AmebaGone uses naturally occurring, soil-dwelling amoebae (Dictyostelids) as drugs and disinfectants in agriculture, medicine, and industry. The amoebae kill bacteria, antibiotic-resistant or not, by consuming them as their food source. Additionally, the amoebae can break down biofilms and consume the bacteria within. Biofilms pose significant problems for agriculture, medicine, and industry because conventional antimicrobials and disinfectants have little to no effect against them. AmebaGone, Inc. is developing proprietary technologies that use a novel biocontrol method to destroy persistent bacterial infections.
Potential applications include:
1) Reduction in agricultural disease such as fire blight in apples and soft rot in potatoes
2) Sterilization of medical devices, such as protection against Staphylococcus epidermidis
3) Treatment of wounds and infections from common pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA
4) Protection of food-processing equipment and food itself from Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, and other industrial contaminants.