Harvard Medical School Study Finding Confirms the Presence of DispersinB(R) Biofilm Target in Combat Wound Infection-Associated Bacteria
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/02/09 -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX VENTURE: KNE), a biotechnology company engaged in the development of products that prevent and disperse microbial biofilms is pleased to announce a recent research publication by Harvard Medical School on their finding of DispersinB® enzyme specific substrate in Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii). The manuscript appeared in the latest online edition of the Journal of Bacteriology (doi: 10.1128/JB.00647-09).
The publication, entitled "The pgaABCD locus of Acinetobacter baumannii encodes the production of poly-Beta-1-6-N-acetyl glucosamine PNAG that is critical for biofilm formation" by Choi, A.H.K. et al., confirms that pgaABCD genes encode the production of PNAG, which is needed for biofilm formation in combat wound and hospital-acquired infection associated pathogen A. baumannii.
"Our study shows that A. baumannii contains pgaABCD genes that encode proteins required for the biosynthesis of PNAG polysaccharide, which is essential for biofilm formation," stated Dr. Tomas Maira-Litran, Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston. "Biofilm-dependent production of PNAG could be an important virulence factor for this emerging pathogen that has a few known virulence factors," added Dr. Maira-Litran.
Dr. Sri Madhyastha, Vice President-Research & Chief Scientific Officer of Kane Biotech, commented on the findings stating, "Since the PNAG polysaccharide in A. baumannii and other Acinetobacter species biofilms is a specific substrate for the activity of the DispersinB® enzyme, DispersinB® will prevent as well as disperse Acinetobacter biofilms. DispersinB® can be used in medical device coatings and wound care products for prevention as well as treatment of combat wound and hospital-acquired infections involving Acinetobacter baumannii, an emerging bacterial pathogen".
About Kane Biotech Inc.
Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of products to prevent and disperse biofilms. Biofilms develop when bacteria and other microorganisms form a protective matrix that acts as a shield against attack. When in a biofilm, bacteria become highly resistant to antibiotics, biocides, disinfectants, high temperatures and host immune responses. This resiliency contributes to human health problems such as medical device and wound associated infections and tooth decay.
Kane Biotech uses patent protected technologies based on molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation/dispersal and methods for finding compounds that inhibit or disrupt biofilms. The Company has evidence that these technologies have potential to significantly improve the ability to prevent and/or destroy biofilms in several medical and industrial applications.
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Contacts: Kane Biotech Inc. Gord Froehlich President & Chief Executive Officer 204-477-7592 204-453-1314 (FAX) ir@kanebiotech.com www.kanebiotech.com
Released September 2, 2009