University System of Maryland

Oceanix Biosciences Corporation

David M Manyak

Peter S Carlson

Ernesto J Quintero

Ronald M Weiner

Alan B Chmurny

The present invention relates to isolated structures containing degradative enzymes produced from a marine organism. The enzymes produced are based on the carbon source upon which the marine organism is growing. The enzymes are found in structures that can be isolated such that the degradative enzymes are easily harvested.

Preparation and use of biofilm-degrading, multiple-specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures

The present invention is directed to the production and use of custom tailored, bacterial enzyme mixtures or components thereof for degrading biofilms in both industrial and therapeutic applications. The industrial applications include but are not limited to the use biofilm-degrading, multiple specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures for removing or preventing the formation of biofilms in water cooling towers, industrial process piping, heat exchangers, in food processing or food preparation, in potable water systems, reservoirs, swimming pools, or related sanitary water systems, and on membranes such as those used for desalinization, industrial processes, or related applications. The therapeutic applications include but are not limited to the use of therapeutically-useful, multiple-specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures for the prevention or treatment of dental caries, periodontal disease, cystic fibrosis or the complications or symptoms of cystic fibrosis, removal of biofilms from contact lenses, and diseases or complications associated with biofilm formation on implantable medical devices such as cardiovascular devices.

The present invention is directed to a method of recovering a biological molecule from a recombinant microorganism produced using a method based on either protoplast fusion or lipofection. The present invention further provides a method of identifying, isolating, or making a biological molecule from a recombinant microorganism and also encompasses the biological molecule produced by a recombinant microorganism. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of making a recombinant microorganism containing the nucleic acid of a microorganism in an environmental sample, as well as the recombinant microorganisms themselves. Finally, the present invention is directed to a method of making a recombinant library, as well as the recombinant library itself.

Method of recovering a biological molecule from a recombinant

We have developed methods for low-cost fermentation of marine bacteria. A cost- and performance-optimized culture medium containing liver digest and suitable salts was developed and compared to currently available culture media. Cell counts as high as 10.sup.2 /ml were achieved, and growth was supported for a variety of marine strains tested to date. Large scale fermentation of marine bacteria is a promising approach for producing commercially valuable biopolymers for industrial applications.

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Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

David M Manyak