Cystic Fibrosis relevant Mucus Forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Clostridium Difficile

Candida Auris

Our data has shown efficacies of Glucosil silver-chitosan on Pseudomonas aeruginosa to inhibit the growth of biofilms, eradicate already established biofilms, and mitigate health impacts of chronic lung infections. These biofilm inhibition and eradication activities were observed on Cystic Fibrosis-relevant bacterial traits, more specifically, on wild-type, on gentamicin-resistant, as well as on mucoid (slime-producing) P. aeruginosa. Our data also indicated less tendency for bacterial re-growth for all the studied bacterial traits, therefore, less likelihood for re-infections. 

With the promising preliminary data we aim to develop an ANTI-BIOFILM THERAPY regime to manage the currently hard-to-control, life-threatening P. aeruginosa infections in individuals with Cystic Fibrosis. A research framework for in vitro and in vivo CF simulation studies has been developed to assess the efficacies and safety of Glucosil to manage ACUTE and CHRONIC P. aeruginosa infections. The project also covers studies on the potential risks of bacterial adaptation for long-term antimicrobial exposures, and therefore, to formulate strategies to prevent/reverse the phenomena.  The project has secured access to 'all-in-one' P. aeruginosa model strain (biofilm-forming, antibiotic-resistant, mucoid) originated from a Cystic Fibrosis patient, as well as to the coveted CF-predisposed mouse model (only few in the world).

The ASTM E2722 is a qualitative antimicrobial test used to detect general activity on textile or air filter materials. It is useful for obtaining an estimate of antimicrobial activity, demonstrating growth inhibition on and around the treated article, in this case, a synthetic textile material. The inoculum was Candida Auris (11903).

The results of the test showed Complete Inhibition of Candida Auris fungus for 72 hours on the test sample as assessed visually and with a 30x magnification using a stereo microscope. Control samples showed no inhibition of Candida Auris growth with the material covered by large visible colonies.

The ASTM E2722 test using seeded-agar for the screening of antimicrobial activity in fabric is a test method designed to detect the antimicrobial activity present on a test sample. The test method uses agar melt with selected microorganisms and inoculating the test sample with the melted agar. Following incubation of the test sample observations are made to determine the presence and or growth of inhibition present in the agar. Bacterial counts are determined by recovering the test inocula immediately following the initial inoculation and against at 72 hours following and plating the recovered organisms. The resulting difference in counts is determined and used to provide a percent difference in reduction of organisms.

The test organism was C. difficile (43593). At the 72 hour interval a 99.96% reduction on C. difficile was observed on a textile that was treated with our patented antimicrobial textile finish. The test material had been treated and washed in a commercial washer and dried in a commercial dryer before the test was conducted.

Staph Aureus

A test to determine if the efficacy of our patented textile treatment would withstand commercial washing and drying was undertaken using a variant of the ASTM E2722. The test is designed to test the antimicrobial and microbiostatic activity present in a test material. Data for the test is reported to represent inhibition or regrowth of bacteria on treated material.

Screening assessment of the antimicrobial activity on test material was conducted after 5 washes with bleach, 10 washes with bleach, and 20 washes with bleach. The Incoculum was Staph aureus (6538). The inoculation of the fabric took place after the final wash for each sample. After a 64 hour incubation period assessments were made using a direct microscopic observation of the test samples.

Complete Contact Inhibition of Staph aureus bacteria was observed on each sample immediately after and at 64 hours after completion of the specified number of 5, 10, and 20 washes with bleach. This proves that the textile finish remains bio-active after repeated commercial washings with no loss of efficacy.