Preventing Biofilm Formation by Enzyme Inhibitors

  • Yeda
  • From Israel
  • Responsive
  • Patents for licensing

Summary of the technology

Biofilm is a complex colony of bacteria, which are attached together by extracellular polymeric substance. This setting provides the bacteria protection against environmental factors, improves their surface attachment, and plays a major role in resistance to treatment. Therefore, biofilms are difficult to eradicate, much more than single bacterial colonies. Biofilms can form on a variety of surfaces, both living and non-living, and can therefore be found in industrial, hospital, and natural settings. One such example of biofilm formation is Cystic fibrosis patients, who often develop chronic life-threatening infections in their respiratory systems and treatment is made problematic due to said biofilms.

The research team of Dr. Kolodkin-Gal managed to disrupt the structure of biofilms and prevent their formation. This was performed by inhibiting enzymes that contribute to the properties of the extracellular matrix. When the extracellular matrix is compromised due to this treatment, the formation of the biofilm is disturbed, and it becomes more susceptible to treatment. This invention can therefore be a powerful tool to control, prevent, and destroy biofilms in a variety of settings.

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The Solution

The present invention is based on inhibiting two enzymes that are involved in the structure of the bacteria colony, so that inhibiting them results in alterations of the extracellular matrix which comprises the biofilm. This treatment inhibited biofilm formation and increased its sensitivity to bactericides. Additional details with regard to this technology can be obtained based on a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Applications and Advantages

Preventing biofilm formation
Increasing sensitivity to anti-bacterial agents
Wide range of applications – can be used to prevent biofilm in multiple settings, from disease therapy via hospital equipment to contaminated water.
Can be potentially combined with other drugs, such as antibiotics.

Intellectual property status

  • Granted Patent
  • Patent application number :USA Published: Publication Number: 2021-0015889-A1

Related Keywords

  • Biological Sciences
  • Virus, Virology / Antibiotics / Bacteriology
  • Biology / Biotechnology
  • Enzyme Technology
  • Industrial Biotechnology
  • Therapeutic
  • Pharmaceuticals/fine chemicals
  • Water treatment equipment and waste disposal systems
  • biofilms

About Yeda

Yeda ("Knowledge" in Hebrew) Research and Development Company Ltd. is the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) and is the second company of its kind established in the world.

WIS is one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary basic research institutions in the natural and exact sciences. It is located in Rehovot, Israel, just south of Tel Aviv. It was initially established as the Daniel Sieff Institute in 1934, by Israel and Rebecca Sieff of London in memory of their son Daniel. In 1949, it was renamed for Dr. Chaim Weizmann, the first President of the State of Israel and Founder of the Institute.

Yeda initiates and promotes the transfer to the global marketplace of research findings and innovative technologies developed by WIS scientists. Yeda holds an exclusive agreement with WIS to market and commercialize its intellectual property and generate income to support further research and education.

Since 1959 Yeda has generated the highest income per researcher compared to any other TTO worldwide. Weizmann has generated a number of groundbreaking therapies, such as Copaxone, Rebif, Tookad, Erbitux, Vectibix, Protrazza, Humira, and recently the CAR-T cancer therapy Yescarta.

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