Recombinant bacteriophage for detection of nosocomial infection

• US 8,619,257 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Plowman, Thomas Edward, Phillips, Erica M., Hantke, Richard, Baird, Daniel, Rainone, Mike, Presley, Talbot
• Primary Examiner(s): Pajoohi Gomez, Tara S
• Application Number:
  US11/955,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: 356 39- 42, 356/432
• US Class Current: 356/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0013 Luminescence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0047 Green fluorescent protein [GFP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0097 Cells, viruses, ghosts, red blood cells, viral vectors, used for imaging or diagnosis in vivo
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7796 Special mountings, packaging of indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of bacterial HAI. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods include utilization of recombinant bacteriophage to deliver to pathogenic bacteria a translatable genetic sequence encoding an optically detectable marker or an enzyme capable of producing an optically detectable marker. Upon detection of the optical signal produced by the marker, medical personnel may be alerted to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at the site of inquiry. Any bacterial causative agent of HAI may be detected according to disclosed methods.

Claims

1. A portable device for detecting the presence or amount of a pathogenic bacterium that is a source of a hospital acquired infection comprising:

a portable enclosure containing a power source, an optical detector, a signal processor, and a signaling device for emitting a signal upon detection of the pathogenic bacterium in an environment;

a connecting device for attaching the enclosure to the clothing or body of a wearer;

a fiber optic cable for inserting into the environment, the fiber optic cable being in optical communication with the optical detector, the fiber optic cable extending for a length exterior to the enclosure; and

a delivery vehicle on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the fiber optic cable, the delivery vehicle containing a recombinant bacteriophage carrying exogenous genetic material encoding a protein that directly or indirectly produces an optically detectable signal.

2. The device of claim 1, the enclosure further including a transmitter for transmitting a signal containing information regarding the presence or amount of the bacterium in the environment to a receiver.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the delivery vehicle is a degradable polymeric matrix.

4. The device of claim 1, the portable enclosure further comprising an excitation source in optical communication with the fiber optic cable.

5. The device of claim 1, the portable enclosure further comprising a transmitter in electrical communication with the signaling device, wherein the signal emitted from the signaling device is subsequently transmitted from the transmitter.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a receiver, wherein the transmitter is in wireless communication with the receiver.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the signaling device emits a plurality of signals upon detection of the pathogenic bacterium in an environment.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the connecting device is for connecting the enclosure to a piece of clothing.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the connecting device is for connecting the enclosure to a wearer'"'"'s skin.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the protein is a green fluorescent protein or a color variant thereof.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the protein is luciferase.