The Penn State Research Foundation

Other

Lanxess Corporation

The Pennsylvania State University

Thomas Keith Wood

Brian Kwan

Nityananda Chowdhury

Sooyeon Song

Manish Kumar

Eugene Stuart Gregg, Iii

Eugene S Gregg

Sharon Durham

Bei Yin

Venkata Giridhar Poosarla

Julie Sansavera

Lauren Graff

Thammajun L Wood

Michael J McAnulty

Kyle Jaster

Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions, and methods for treating infections by bacteria and for killing bacteria. In particular, the disclosed compounds, compositions, and methods are useful for treating infections by bacteria and for killing persister bacteria that survive antibiotic treatment and then reconstitute infections.

Methods for killing antibiotic tolerant bacteria

Methods of controlling bacteria cells are disclosed. These methods comprise upregulating expression of a DVU2956 sigma 54-dependent enhancer-binding protein (EBP) in bacteria cells, resulting in (i) dispersing a biofilm of the cells or reducing biofilm formation by the cells, and/or (ii) reducing hydrogen sulfide formation by the cells. Further disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for controlling bacteria cells as in (i) and/or (ii) above. Polynucleotides and cells are disclosed that can optionally be used to practice compound identification methods.

Controlling bacterial biofilms

The present invention relates to a method for dispersing biofilm using mannose and its analogs.

Method for biofilm dispersal

Hand bag

Methods, microbial fuel cells and microbial consortia for generating electrical current are provided according to the present invention which include providing a microbial consortium to an anode chamber of a microbial fuel cell, wherein the microbial consortium includes: 1) an engineered methanogen that contains a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding methyl-coenzyme M reductase derived from an anaerobic methane oxidizer, 2) an exoelectrogen microbe that produces electrically-conductive appendages and/or one or more types of electron carrier, and 3) a sludge, methane-acclimated sludge, a sludge isolate component, a methane-acclimated sludge isolate component chosen fromspp.,spp.,spp.,spp.,spp., humic acids; or a combination of any two or more thereof.

Devices and methods for generating electrical current from methane

The present disclosure provides a method for killing persister cells with mitomycin C and/or cisplatin, or derivatives thereof. Recalcitrant infections are difficult to treat due to persister cells, a subpopulation of all bacterial populations that is highly tolerant against all traditional antibiotics since the cells are dormant and antibiotics are designed to kill growing cells. Here, we show that MMC and cisplatin eradicate persister cells through a growth-independent mechanism, cross-linking DNA. We find both agents are effective against both planktonic cultures and highly robust biofilm cultures for a broad range of bacterial species, including commensalK-12 as well as pathogenic species of, and. In certain approaches cisplatin is superior to MMC.

Methods for combating bacterial infections by killing persister cells with mitomycin C and/or cisplatin

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.

Biofilms, components and methods of use to reduce biofouling and contamination

Compositions and methods for combating bacterial infections by killing persister cells with mitomycin C

A patient head support for treatment in the prone position. A patient head support apparatus which facilitates management of the respiratory function of a patient residing in a prone position. The apparatus includes a support base and a deformable resilient insert placed within it. The insert has a depression for receiving the patient's face either with or without a facial mask. The apparatus is provided with a passageway for delivery of gaseous inhalant to the patient and a coupling means at the external port to facilitate connection of the tubing to an external supply of an inhalant gas, allowing patients to be sedated rather than anesthetized for treatment.

Patient head support for receiving medical treatment in the prone position

A head protector includes two bands of material, one of which extends from beneath the chin to the top of the head, and the other of which extends from the forehead to the rear of the head. These bands are interconnected together to form a unitary device although, if desired, each band may be used individually. Each band includes padded portions which are preferably filled with a silastic gelin material which is located in areas designed to protect the eye sockets and eyes, zygoma, temporal bones and occiput which are the major bone complexes making up the lower sides and lower back of the skull. Additionally, the head protector protects the ear zygoma, the jaw and the top of the head vertex.

Growing community of inventors

Port Matilda, PA, United States of America

Thomas Keith Wood