MONITORING AND MANAGING A FACILITY MICROBIOME
First Claim
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1. A method for improving the performance of a facility, said method comprising (i) correlating a facility microbiome with one or more facility operation parameters to identify changes in the facility microbiome that contribute positively or negatively to a facility performance indicator;
- (ii) identifying changes in the microbiome that correlate with facility operation parameters, wherein said changes can be prevented or caused by altering a changeable facility condition; and
(iii) altering one or more changeable facility conditions to effectuate the desired change in one or more facility performance indicators.
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Abstract
Facilities operations can be conducted more safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively by monitoring changes in the facility microbiome and intervening when those changes indicate the likelihood of a deleterious effect there-from.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for improving the performance of a facility, said method comprising (i) correlating a facility microbiome with one or more facility operation parameters to identify changes in the facility microbiome that contribute positively or negatively to a facility performance indicator;
- (ii) identifying changes in the microbiome that correlate with facility operation parameters, wherein said changes can be prevented or caused by altering a changeable facility condition; and
(iii) altering one or more changeable facility conditions to effectuate the desired change in one or more facility performance indicators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
- (ii) identifying changes in the microbiome that correlate with facility operation parameters, wherein said changes can be prevented or caused by altering a changeable facility condition; and
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13. A method of modulating one or more target biochemical activities, microbes, or OTUs within a built environment facility, comprising:
- (a) collecting one or more samples from locations in said facility;
(ii) subjecting the samples to DNA sequence analysis;
(iii) quantifying the target biochemical activity by determining the number of sequences that fall within a predetermined sequence identity definition characterizing said biochemical activity(ies), microbes, or OTUs; and
(iv) modifying at least one facility operation parameter that alters the number of sequences in the facility that fall within the predetermined sequence identity definition in a subsequent sampling. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- (a) collecting one or more samples from locations in said facility;
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19. An automated facility system comprising:
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a. means for collecting and sequencing microbiome samples from the facility; b. means for measuring facility operation parameters; and c. means for automated modification of facility operation parameters in response to detection of nucleotide sequences that fall within a predetermined sequence identity definition; wherein the facility operation parameters are modified to optimize facility performance on an ongoing basis as sequence data is obtained from the samples. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of optimizing the bioburden of a surface material in a facility comprising:
- (a) placing two or more distinct surface materials in an identical location within a facility or a test chamber, (b) measuring one or more facility operation parameters, (c) analyzing the microbiome of the materials, and (d) determining which materials harbor an identity and/or relative abundance of microbes and/or OTUs that are associated with improved facility performance compared to others.
- View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A system for improving facility performance, comprising:
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multiple collectors positioned at various locations within a facility, said collectors configured to collect samples potentially containing nucleic acid; a nucleic acid sequencer operably connected to the collectors and configured to sequence any nucleic acid therein so as to determine whether one or more indicator taxa, biochemical activity, or OTU is present in the sample and to send a signal if such nucleic acid is detected in an amount predetermined to generate the signal; a control unit operably coupled to one or more devices of the facility, the one or more devices performing a function that is related to an operational parameter of the facility, the control unit further being operably coupled to receive a signal from the nucleic acid sequencer, the control unit comprising computer executable software for performing a step for receiving a signal that the one or more indicator taxa, biochemical activity, or OTU is present in a sample in an amount that requires adjusting a setting of the one or more devices to alter the level of the nucleic acid detected after one or more operational parameters have been changed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 43)
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40. A method for improving facility performance, comprising:
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collecting from a facility a sample potentially containing nucleic acid; sequencing any nucleic acid present within the sample so as to determine whether one or more indicator taxa, biochemical activity, or OTU is present in the sample; adjusting one or more operational parameters of the facility to alter the level of the nucleic acid detected. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification