1. A method for treating a bacterial infection in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an engineered bacteriocin designed to have high specific activity against the bacterial infection to the patient so that the bacterial infection is suppressed or cured and the rate of resistance to the engineered bacteriocin in the patient is decreased.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacteriocin is a bacteriocin produced by any Gram-negative bacteria.
3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from the group of colicins consisting of: A, B, D, DF13, E1-E9, EL12, G, H, Ia, Ib, K, L, M, N, S1, S4, U, Y, 5, 7, 10, 28b, Hu194, and J.
4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from a pyocin selected from the group of pyocins consisting of: S1, S2, S3, S5, AP41, and C.
5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from a eubacteria.
6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from an archaebacteria.
7. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bacteriocin is a combination of bacteriocins produced by any Gram-negative bacteria.
8. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of delivering the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin using a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of: a pill, an injectable patch, a cream, a liquid, a paste, a gel, and a suppository.
10. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cream includes a jelly base.
11. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of coating at least a portion of a catheter with the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin.
12. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of incorporating the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin into a biologically compatible prosthetic device.
13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is a gastrointestinal infection.
14. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is a urogenital infection.
15. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is a skin infection.
16. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacterial infection is a respiratory infection.
17. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the patient is a mammal.
18. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacteriocin has a high specific activity against pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium.
19. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bacteriocin has a high specific activity against pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
20. A method for treating a urinary tract infection in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an engineered bacteriocin designed to have specific activity against the urinary tract infection to the patient so that the urinary tract infection in the patient is suppressed or cured and the rate of resistance to the engineered bacteriocin in the patient is decreased.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the bacteriocin is a bacteriocin produced by any Gram-negative bacteria.
22. A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from a colicin selected from the group of colicins consisting of: A, B, D, DF13, E1-E9, EL12, G, H, Ia, Ib, K, L, M, N, S1, S4, U, Y, 5, 7, 10, 28b, Hu194, and J.
23. A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from a pyocin selected from the group of pyocins consisting of: S1, S2, S3, S5, AP41, and C.
24. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from a eubacteria.
25. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the bacteriocin is produced from an archaebacteria.
26. A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the bacteriocin is a combination of bacteriocins produced by any Gram-negative bacteria.
27. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of delivering the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin using a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
28. A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of: a pill, an injectable patch, a cream, a liquid, a paste, a gel, and a suppository.
29. A method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the cream includes a jelly base.
30. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the bacteriocin has a high specific activity against uropathogenic E. coli.
31. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of coating at least a portion of a catheter with the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin.
32. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of incorporating the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin into a biologically compatible prosthetic device.
33. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the patient is a mammal.
34. A method for treating a bacterial infection in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of naturally occurring bacteriocins each having specific activity against the bacterial infection to the patient so that the bacterial infection is suppressed or cured and the rate of resistance to the combination of naturally occurring bacteriocins in the patient is decreased.
35. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the combination of bacteriocins is produced from a combination of naturally occurring colicins.
36. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the combination of bacteriocins is produced from a combination of naturally occurring eubacteria.
38. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the combination of bacteriocins is produced from a combination of naturally occurring archaebacteria.
39. A method as set forth in claim 34 including the step of delivering the therapeutically effective amount of bacteriocin to the patient using a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
40. A method as set forth in claim 34 including the step of coating at least a portion of a catheter with the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin.
41. A method as set forth in claim 34 including the step of incorporating the therapeutically effective amount of the bacteriocin into a biologically compatible prosthetic device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for sectioning an electric energy flow in one or more conductors of an electric energy generating plant, comprising:
a control unit;
a pneumatic circuit controlled by said control unit; and
a plurality of pneumatic remote switches fed by said pneumatic circuit; and
said pneumatic remote switches intercepting conductors of an electric energy generating plant;
said pneumatic remote switches being of the normally open type, the electrical contacts only being closed when the pneumatic circuit is under pressure;
said pneumatic remote switches further comprising at least a covering element made from a tearable plastic material, the tearing of which places the pneumatic circuit in communication with the outside environment and releases pressure of the pneumatic circuit.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pneumatic circuit comprises pipes made from plastic material.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each pneumatic remote switch comprises a casing made from plastic material, which defines a first chamber in communication with the pneumatic circuit through an input;
said pneumatic remote switch defining an electrical contact that is only closed when said first chamber is under pressure.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pneumatic remote switch comprises two connectors thereinside, arranged to establish the electrical contact, and a spring mechanism arranged to space apart said connectors, opening the electrical contact when there pressure fails inside the first chamber, due to interruption of power supply or tearing of one of said covering elements made from plastic material.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit controls a control valve that connects said pneumatic circuit to a compressed air source.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control unit comprises one or more manostats intended to control the pressure conditions of the compressed air source andor of the pneumatic circuit.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control unit comprises one or more fire detecting sensors.
8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control unit comprises timers for automatically switching on and off.
9. An electric energy generating plant comprising a plurality of electrical generators connected in series and a apparatus for sectioning an electric energy flow according to claim 1, the pneumatic remote switches of said apparatus intercepting at least one conductor of said series of electrical generators.
10. The electric energy generating plant according to claim 9, wherein said pneumatic remote switches intercept the conductors that connect an electrical generator to the subsequent electrical generator of the series.
11. The electric energy generating plant according to claim 9, wherein at least one pneumatic remote switch intercepts a conductor that connects the series of electrical generators to an external network.
12. The electric energy generating plant according to claim 9, wherein said electrical generators are photovoltaic panels.