Methods for disrupting biofilms

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for disrupting biofilms and/or preventing the formation of biofilms along with medical items that contain a coating or covering made of compositions for achieving such disruption or prevention. In particular, the compositions of the present invention provide random-sequence peptide mixtures for use in disrupting bacterial biofilms; the random-sequence peptides having hydrophobic and/or cationic amino acids, wherein the ratio of the total hydrophobic and cationic amino acids in the mixture is predefined.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An item configured to prevent biofilm formation, disrupt biofilm and/or prevent microbial contamination, wherein the item includes a coating or covering of a composition comprising a mixture of a plurality of random-sequence peptides, wherein the peptides have an identical number of amino acid residues and a length of 10 to 40 amino acid residues, wherein the mixture of peptides consists of one or more species of hydrophobic amino acids in an L- or D-configuration and one or more species of cationic amino acids in an L- or D-configuration, wherein the ratio in the mixture of the total hydrophobic and cationic amino acids is about 3:1 to 1:3, and wherein the mixture of the plurality of random-sequence peptides contains 2 10  up to millions of sequences. 
     
     
         2 . The item of  claim 1 , wherein the biofilm to be prevented or disrupted or the microbial contamination to be prevented is due to unicellular organisms selected from the group consisting of bacteria, fungi, and archaea. 
     
     
         3 . The item of  claim 2 , wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of  Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus mutans, E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Enterococcus , and  Pseudomonas aeruginosa.    
     
     
         4 . The item of  claim 2 , wherein the bacteria are antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 
     
     
         5 . The item of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic amino acid is selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine, leucine, tryptophan, and combinations thereof, and wherein the cationic amino acid is lysine. 
     
     
         6 . The item of  claim 5 , wherein the mixture consists of phenylalanine and lysine, or leucine and lysine, or tryptophan and lysine. 
     
     
         7 . The item of  claim 6 , wherein the mixture consists of leucine and lysine and the ratio of leucine and lysine in the mixture is about 1:1 to 1:3. 
     
     
         8 . The item of  claim 1 , wherein the peptides have a length of 15 to 25 amino acids. 
     
     
         9 . The item of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is coated by immobilizing the peptides to the surface of the item. 
     
     
         10 . The item of  claim 1  selected from the group consisting of a medical device, a food or drink packaging, a food or drink container, food, food or drink processing equipment, food or drink preparation equipment, and water systems or any part thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preventing biofilm formation, disrupting a biofilm and/or preventing microbial contamination comprising applying to a surface of an item a composition comprising a mixture of a plurality of random-sequence peptides, wherein the peptides have an identical number of amino acid residues and a length of 10 to 40 amino acid residues, wherein the mixture of peptides consists of one or more species of hydrophobic amino acids in an L- or D-configuration and one or more species of cationic amino acids in an L- or D-configuration, wherein the ratio in the mixture of the total hydrophobic and cationic amino acids is about 3:1 to 1:3, and wherein the mixture of the plurality of random-sequence peptides contains 2 10  up to millions of sequences. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biofilm to be prevented or disrupted or the microbial contamination to be prevented is due to unicellular organisms selected from the group consisting of bacteria, fungi, and archaea. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of  Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus mutans, E coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Enterococcus , and  Pseudomonas aeruginosa.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the bacteria are antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the hydrophobic amino acid is selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine, leucine, tryptophan, and combinations thereof, and wherein the cationic amino acid is lysine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mixture consists of phenylalanine and lysine, or leucine and lysine, or tryptophan and lysine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mixture consists of leucine and lysine and the ratio of leucine and lysine in the mixture is about 1:1 to 1:3. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein applying the composition comprises applying the composition as a coating or covering of the item or otherwise immobilizing the peptides to the item's surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of a medical device, a food or drink packaging, a food or drink container, and water systems or any part thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  useful for food or drink processing and/or food or drink preparation.