Biofilms, components and methods of use to reduce biofouling and contamination
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsThomas K. Wood, Manish Kumar, Thammajun L. Wood
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Abstract
Biofilms are provided which are capable of regulating their own thickness, reducing contamination and preventing biofouling. Constructs are introduced into bacteria that comprise nucleic acid molecules encoding an autoinducer synthase polypeptide, a transcriptional regulator and a biofilm dispersal protein. Nucleic acid molecules may also be introduced which encode a nitric oxide synthase, an epoxide hydrolase, or both. Biofilms of the bacteria may be used to reduce biofouling and contamination of a surface.
Claims10
A method of producing a living self-controlled biofilm of engineered bacteria cells on a surface, said method comprising:
- a) producing at least one engineered bacteria cell by introducing into said at least one bacteria cell a quorum sensing nucleic acid construct, comprising,
- i. a nucleic acid molecule encoding an autoinducer synthase polypeptide comprising Lasl;
- ii. a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcriptional regulator comprising LasR capable of being activated by said autoinducer synthase polypeptide;
- and
- iii. a nucleic acid molecule encoding a biofilm dispersal protein comprising BdcA to produce said at least one engineered bacteria cell comprising said construct;
- and
- b) producing a self-controlled biofilm of said at least one engineered bacteria cells, wherein said quorum sensing nucleic acid construct in response to activation of said transcriptional regulator and production of said biofilm dispersal protein reduces the thickness of said self-controlled biofilm compared to biofilm not comprising said quorum sensing nucleic acid construct.
A living self-controlled biofilm of engineered bacteria, said engineered bacteria comprising a nucleic acid construct comprising:
- a) a nucleic acid molecule encoding an auto inducer synthase polypeptide comprising LasI;
- b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a transcriptional regulator comprising LasR, capable of being activated by said auto inducer synthase polypeptide;
- and
- c) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a biofilm dispersal protein comprising BdcA to produce engineered bacteria comprising said construct and producing a self-controlled biofilm of said engineered bacteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.