DuPont Nutrition & Health to Collaborate with AvidBiotics

WILMINGTON, Del. - DuPont Nutrition & Health announced a strategic collaboration with AvidBiotics to develop novel bactericidal protein technologies. Through this agreement, DuPont will gain exclusive rights to the technologies for food and food protection systems.

AvidBiotics antibacterial technology is based on R-type bacteriocins (proteins with bactericidal activity), which recognize target bacteria by binding to specific receptors on the bacterial surface, then disrupting the cell envelope to kill the organism, DuPont said. 

"A big advantage of the R-type bacteriocin technology for food applications is its specificity," said James Knighton, president and director of AvidBiotics. "Compared to antibiotics, which often kill beneficial and harmful bacteria alike, these proteins can be engineered to attack with precision. Just one protein can kill a targeted organism without affecting its neighbors, thus avoiding unintended collateral damage."

"Ensuring the safety, freshness and quality of products throughout shelf life is at the top of the food industry agenda, and we are excited by the prospect of broadening our food protection offering to help meet these challenges," said Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, leader of the Health & Protection division of DuPont Nutrition & Health. "Advanced applications that prevent the growth and survival of pathogens and undesirable organisms help to lessen the risk of fooodborne illness and reduce the amount of food wasted every day due to spoilage."

To learn more, visit FoodSecurity.DuPont.com or AvidBiotics.com.