Dispersion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

描述（由申请人提供）：我们有证据表明，当将废培养基添加到铜绿假单胞菌生物膜中时，可诱导生理介导的分散反应。我们假设在生长过程中，P. aeruginosa菌株PAO1向培养基中释放一种或多种因子，这些因子能够诱导生物膜细胞簇的分解，将自由游动的细菌分散到散装液体培养基中。我们进一步假设，该化合物可以以纯形式分离和鉴定，并且它将具有包括铜绿假单胞菌以外的细菌的活性谱。我们的目标是表征和操纵铜绿假单胞菌生物膜的自然分散过程。当前应用程序的研究计划提出了一个程序，以1)测试废介质作为生物膜分散诱导剂的活性，2)通过化学和物理提取和分离方法纯化诱导剂，3)确定诱导剂并开始表征分散响应的作用模式。可以诱导生物膜分散的化合物的潜在商业可能性包括加强生物膜感染的治疗，改善烧伤的治疗，改善表面生物膜的去除，改善医院的卫生，更有效的清洁产品，以改善家庭健康，等等。该项目的强大商业潜力使其适合于发展中的生物技术倡议，如纽约州立大学宾厄姆顿分校的存在。该项目还将为学生提供接触一个令人兴奋的科学领域的机会，该领域包括纯粹和应用研究、生物技术开发，以及与工业界互动的大量机会。培养学生研究和操作生物膜的需求已被广泛认为是未来几年医学培训的基础。不幸的是，学生在这一新兴领域学习的机会在大学层面上是有限的。拟议工作的教育目标是扩大生物膜研究培训的可用性。拟议的工作将包括生物膜科学的本科生研究训练，让一些合格的本科生参与拟议的研究活动的重要方面。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We have evidence that spent culture medium, when added to Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, induces a physiologically mediated dispersion response. We hypothesize that during growth, P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 releases one or more factors into culture medium that are able to induce the dis-aggregation of biofilm cell clusters, dispersing free swimming bacteria into the bulk liquid medium. We further hypothesize that this compound can be isolated in pure form and identified, and that it will have a spectrum of activity including bacteria other than P. aeruginosa. Our goal is to characterize and manipulate the natural dispersion process of P. aeruginosa biofilms. The research plan of the current application sets forth a program to 1) test the activity of spent medium as an inducer of biofilm dispersion, 2) purify the inducer by chemical and physical extraction and separation methodologies and, 3) identify the inducer and initiate a characterization of the mode of action of the dispersion response. The potential commercial possibilities for a compound that can induce biofilm dispersion include enhanced treatment of biofilm infections, improved treatment of burns, improved removal of biofilms from surfaces, improved hygiene in hospitals, more effective cleaning products to improve health in the home, and more. The strong commercial potential of this project make it appropriate in the context of a developing biotechnology initiative such as exists at SUNY Binghamton. This project will also provide students with exposure to an exciting area of science that incorporates pure and applied research, biotechnology development, and considerable opportunity for interaction with the industrial community. The need to train students in the study and manipulation of biofilms has been widely recognized as basic to medical training in the coming years. Unfortunately, the opportunities for students to study in this burgeoning field are limited at the University level. The educational goal of the proposed work is to broaden the availability of training in the study of biofilms. The proposed work will incorporate undergraduate research training in biofilm science by involving a number of qualified undergraduates in carrying out significant aspects of the proposed research activity.