Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Cleaning or laundering
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-02
2001-05-08
Del Cotto, Gregory R. (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Cleaning or laundering
C134S042000, C422S028000, C424S078030, C424S078070, C510S114000, C510S131000, C510S137000, C510S161000, C510S226000, C510S320000, C510S321000, C510S392000, C510S530000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228128
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of antimicrobial treatment using a combination of a laccase enzyme and an enhancer capable of killing or inhibiting microorganisms, more specifically microorganisms present in laundry, on hard surfaces, on skin, teeth or mucous membranes; and for preserving food products, cosmetics, paints, coatings, etc., the composition comprising a laccase enzyme and an enhancing agent acting as an electron donor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various enzymatic antimicrobial compositions are known in the art. For instance, WO 94/04127 discloses stabilized dentifrice compositions which are capable of producing antimicrobially effective concentrations of hypothiocyanite ions. The compositions contain an oxidase capable of producing hydrogen peroxide and a peroxidase enzyme capable of oxidizing thiocyanate ions, which are normally present in saliva, to antimicrobial hypothiocyanite ions. Suitable peroxidases include lactoperoxidase, myeloperoxidase, salivary peroxidase and chloro-peroxidase.
In EP-A-0 500 387 enzymatic antimicrobial compositions are disclosed comprising a haloperoxidase, e.g. myeloperoxidase, eosinophil oxidase, lactoperoxidase and chloroperoxidase, which selectively binds to and inhibits the growth of target microorganisms in the presence of peroxide and halide.
WO 95/27046 discloses an antimicrobial composition comprising a Vanadium chloroperoxidase, halide ions, and hydrogen peroxide or a hydrogen peroxide-generating agent. Laccase is an enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of substrates according to the general formula:
Substrate
Red
+
O
2
→
Laccase
Substrate
Ox
+
H
2
O
The enzyme has been used in the paper and pulp industry (WO 94/29510, for bleaching purposes in laundry washing (WO 91/05839, EP 91610032, DE4008894, JP-A64-60693), but the use of the enzyme in for antimicrobial purposes was not suggested.
WO 96/10079 discloses a method for oxidizing a compound with a phenol oxidizing enzyme in the presence of an enhancer of the general formula:
for bleaching dyes in solution.
WO 97/28257 and WO 97/00038 discloses a methods for inactivating a microorganism or virus with polyphenol oxidases derived from the bacterium of the genus Bacillus in the presence of oxygen and an enhancer.
The object of this invention is to provide a method for antimicrobial treatment of microbial cells or microorganisms, i.e. for disinfection or preservation, which is easy to use and an effective alternative to the known disinfecting and preserving methods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses comprising treating said microorganisms and/or viruses with an effective amount of fungal laccase enzymes and an effective amount of one or more enhancers in the presence of oxygen (O
2
), the enhancer being of the formula:
has surprisingly shown a hitherto unknown synergistic antimicrobial effect.
Thus, based on these findings the present invention provides, in a first aspect, an enzymatic antimicrobial method comprising treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses with effective amounts of laccase and said enhancers in the presence of oxygen (O
2
) or a source of oxygen (O
2
).
The invention is useful wherever antimicrobial treatment is needed, for example for the preservation of food, beverages, cosmetics, contact lens products, food ingredients paints or enzyme compositions; for antimicrobial treatment of e.g. on human or animal skin, hair, oral cavity, mucous membranes, wounds, bruises or in the eye; for antimicrobial treatment of laundry; and for antimicrobial treatment in connection with hard surface cleaning or disinfection.
Accordingly, in further aspects, the present invention provides a method for antimicrobial treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses present on laundry and/or in a liquid used for soaking, washing or rinsing the laundry, e.g. in a washing machine; a method for antimicrobial treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses on or in human or animal skin, hair, oral cavities, mucous membranes, teeth, eyes, wounds, bruises; a method for antimicrobial treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses on or in a cosmetic product; a method for antimicrobial treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses on or in contact lenses and a method of antimicrobial treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses present on or in a hard surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4370199 (1983-01-01), Orndorff
patent: 4478683 (1984-10-01), Orndorff
patent: 5837505 (1999-06-01), Della-Cioppa et al.
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patent: 40 08 894 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 91610032 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 0 500 387 (1992-08-01), None
patent: WO 90/03987 (1990-04-01), None
patent: WO 91/05839 (1991-05-01), None
patent: WO 91/14820 (1991-10-01), None
patent: WO 97/04127 (1994-03-01), None
patent: WO 94/29510 (1994-12-01), None
patent: WO 95/27046 (1995-10-01), None
patent: WO 96/06930 (1996-03-01), None
patent: WO 96/10079 (1996-04-01), None
patent: WO 97/00038 (1997-01-01), None
patent: WO 97/28257 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 97/41215 (1997-11-01), None
patent: WO 97/41215 (1997-11-01), None
patent: WO 97/42825 (1997-11-01), None
patent: WO 97/43383 (1997-11-01), None
patent: WO 97/43381 (1997-11-01), None
Oshima et al., Japanese Abstract of JP 64-60693 (Apr. 1990).
Fuglsa{dot over (n)}g Claus Crone
Johansen Charlotte
Pedersen Anders Hjelholt
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