutual attraction that holds the resultant chemical linkage (i.e. molecule) together.
• non- covalent bonding refers to a variety of interactions that are not covalent in nature, between molecules or parts of molecules that provide force to hold the molecules or parts of molecules together usually in a specific orientation or conformation. Such non-covalent interactions include inter alia ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, Van- der-Waals forces, and dipole-dipole bonds.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents may either be attached directly to the respective surface(s) of the clean room equipment to be treated or via a linker molecule. Numerous linkers are known in the art. A skilled person is well aware of selecting a particular linker molecule appropriate for coupling a given antimicrobial agent to the equipment to be treated.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents may be (chemically) coupled a functionally active form or as an inactive precursor molecule that needs to be activated, e.g., by enzymatic cleavage, photolysis, UV radiation, and the like.
• the antimicrobial agent(s) are activated simply be releasing it from the surface(s) of the clean room equipment to which they are attached, for example via a cleavable linker molecule.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents are incorporated or embedded in vesicles, layers, coatings or other structures on the surface of the clean room equipment from that they are released, for example, in form of a sustained release formulation over a given period of time or upon a particular trigger such as heat, radiation or the presence of microbial contaminants (i.e. the agents are incorporated in a bioactive layer). All these configurations are established in the art.
• the choice of a particular contacting method may depend inter alia on the number, type(s) and amount(s) of the one or more antimicrobial agents to be attached, the surface properties of the clean room equipment to be treated, and the like.
• the skilled person is also well aware how to select an appropriate approach for a given setting.
• the step of contacting the clothing with the antimicrobial agent(s) may be performed prior to or after having put on the clothing to be treated.
• the equipment after having contacted the clean room equipment to be treated with one or more antimicrobial agents said equipment is incubated in the presence of the antimicrobial agents for a pre-selected period of time.
• the duration of the incubation step depend inter alia on the type(s) and concentration(s) of the one or more antimicrobial agents employed (in other words, the intensity of the treatment performed), the type(s) and number(s) of at least some of microorganisms whose growth is to be controlled (should this information be available), the size of the surface area of the clean room equipment to be treated, and the like.
• the skilled person is well aware how to calculate the time period required for inhibiting the growth of or, preferably, for killing at least a substantial portion of the microbial contaminant(s).
• reference data retrieved from the scientific literature may be used.
• the duration of the incubation period will also depend on whether the method is performed prior to or after having put on the clothing to be treated. Typically, the time period is shorter if the method is performed after having put on the clothing to be treated for the sake of convenience of the personnel concerned.
• the overall incubation period according to the invention may last, e.g., 5 s, 10 s, 20 s, 30 s, 45 s, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, or 5 h.
• the method of the invention is combined with conventional methods for controlling microbial growth such as spraying or gassing (e.g., using hydrogen peroxide) as well as radiation (e.g., UV radiation).
• spraying or gassing e.g., using hydrogen peroxide
• radiation e.g., UV radiation
• the method further comprises:
• step (c) removing the one or more antimicrobial agents from the clean room equipment after the incubation period of step (b) by means of a physical and/or chemical treatment.
• the term "removing”, as used herein, is to be understood that, after the incubation step, the one or more antimicrobial agents are detached from the clean room equipment, for example, prior to transferring the equipment treated to a clean room.
• the antimicrobial agent(s) may be removed by various physical and/or chemical methods including inter alia heat treatment, gassing, radiation (e.g., using UV or gamma rays), enzymatic cleavage followed by a rinsing step (e.g., using distilled water), and the like. All these techniques are well established in the art.
• removal of the one or more antimicrobial agents is achieved by means of photosensitizers (that is, compounds that can be activated by light) which are arranged on or coupled to the clean room equipment to be treated. Attachment or coupling may occur via covalent or non-covalent bonding as described above and may be performed prior to contacting the clean room equipment to be treated with the one or more antimicrobial agents, concomitantly with contacting the clean room equipment to be treated with the one or more antimicrobial agents, or after the clean room equipment to be treated has been contacted with the one or more antimicrobial agents.
• the photosensitizers may be incorporated into the fabrication materials of clean room clothing (e.g., by coupling to the fibers of the fabrication materials).
• Suitable photosensitizers include inter alia reactive dyes, such as Methylene Blue, Toluidine Blue, and Rose Bengal, as well as titanium dioxide.
• the photosensitizers may by activated by light of different wavelengths in the ultraviolet and the visual spectrum, that is, a wavelength between 220 nm (or 240 nm) and 820 nm (or 780 nm), with a range between 580 nm and 650 nm being preferred.
• the skilled person is well aware how to select an appropriate wavelength depending on the photosensitizer to be used.
• the skilled person is also aware of suitable time periods for which the induction of the photosensitizer is to be performed.
• microorganisms i.e. contaminants
• cleaning room-inhabiting microorganisms or “clean room-inhabiting microbes”
• microorganisms denotes any microscopic organism (i.e. organisms too small to be seen by the naked human eye) including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organism as well as both single cell-organisms and multi-cellular organisms.
• microorganisms include inter alia bacteria, archaea (archaebacteria), fungi, yeasts, viruses, and protists (e.g., algae, dinoflagellates, amoebae, Plasmodium spec, and Euglena spec).
• the method according to the invention is for controlling growth of extremo-tolerant microorganisms, that is, microorganisms specifically adapted to rather harsh environmental conditions (e.g., depletion of nutrition factors, environmental stresses, and the like), such as to the conditions occurring in clean room environments.
• the microorganisms are selected from the group of bacteria, fungi, and yeasts.
• the method according to the invention is for controlling growth of any one or more clean room associated microorganisms exemplarily selected from the group consisting of Bacillus spec, Paenibacillus spec, Geobacillus spec, Oceanobacillus spec, Micrococcus spec, Staphylococcus spec, Exiguobacterium spec, Microbacterium spec, Kocuria spec, Pseudomonas spec, Sphingomonas spec, Stenotrophomonas spec, Verticillium spec, Penicillium spec, Candida spec, and Saccharomyces spec. All these genera are well known in the art (cf., for example, Garrity, G.M.
• the method may be performed for controlling the growth of any one, any subgroup of any two or more (i.e. any two, any three, any four, any five, any six, any seven, any nine, any ten, any eleven, any twelve, any 13, any 14 or any 15) or all of the 16 microorganisms of the group disclosed herein above.
• the present invention relates to the use of a method as defined herein for the microbial decontamination of clean room equipment, preferably of clean room clothing.
• the method is used for the complete decontamination (i.e. the inactivation and/or killing of any microorganisms colonizing the clean room equipment or inhabiting a clean room) of the clean room equipment.
• the method for only interfering with the growth of one or more particular species (e.g., pathogenic organisms) that are supposed to be of critical importance for a given application.
• the present invention relates to a kit-of-parts, comprising one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, preferably bacteria yeasts, and fungi, and metabolites produced by said microorganisms for performing the method as defined herein.
• one or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, preferably bacteria yeasts, and fungi, and metabolites produced by said microorganisms for performing the method as defined herein.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed in the kit-of-parts according to the present invention may be any one or more of the microbial agents disclosed herein above.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed in the kit-of-parts comprise:
• the one or more antimicrobial agents employed in the kit-of-parts comprise:
• kit-of-parts may comprise individual containers for each of the one or more antimicrobial agents.
• two or more of the antimicrobial agents included in the kit-of-parts may be provided in a single container, optionally in a particular ratio that may depend inter alia on the respective functionalities, efficacies, and/or modes of action of these agents as well as on the specific application.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents may be provided in form of a "ready-to-use" mixture (i.e. a particular dosage form), that is, a combination of particular agents, optionally in a particular ratio, that may be employed for a given application (e.g., the inhibition or killing of one or more specific contaminants present on clean room equipment or the treatment of a particular type of equipment).
• a ready-to-use mixture i.e. a particular dosage form
• a combination of particular agents optionally in a particular ratio, that may be employed for a given application (e.g., the inhibition or killing of one or more specific contaminants present on clean room equipment or the treatment of a particular type of equipment).
• the one or more antimicrobial agents may be provided in any form (or aggregate state) such as inter alia in solid or gaseous form, as an aerosol, a solution or foam.
• the kit-of-parts comprises two or more such agents that are provided in at least two different aggregate states, e.g. as solutions and in gaseous form.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents is provided in a form that has to be reconstituted prior to use.
• such agents may be provided in lyophilized form.
• these may be provided as stock cultures (e.g., streaked out on agar plates, as a seed stock or "step-cultures") that have to be re-cultured prior to use.
• the kit-of-parts may further comprise additional reagents, e.g., buffers appropriate to dissolve lyophilized agents or culture media for cultivating microorganisms.
• the kit-of-parts further comprises any devices for applying the one or more antimicrobial agents to the clean room equipment to be treated.
• examples of such devices include inter alia spray heads, spray nozzles, pressurized dispensers, aerosol dispensers, and the like.
• the one or more antimicrobial agents may already be provided in these devices or may be provided separately and have to be applied to the respective devices prior to use.
• the present invention relates to the use of a kit-of-parts, as defined herein, for the microbial decontamination of clean room equipment, preferably of clean room clothing.
• Example 1 Dual culture assay to prove the antagonistic potential of plant associated microbes
• bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14990), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (ep-15), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (QC 14-38), Escherichia coli (OP 50), Paenibacillus polymyxa (SF1-37), Bacillus subtilis (Bioindikator- EH Sus-10-7), Erwinia carotovora (Eca 549); fungi: Verticillium dahliae (V25), Penicillium italicum (RB 425), and Candida albicans (yeast). The analysis was performed using a dual culture assay as described.
• Endophytic bacteria and endophytic fungi (in total about 300 endophytic bacteria and about 130 endophytic fungi) were tested for their antagonistic potential against the pathogens described in example 1.
• a modified dual culture assay approach was employed for analysis of the antagonistic potential of the endophytic fungi.
• a certain amount of an overnight culture of the selected antagonist was transferred to fresh liquid media and grown till OD600 was between 0.8 and 1 .0. 50 ⁇ were plated on nutrient agar. This was also done with the test pathogen.
• a defined volume of cell culture was applied on a piece of clean room textile (1 x 1 cm). Co-incubation of the antagonist and the test pathogen was done for at least 24 hours. Growth inhibition was monitored by fluorescent dying using a bacterial viability kit.
• the test of the antagonistic potential of the endophytic fungi was performed on PDA using a dual culture assay modified from in Berg, G. (1996), supra.
• the plates were inoculated with 200 ⁇ of a hyphal suspension of Verticillium dahliae.
• a 4 mm 2 plug of the test fungus was placed on the plates. Zones of inhibition were analyzed after 48h.
• the test of the antagonistic potential of the endophytic bacteria was performed on Waksman agar (bacterial endophytes). The plates were inoculated with 200 ⁇ of a hyphal suspension of Verticillium dahliae. The bacteria were streaked out in broad bands. Zones of inhibition were measured after 24h. The results illustrating the antagonistic potential of the endophytic bacteria and fungi are shown in Fig. 3, upper panel.
• Example 4 Bioassay to prove in vitro inhibition of Penicillium italicum with Pseudomonas chlororaphis:
• the test of the antagonistic potential was performed with dual culture assay. After 24h, the growth inhibition of Penicillium italicum was measured. The results illustrating the antagonistic potential of produced volatile organic compounds produced by isolated antagonists are shown in Fig. 7.
• Viscum album 17 Fun-E 0 0 0 + 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 0
• Viscum album 31 Fun-F ++ 0 0 0 +++ 0 +++ 0 + 0 0
• Viscum album 34 Fun-G 0 0 0 + +++ + +++ 0 + + 0
• Viscum album 39 Fun-I + 0 0 0 0 + +++ 0 0 0 0 0
• Viscum album 41 Fun-J 0 0 0 + 0 +++ + + 0 0 0 0
• Viscum album 45 Fun-K +++ 0 0 + + 0 + + 0 0 0 0
• Viscum album 46 Fun-L +++ 0 0 0 0 +++ 0 0 0 ++ 0
• Viscum album 47 Fun-M +++ 0 0 + 0 +++ 0 +++ 0 ++ 0
• Viscum album 48 Fun-N +++ 0 0 + 0 +++ + +++ 0 0 0 0
• Viscum album 61 Fun-O +++ 0 0 + + +++ + 0 0 0 0 0 0
• Viscum album 21 Fun-T 0 +++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
• CONTAMINANTS 1 Penicillium italicum Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Plant Pathology (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
• Biotechnology (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Virology (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=42224373

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2009
  • 2009-12-22 EP EP09180492A patent/EP2338331A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2010
  • 2010-12-22 WO PCT/EP2010/070612 patent/WO2011076912A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-12-22 EP EP10796408A patent/EP2515644A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events