Patent · US Expired

Rapid differentiation of bacteria using cyclic polypeptide antibiotics

US4912036A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
2References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 1986
Grant dateMar 27, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S435/873
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Rapid differentiation between viable gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is accomplished with certain polypeptide antibiotics which are used in combination with a compound which is normally reducible by the bacteria. The antibiotics selectively inhibit the reduction of the reducible compound by gram-positive bacteria but do not substantially affect the reducing capacity of the gram-negative bacteria. The particular antibiotics useful are cyclic polypeptides which affect the function of the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. A particular polypeptide antibiotic, polymixin B, will distinguish Proteus bacteria from other gram-negative genera.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.