Team:Lyon-INSA/results
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Context and Objectives
A new generation of solution against biofilms in industry
Reduction of harmful chemical reagents in cleaning processes
Reduction of cleaning costs for industrialists
Biofilms are responsible for billions of dollars in production losses and treatment costs in the industry every year:
food spoilage or poisoning in the food industry ;
pathogens' persistence and dispersal in health industry ;
Assuming that the environment is over-saturated with harmful chemicals such as biocides, whose long-term health effects still have to be elucidated, there is a great need for novel solutions to reduce detrimental biofilm effects.
PROJECT STRATEGY
Engineered bacterial "torpedos" capable of infiltrating, destroying biofilms (KILL) and protecting the cleaned surfaces by either a surfactant coating (COAT option), or by establishment of a positive biofilm ( STICK option).
- Inacessible biofilms in pipes should be destroyed
- Delivery of active substance within the biofilm should be facilitated by the tunneling activity of Bacillus swimmer cells
- non pathogenic
- do not cause equipment deteroriation by corrosion
Bacillus strains are:
This biocide-alternative strategy provides an money-saving and environementally friendly solution for the control of unwanted biofilm