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Nonpathogenic Bacteria, Paenibacillus alvei, Useful As a Natural Biocontrol Agent for Elimination of Food-Borne Pathogenic Bacteria

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Technology Summary

Tomatoes are a primary vehicle for foodborne infections caused by Salmonella Newport and other Salmonella serovars. The naturally occurring bacteria Paenibacillus alvei (strains A6-6i and TS-15) demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Salmonella and 10 other bacterial pathogens linked to foodborne illness outbreaks. Bactericidal compounds within both Paenibacillus alvei strains were chemically isolated, purified, and identified.

The invention is a novel class of antimicrobial peptides, specifically cyclic peptides, with broad antibacterial activity to control strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including MRSA, VRSA, Salmonella, and carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The antimicrobial cyclic peptides have amphiphilic properties that disrupt cell membranes. The compounds have low minimum inhibitory concentration profiles (MIC) and can inhibit growth or proliferation of deadly bacteria.

Potential Commercial Applications Competitive Advantages
  • Next generation class of novel antimicrobials.
  • New class of antimicrobials with potent activity against carbapenem-resistant and MRSA strains.
  • Broad antimicrobial spectrum (low MIC) against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including clinical isolates.

Development Stage: in vitro

Intellectual Property:
United States patent: US 10,118,948 B2, issued 11.06.2018
United Kingdom patent: 3152224, issued 07.25.2018
France patent: 3152224, issued 07.25.2018
Germany patent: 602015014037.0, issued 07.25.2018
Switzerland patent: 3152224, issued 07.25.2018
Japan patent application: JP 2017530088, filed 06.09.2015
Canada patent application: CA 2951386, filed 06.09.2015

Inventors: Marie Knolhoff; Eric Wayne Brown; Jie Zheng; Timothy Ray Croley

Product Area: Drugs, Bacterial infectious disease, Antimicrobial,

FDA Reference No: E-2014-007

Licensing Contact:
Whitney Hastings, M.S., Ph.D.
FDA Technology Transfer Program
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 240-402-4561

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