Product for cleaning, sanitizing and hygienization

Abstract

Product for cleaning, sanification and hygienization, comprising a base solution with sanificant and/or hygienizing action to which probiotic bacteria and bacteriophage elements are mixed; the probiotic bacteria being preferably of the Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus pumilus genera, while the bacteriophage elements comprise, as an alternative or in combination, bacteriophages of the Caudavirales, Microviridae, Leviviridae, Inoviridae, Tectiviridae, Corticoviridae families.

Claims

1. A product for cleaning and sanitizing contaminated surfaces consisting essentially of: (a) a base solution with detergent containing at least a surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof; (b) probiotic bacteria spores mixed to such base solution, wherein the spores are at a concentration of 10 PFU/ml and wherein the bacteria are of the Bacillus genus; (c) bacteriophage elements mixed to said base solution, where the bacteriophages are at a concentration of 10.sup.4 PFU/ml and wherein the bacteriophaqe elements are selected from the group consisting of: Caudoverales family, Microviridae family, Leviviridae family, Inoviridae family, Tectiviridae family, Corticoviridae family and mixtures thereof; wherein the combination of the bacterial spores and the bacteriophage elements have a synergistic action against undesired target pathogens on the contaminated surfaces to thereby provide a rapid onset of antimicrobial action and a time stable inhibition of recontamination.

2. The cleaning and sanitizing product according to claim 1, wherein the probiotic bacteria are selected from the group consisting of the Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus pumilis species.

3. The cleaning and sanitizing product according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of nonionic surfactants is between 0.001% and 30%, the concentration of cationic surfactants is between 0.001% and 15%, and the concentration of amphoteric surfactants is between 0.001% and 15%.

4. The cleaning and sanitizing product according to claim 3, wherein the concentration of nonionic surfactants is between 5 and 15%, the concentration of cationic surfactants is between 0.001% and 5%, and the concentration of amphoteric surfactants is between 0.001% and 5%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1-3 are graphs relating to colonisation over time, respectively to Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae spp. Gram negative) and Candida albicans, on surfaces treated with probiotic bacteria.

(2) FIGS. 4-6 are graphs relating to colonisation over time, respectively to Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae spp. Gram negative) and Candida albicans, on surfaces treated with bacteriophages.

(3) FIGS. 7-9 are graphs relating to colonisation over time, respectively to Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae spp. Gram negative) and Candida albicans, on surfaces treated with bacteriophages and with probiotic bacteria.

(4) FIG. 10 is a graph relating to colonisation over time, with respect to Staphylococcus aureus on surfaces treated with probiotic bacteria and with bacteriophages, with respect to surfaces treated only with probiotic bacteria and only with bacteriophages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) The features of the invention will be highlighted in the following as a way of example in the description of some preferred, but not limiting embodiments.

(6) The inventive, proposed cleaning and sanitizing product for cleaning, comprises: a base solution with sanificant and/or hygienizant action containing at least a surfactant chosen among the nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants, probiotic bacteria spores mixed to such base solution; bacteriophage elements mixed to such base solution and having bactericidal action on predetermined undesired bacterial species, such bacteriophage elements in cooperation with probiotic bacteria spores being able to carry out a combined and synergistic action against harmful microorganisms.

(7) Nonionic surfactants can occur in the base solution with a concentration between 0.001-30%, preferably between 5-15%.

(8) Cationic surfactants can occur in the base solution with a concentration between 0.001-15%, preferably between 0.001-5%;

(9) Amphoteric surfactants can occur in the base solution with a concentration between 0.001-15%, preferably between 0.001-5%.

(10) The base solution can contain one or more of said nonionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants in the indicated concentrations.

(11) Probiotic bacteria spores can occur in the base solution with a concentration between 10.sup.2-10.sup.9 spores/ml, preferably between 10.sup.6-10.sup.7 spores/ml.

(12) Bacteriophage elements specifically directed against bacteria persistent on the contaminated surfaces can occur in the base solution with a concentration between 10.sup.3-10.sup.9 PFU/ml, preferably between 10.sup.6-10.sup.7 PFU/ml.

(13) Concerning the probiotic bacteria, as a way of not limiting example, they can be of the Bacillus genus, for example they can be the Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus pumilus species.

(14) It is clear that any other probiotic bacteria can be used according to the undesired bacterial species to be fought.

(15) Advantageously the bacteriophage elements can be chosen, as an alternative or in combination, according to the bacterial species to be fought among the following families: Caudovirales, Microviridae, Leviviridae, Inoviridae, Tectiviridae, Corticoviridae.

(16) As it is known the bacteriophage elements of Caudovirales family comprise also the Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae families.

(17) The proposed cleaning and sanitizing product, in the preferred above described embodiments is particularly indicated for treatment of surfaces and/or ambients, comprising the treatment of inner surfaces of pipes for circulation of fluids for food use (for example water).

(18) The action of bacteriophages is specific, since specific types of lytic bacteriophages kill specific types of bacteria, thus carrying out a potentially very efficient and targeted action in fighting directly against undesired bacteria.

(19) It is also to be highlighted how the use of specific bacteriophages avoids the risk of damage of Bacillus probiotics, which thus can keep their activity intact and efficient.

(20) The use of bacteriophages in cleaning and sanitizing products is particularly indicated since they are quite stable in different conditions of temperatures, pH and environmental salinity, and so they can be added to detergents diluted without losing activity.

(21) Lab experimental tests have been carried out which highlight the synergistic effect deriving from the combined use of probiotic bacteria and bacteriophage elements in comparison to the single use of probiotic bacteria or bacteriophage elements.

(22) Test n 1 (Single Use of Probiotic Bacteria)

(23) The activity of PCHS detergents containing probiotics has been widely evaluated in the field, where it has shown to be able to reduce the microbial count of about 90% more with respect to the traditional detergents, by means of daily use extended for about 1 month.

(24) After a period of 2 months the reduction of contaminant count is stably low both for what concerns bacteria and fungi [Caselli et al., 2016].

(25) FIGS. 1-2 illustrate the antimicrobial action (bacteria and fungi) of the detergent based only on probiotics.

(26) The development of contamination by Staphylococcus aureus (as example of gram-positive bacteria), Enterobacteriaceae spp. (as example of gram-negative bacteria) and Candida albicans (as example of fungi) was measured in the field, by application of Rodac plates of culture medium specific for the bacterial and fungi species indicated.

(27) Test n 2 (Single Use of Bacteriophages)

(28) FIG. 4-6 illustrate the antibacterial action of bacteriophages on surfaces contaminated by specific target bacteria.

(29) The development of contamination by Staphylococcus aureus (as example of gram-positive bacteria), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (as example of gram-negative bacteria) and Candida albicans (as example of fungi) was measured in vitro, on experimental models of surfaces of nonporous and sterile material (single fired ceramics 24 cm.sup.2).

(30) The surfaces have been contaminated with a known quantity of microorganism (10.sup.2 CFU/24 cm.sup.2) and in the following treated by application of increasing concentrations of specific bacteriophages (10.sup.3, 10.sup.4, 10.sup.5 PFU respectively) with ratio 10:1, 100:1 and 1000:1 to the target bacteria in culture.

(31) For fungi it was used the combination of bacteriophages used against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

(32) The residual contamination was evaluated after 1, 3, 6 hours by application of Rodac plates of culture medium specific for the bacterial and fungi species indicated.

(33) The results are expressed as average valuesS.D. of samples in duplicate in three independent experiments.

(34) It can be noted that already after 1 hour, and at the lowest concentration, the bacteriophages are able to eliminate more than 90% of bacterial cells against which they are specifically directed.

(35) The treatments with only bacteriophages has the drawback to be directed against only bacteria specifically recognized by bacteriophages, and so in case of contamination by bacterial species other than the ones against which the bacteriophages are specifically directed, a re-contamination of the treated surface can occur which is due to the fact that the bacteriophages are, by definition, specific for a bacterial species, and so not able to attack other bacterial species, much less to attack fungi species.

(36) These drawbacks of bacteriophages are overcome by adding probiotics, which have instead a slower but generalized action regardless of the bacterial or fungi species occurring.

(37) Test n 3 (Combined Use of Probiotic Bacteria and Bacteriophages)

(38) FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the effect of the combined and synergistic antimicrobial action obtained by the contemporaneous occurrence of probiotic bacteria and bacteriophages on surfaces contaminated by the specific microbes shown.

(39) The development of contamination by Staphylococcus aureus (as example of gram-positive bacteria), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (as example of gram-negative bacteria) and Candida albicans (as example of fungi) was measured in vitro, on experimental models of surfaces of nonporous and sterile material (single fired ceramics 24 cm.sup.2).

(40) The surfaces have been contaminated with a known quantity of microorganism (10.sup.3 CFU/24 cm.sup.2) and in the following treated by application of a solution containing probiotic bacteria (10.sup.3 PFU/ml) and specific bacteriophages (10.sup.4 PFU/ml).

(41) For fungi it was used the combination of bacteriophages used against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

(42) The residual contamination was evaluated after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks by application of Rodac plates of culture medium specific for the bacterial and fungi species indicated. The results are expressed as average valuesS.D. of samples in duplicate in three independent experiments.

(43) Comparison of the Tests Carried Out

(44) FIG. 10 illustrates the direct comparison of the antimicrobial action of the three treatments on the contamination by Staphylococcus aureus, measured in vitro on experimental models of surfaces of nonporous and sterile material (single fired ceramics 24 cm.sup.2).

(45) The surfaces have been contaminated with a known quantity of S. aureus (10.sup.3 CFU/24 cm.sup.2) and in the following treated by application of a solution containing only probiotic bacteria (10.sup.3 PFU/ml), only specific bacteriophages (10.sup.4 PFU/ml), or the combination of probiotics and bacteriophages at the concentrations indicated.

(46) The residual contamination was evaluated after 1, 2, 3, and 7 days by application of Rodac plates of culture medium specific for Staphylococcus aureus.

(47) The results are expressed as average valuesS.D. of samples in duplicate in three independent experiments.

(48) From the experimental tests carried out, it is to be noted easily how the contemporaneous occurrence of Bacillus probiotics and anti-pathogenic bacteriophages increases remarkably the efficacy of the cleaning and sanitizing product, thanks to their synergistic action carried out against the various harmful microorganisms.

(49) On the one hand bacteriophages reduce the contaminant count extremely rapidly but they have a time limited action and are not able to avoid re-contamination.

(50) On the other hand, probiotics reduce the contaminant count slowly by constantly, thanks to the competitive mechanisms, thus inhibiting the re-contamination.

(51) The contemporaneous occurrence of probiotics and bacteriophages guarantees the rapidity of antimicrobial action and at the same time the inhibition of re-contamination, thus guaranteeing a rapid and time stable reduction of pathogens.

(52) The realization of a cleaning and sanitizing product for cleaning which contains at the same time Bacillus probiotics and anti-pathogenic bacteriophages is clearly advantageous with respect to the traditional products, in that it guarantees an extremely rapid and immediate reduction of the contaminant bacterial count.

(53) This is due to the combined and synergistic action carried out by the bacteriophage elements which are able to kill the target bacteria in few hours, and by probiotic bacteria which are able to colonize the objects treated persistently, by taking rapidly the place of pathogens.

(54) Therefore the occurrence of bacteriophages represents a strengthening of the antibacterial action of the traditional product based on Bacillus probiotics with respect to the pathogens, thus easing and increasing the action of probiotics, which result active on fungi as well.

(55) This guarantees an immediate effect in the initial step of cleaning and sanitizing treatment, thus allowing the probiotic bacteria to determine, in faster times than the traditional products, a low, stable and lasting in time presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the ambients and objects treated.

(56) The addition of specific bacteriophage elements to the base solution mixed to probiotic Bacillus spores allows advantageously to use the product in targeted way, answering to specific needs and/or situations of particular interest, as for example the reduction of one or more particularly occurring and/or harmful specific bacterial species.

(57) The occurrence of specific bacteriophage elements represents another safety means concerning the use of Bacillus probiotics bacteria since above all in the initial steps of attack, those microorganisms are destroyed which are potentially able to give to Bacillus undesirable characters by means of gene exchange.

(58) The presence in the inventive product of a greater number of bacteriophage elements families (Caudovirales, Microviridae, Leviviridae, Inoviridae, Tectiviridae and Corticoviridae) allows the same product to have a bactericidal action on a greater group of treatable bacterial species.

(59) The predetermined families of bacteriophage elements can be present in the product object of the invention both singularly and in combination, so that it is contemplated the possibility of diversified treatments according to the specific need.

(60) From what above described it is clear how the proposed cleaning and sanitizing product is able to act against any microbial species, of the multi-resistant type as well (superbugs), in a particularly rapid and efficient way with respect to the traditional products indicated in the preamble.

(61) The proposed cleaning and sanitizing product by comprising a base solution with sanificant and/or hygienizing action to which probiotic bacteria and bacteriophage elements are mixed, has decidedly an extremely reduced environmental impact.

(62) Such product is particularly apt for treatment of surfaces and/or ambients comprising the treatment of inner surfaces of pipes for circulation of fluids for food use (for example water).