Method for Reducing Pathogens

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for reducing pathogens in and/or on a subject, comprising exposing the subject to infrared radiation. The source of the infrared radiation comprises in particular a carbon crystal heating element, which can be applied to and/or positioned in the vicinity of a subject. In particular, the method includes treating infections in a tree, such as bleeding canker in horse chestnut trees and/or canker in kiwifruit trees. The method may further include disinfecting articles, for example for pasteurising or sterilising foodstuff.

Claims

1. A method for reducing pathogens in and/or on a subject, comprising exposing pathogens in and/or on the subject to infrared radiation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a source of infrared radiation is applied to and/or positioned in the vicinity of, the subject.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the source of infrared radiation is set at a temperature sufficient to reduce or eliminate bacterial, fungi, and/or parasitic growth.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the source of infrared radiation comprises a carbon crystal electric heating element.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises monitoring and/or regulating the temperature of the subject with a temperature sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1, for treating a pest and/or infection in an affected subject.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the affected subject is a tree.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the tree is a tree of the genus Aesculus, in particular a tree of the species Aesculus hippocastanum, and/or a tree of the genus Actinidia, in particular a tree of the species Actinidia chinesis and/or Actinidia deliciosa.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the infection is caused by Pseudomonas syringae and/or Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the source is set at a temperature of between 50-80? C.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the source is set at a temperature of between 80-120? C.

12. The method according to claim 1, for disinfecting an article.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a seed, soil, flower, vegetable and fruit.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the article is a foodstuff, in particular a dairy product.

Description

FIGURES

[0042] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing how a carbon crystal heating element can be wrapped around a tree horizontally.

[0043] FIG. 2 is an illustration showing how a carbon crystal heating element can be wrapped around a tree vertically.

[0044] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing how a carbon crystal heating element can be used as a surface covering an area with one or more trees.

[0045] FIG. 4 is an illustration how a carbon crystal heating element can be wrapped horizontally around multiple trees.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an illustration how an entire tree is covered with a high shield of carbon crystal heating element.

[0047] FIG. 6A is a graph showing the temperature of the tree as measured by a sensor placed in the bark of the tree.

[0048] FIG. 6B is a table showing the presence of Pseudomonas syringae in a tree after treatment with a carbon crystal heating element.

[0049] 0=not detected

[0050] 1=very slightly present

[0051] 2=slightly present

[0052] 3=very moderately present

[0053] 4=moderately present

[0054] 5=strongly present

[0055] 6=very strongly present

[0056] FIG. 7 is a table showing the presence of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora in a tree after treatment with a carbon crystal heating element.

[0057] 0=not detected

[0058] 1=very slightly present

[0059] 2=slightly present

[0060] 3=very moderately present

[0061] 4=moderately present

[0062] 5=strongly present

[0063] 6=very strongly present

[0064] FIG. 8 shows 6 petri dishes. The upper left petri dish is the positive control, the lower left petri dish is the negative control. The other petri dishes are infected and subsequently treated with a carbon crystal heating element for a period of 0 minutes (upper middle), 10 minutes (upper right), 20 minutes (lower middle) and 30 minutes (lower right).

[0065] FIG. 9 shows 6 petri dishes. The upper left petri dish is the positive control, the lower left petri dish is the negative control. The other petri dishes are infected and subsequently treated with a carbon crystal heating element for a period of 0 minutes (upper middle), 10 minutes (upper right), 20 minutes (lower middle) and 30 minutes (lower right).

[0066] FIG. 10 shows 7 tubes. Tube 1 is the positive control, tube 2 the negative control. The other tubes contain infected swabs and are treated with a carbon crystal electric heating element for a period of 0 minutes (tube 3), 10 minutes (tube 4), 20 minutes (tube 5) and 30 minutes (tube 6). Tube 7 is a negative control exposed to the carbon crystal heating element for 30 minutes.

[0067] FIG. 11 shows an example of a pipe (2) comprising insulation material on the outer side (1) and a lining of carbon crystal heating element on the inner side (3).

EXAMPLE 1

[0068] 1-3.5 m long stretches of carbon crystal electric heating material were covered with a fabric provided with insulation materials on the outer side. These stretches were applied both horizontally and vertically to the trunk of a horse chestnut tree. The stretches were applied such that they covered the trunk and/or some bigger branches.

[0069] A 220V electric current was applied. The carbon crystal electric heating material was heated to approximately 60-67? C. FIG. 6A shows the temperature of the tree from the start until the end of the treatment.

[0070] After approximately 180 minutes, the bark of the tree reached 40? C. as measured by the sensors applied into small holes prepared in the bark before applying the carbon crystal electric heating material.

[0071] Samples of the bark were taken before (monster I) and after (monster II) treatment and analysed. The results in FIG. 6B indicate that Pseudomonas syringae was very strongly present in the sample taken before the treatment, whereas Pseudomonas syringae was only very slightly present in the sample taken after the treatment. These results may indicate that Pseudomonas syringae is still slightly present after the treatment, however, this may also be due to the presence of remaining DNA and not to the actual presence of live bacteria.

EXAMPLE 2

[0072] The experiment as described in Example 1 was repeated in order to determine the efficacy of the method of the present invention in reducing Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora growth in a horse chestnut tree.

[0073] In the sample taken before treatment with the carbon crystal electric heating element Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora was strongly present, whereas Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora was no longer detected in the sample after treatment (see FIG. 7).

EXAMPLE 3

[0074] Petri dishes were infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae and exposed to infrared radiation from a carbon crystal heating element. The positive control was infected but not exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element. The negative control was not infected but was exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element for 30 minutes.

[0075] The petri dishes were heated to 50? C. At t=0, which is the temperature at which the carbon crystal heating element reached 50? C., the first petri dish was removed. The other petri dishes were removed after 10 (t=10), 20 (t=20) and 30 minutes (t=30) of exposure to the carbon crystal electric heating element.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, no bacteria developed on the petri dish removed at t=0, indicating that the time required for heating up the carbon crystal heating element is sufficient to kill Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae. The petri dishes removed at the other time points did also not show any bacterial growth.

EXAMPLE 4

[0077] Petri dishes were infected with Xylella fastidosa and exposed to infrared radiation from a carbon crystal heating element. The positive control was infected but not exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element. The negative control was not infected but was exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element for 30 minutes.

[0078] The petri dishes were heated to 55? C.

[0079] At t=0, which is the temperature at which the carbon crystal heating element reached 50? C., the first petri dish was removed. The other petri dishes were removed after 10 (t=10), 20 (t=20) and 30 minutes (t=30) of exposure to the carbon crystal electric heating element.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 9, no bacteria developed on this petri dish removed at t=0, indicating that the time required for heating up the carbon crystal heating element is sufficient to kill Xylella fastidosa. The petri dishes removed at the other time points did also not show any bacterial growth, except for t=20.

EXAMPLE 5

[0081] Swabs infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae were placed in tubes containing medium and exposed to infrared radiation from a carbon crystal heating element. The positive control was infected but not exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element. One negative control was not infected and not exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element (tube 2) and one negative control was not infected but was exposed to the carbon crystal electric heating element (tube 7) for 30 minutes.

[0082] The tubes were heated to 50? C. At t=0, which is the temperature at which the carbon crystal heating element reached 50? C., the first tube was removed. The other tubes were removed after 10 (t=10), 20 (t=20) and 30 minutes (t=30) of exposure to the carbon crystal electric heating element.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 10, no bacteria developed in the tube removed at t=0, indicating that the time required for heating up the carbon crystal heating element is sufficient to kill Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae. The tubes removed at the other time points did also not show any bacterial growth, except for tube 4.

EXAMPLE 6

[0084] The experiment as described in Example 1 was repeated with different settings. The carbon crystal electric heating element was set at about 100? C. It took about 70-80 minutes for the carbon crystal electric heating element to heat up to this temperature. A sample taken from the tree after 120 minutes exposure to the carbon crystal electric heating element showed no signs of pathogens.