U.S. patent application number 11/931686 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for biological pesticide.
Invention is credited to Stephen L. Tvedten.
Application Number | 20080107640 11/931686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39359932 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080107640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tvedten; Stephen L. |
May 8, 2008 |
BIOLOGICAL PESTICIDE
Abstract
Methods for exterminating pests using compositions comprising at
least one protease enzyme. A detergent component may also be
utilized in such compositions.
Inventors: |
Tvedten; Stephen L.; (Marne,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRICE HENEVELD COOPER DEWITT & LITTON, LLP
695 KENMOOR, S.E.
P O BOX 2567
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49501
US
|
Family ID: |
39359932 |
Appl. No.: |
11/931686 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10687489 |
Oct 16, 2003 |
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11931686 |
Oct 31, 2007 |
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09341174 |
Aug 20, 1999 |
6663860 |
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PCT/US98/01137 |
Jan 8, 1998 |
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10687489 |
Oct 16, 2003 |
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60034740 |
Jan 9, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/94.63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01N 63/30 20200101;
A01N 63/00 20130101; A61K 38/482 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/094.63 |
International
Class: |
A01N 63/00 20060101
A01N063/00; A01P 15/00 20060101 A01P015/00 |
Claims
1. A method for exterminating pests comprising the steps of
providing a composition comprising an enzyme component, said enzyme
component comprising at least one protease, and said enzyme
component in an amount of no more than 1% by weight of the
composition, and a detergent component, and applying said
composition to at least one pest, wherein said composition is in
the form of an aqueous solution or suspension and said composition
comprises at least one enzyme-containing fermentation product.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said enzyme-containing
fermentation product comprises the product of yeast fermentation of
a mixture comprising a simple sugar source, a starch source, and a
magnesium salt.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said sugar source
comprises at least one of molasses, raw sugar, or mixtures
thereof.
4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said yeast fermentation
is carried out by at least one organism selected from the group
consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, Saccharomyces
carlsbergensis strains, and mixtures thereof.
5. The method according to claim 2 wherein said magnesium salt is
magnesium sulfate.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said composition
comprises about 10% to about 65% by dry weight of said
enzyme-containing fermentation product.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said composition
comprises about 20% to about 50% by dry weight of said
enzyme-containing fermentation product.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said composition
comprises about 25% to about 50% by dry weight of said
enzyme-containing fermentation product.
9. The method according to claim 2 wherein said composition
comprises about 60% to about 99.5% by weight of water.
10. A method for exterminating pests comprising the steps of
providing a composition comprising an enzyme component, said enzyme
component comprising at least one protease, and said enzyme
component in an amount of no more than 1% by weight of the
composition, and a detergent component, and applying said
composition to at least one pest, wherein said composition further
comprises at least one nitrogen source.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said nitrogen source
is selected from the group consisting of urea, ammonium sulfate,
and mixtures thereof.
12. The method according to claim 10 wherein said composition
comprises up to about 45% by dry weight of said nitrogen
source.
13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said composition
comprises about 40% or less by dry weight of urea.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said composition
comprises about 1% to about 30% by dry weight of urea.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said composition
comprises about 5% to about 30% by dry weight of urea.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said composition
comprises about 10% to about 30% by dry weight of urea.
17. The method according to claim 11 wherein said composition
comprises about 30% or less by dry weight of ammonium sulfate.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said composition
comprises about 0.5% to about 30% by dry weight of ammonium
sulfate.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said composition
comprises about 0.5% to about 20% by dry weight of ammonium
sulfate.
20. A method for exterminating pests comprising the steps of
providing a composition comprising an enzyme component, said enzyme
component comprising at least one protease, and said enzyme
component in an amount of no more than 1% by weight of the
composition, and a detergent component, and applying said
composition to at least one pest, wherein said composition further
comprises at least one of oils, extracts, or mixtures thereof.
21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said oil, extract, or
mixture thereof comprises an oil or extract of citronella, pine,
cedarwood, sandalwood, wormwood, lemon grass, lemon or other
citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, sassafras, neem tree, balsam,
niaouli, cajeput, clove, cubeb, thyme, garlic, wintergreen,
peppermint or other mint, American wormseed, Levant wormseed,
Juniperus spp., or Chrysanthemum spp., etc.
22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said composition
comprises up to about 5% by weight of at least one of said oils,
extracts, or mixtures thereof.
23. The method according to claim 22 wherein said composition
comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by dry weight of at least one of
said oils, extracts, or mixtures thereof.
24. A method for exterminating pests comprising the steps of
providing a composition comprising an enzyme component, said enzyme
component comprising at least one protease, and said enzyme
component in an amount of no more than 1% by weight of the
composition, and a detergent component, and applying said
composition to at least one pest, wherein said composition further
comprises an alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, borax, pest
hormones, growth regulators, or their analogs, botanical
pesticides, soluble or suspendable aluminum compounds in, or
mixtures thereof.
25. The method according to claim 24 wherein said pest hormone,
growth regulator, or analog is selected from the group consisting
of methyl 12,14-dihomojuvenate, methyl 12-homojuvenate, methoprene,
hydropene, fenoxycarb, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron,
cyromazine, growth regulators, and analogs, and mixtures
thereof.
26. The method according to claim 24 wherein said botanical
pesticide is selected from the group consisting of rotenone,
ryanodine and other ryania extracts, sabadilla, hellebore,
limonene, linalool, nicotene, and mixtures thereof.
27. The method according to claim 24 wherein said soluble or
suspendable aluminum compound is selected from the group consisting
of aluminum-halogen compounds, aluminum-silicon compounds, aluminum
hydroxides, aluminum-containing organic compounds,
aluminum-carbonate compounds, aluminum-phosphorous compounds,
aluminum-sulfates and alums, aluminates, aluminum-nitrate
compounds, and mixtures thereof.
28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said
aluminum-containing organic compound is selected from the group
consisting of aluminum carboxylates of the formula
Al(OH).sub.3-n(R).sub.n wherein n is 1, 2, or 3, and mixtures
thereof.
29. The method according to claim 24 wherein said soluble or
suspendable aluminum compound is selected from the group consisting
of AlCl.sub.3, AlCl.sub.3(H.sub.2O).sub.6, Al.sub.2(OH).sub.5Cl,
AlCl.sub.3O.sub.9, Al[CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2].sub.6SO.sub.4I.sub.3,
Al.sub.2(SiF.sub.6).sub.3, MgAl.sub.2(SiO.sub.4).sub.2,
Al(OH).sub.3, aluminum diformate, aluminum diacetate, aluminum
subacetate, Al.sub.2[C.sub.10H.sub.5(OH)(SO.sub.3).sub.2].sub.3,
Al.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.3, AlPO.sub.4, Al.sub.2(SO.sub.4).sub.3,
NaAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2, NaAlO.sub.2, Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3,
Al(OH).sub.2(NO.sub.3), Al(OH)(NO.sub.3).sub.2, and mixtures
thereof.
30. The method according to claim 27 wherein said composition
comprises a concentration of said soluble or suspendable aluminum
compound sufficient to provide about 1% w/v or less of aluminum and
at least about 50% of said aluminum is present as dissolved
Al.sup.3+.
31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said composition
comprises a concentration of said soluble or suspendable aluminum
compound sufficient to provide about 0.5% w/v or less of aluminum
and at least about 50% of said aluminum is present as dissolved
Al.sup.3+.
32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said composition
comprises a concentration of said soluble or suspendable aluminum
compound sufficient to provide about 0.4% w/v of aluminum and
substantially all of said aluminum is present as dissolved
Al.sup.3+.
33. The method according to claim 2 wherein said starch source is
one of barley malt, oat malt, or a mixture thereof.
34. A method of exterminating pests comprising the steps of
providing a composition comprising an enzyme component, said enzyme
component comprising a protease, and said enzyme component in an
amount no greater than 1% by weight of the composition, a detergent
support comprising a surfactant and a detergent builder, and a
fermentation product of a starch source; and applying said
composition to at least one pest.
35. The method according to claim 34 wherein said surfactant
comprises: a salts of C.sub.8-C.sub.20 alcohol sulfates; salts of
C.sub.8-C.sub.20 fatty acids; alkylaryl polyethylene glycols;
natural soaps or neat soaps; insecticidal soaps or antibacterial
soaps; oil soaps or castile soaps; household or commercial cleaners
or degreasers; oil-, extract-, or saponified oil-spiked soaps,
wherein said oil-, extract- or saponified oil-spiked soaps
comprises at least one of: an oil, saponified oil, or extract of
citronella, pine, cedarwood, sandalwood, wormwood, lemon grass,
lemon or other citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, sassafras, neem tree,
balsam, niaouli, cajeput, clove, cubeb, thyme, garlic, wintergreen,
peppermint or other mint. American wormseed, Levant wormseed,
Juniperus spp., or Chrysanthemum spp., etc.
36. The method according to claim 35 wherein said oil, extract, or
mixture thereof comprises at least one of: menthol, menthane,
sobrerol, camphor, anethole, citronellol, rhodinol, or terpineol,
or a mixture thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/687,489, filed Oct. 16, 2003, which is a
continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/341,174, filed Aug. 20, 1999, which claims priority to
International Application PCT/US98/01137 filed on Jan. 8, 1998,
which in turn claims priority to a provisional application, U.S.
Provisional Application 60/034,740, filed on Jan. 9, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Pesticides are commonly used in a multitude of settings,
from homes, schools, and offices to manufacturing plants, cargo
containers, and agricultural contexts. Most pesticides are
generally insect or arachnid nervous system toxicants, inhibiting
or overpotentiating synapse-synapse and/or neuro-muscular junction
transmission, many acting specifically as acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors.
[0003] Representative examples of pesticides include: 1)
chlorinated phenyl and cyclodiene compounds such as DDT, chlordane,
heptachlor, and aldrin and dieldrin; 2) the carbamate esters
carbaryl, carbofuran, aldicarb, and baygon; 3) organic
thiophosphate esters such as diazinon, malathion, parathion, and
dicapthon; and 4) the synthetic pyrethroids allethrin, permethrin,
resmethrin, and fenvalerate.
[0004] These and other pesticides present risks to human health.
Although the rate of post-application degradation may vary widely,
almost all pesticides present some direct risk to human health
through residual toxicity, i.e. direct human contact with pesticide
residues remaining after treatment, whether through inhalation of
volatile toxic vapors, skin contact and transdermal absorption, or
ingestion. In addition, many pesticides present indirect risks to
human health in the form of environmental pollution, most notably
pollution with persistent, halide-substituted organics, which
accumulate in the fat stores of food fish and other animals. These
problems have led to complete bans on the use of some
pesticides--e.g., DDT, chlordane, heptachlor, aldrin, and
dieldrin--while the continued use of the remaining pesticides has
produced a new problem: the increasing development of widespread
resistance to pesticides.
[0005] This resistance yields two results: 1) quick posttreatment
reoccupation, by the same or a similar insect or arachnid, of the
pesticidally-cleared area; and 2) the need and cost of continually
engineering new pesticides (e.g., synthetic pyrethroids were
developed because of resistance to the less toxic first generation
pyrethrins). New pesticide production takes time and the new
pesticides that result are almost universally more expensive than
those they replace. In this context, traditional pesticides are
applied on a regular, and typically increasing, basis. For example,
many schools have come to be sprayed monthly or even biweekly, and
with increasing quantities of pesticides to combat endemic roach
re-infestations, often to no avail. This intensifies the problem of
residual toxicity to people, especially to children who, as a
result, may suffer headaches, grogginess, nausea, dizziness,
irritability, frenetic behavior, and an impaired readiness to
learn.
[0006] Because of these effects, it has been recognized that
totally new approaches must be discovered and implemented in order
to effectively control invertebrate pests without destroying human
health and the environment. One such approach is "integrated pest
management" ("IPM").
[0007] Integrated pest management utilizes a variety of ecological
strategies by taking advantage of pest behaviors and natural
enemies, such as parasites, predators, and/or diseases. Examples of
such strategies include the use of commercially available supplies
of ladybugs to treat aphid infestations, the release of sterile
males into populations of pests to decrease their genetic
potential, the trapping or bait-poisoning of pests responding to a
pheromone attractant, the application of juvenizing hormones to
pests, and the release of spores of pest-pathogenic bacteria such
as Bacillus thuringiensis.
[0008] Usually a variety of these techniques must be used together
since few result in broad-spectrum pest control. However, their use
alone takes a significant investment of time, labor, and attention
in order to attain a threshold level of pest control: pest
populations must be monitored and recorded, occupants may be
required to improve their housekeeping habits, and structural
problems such as cracks and gaps must be identified and repaired.
In addition, it is often necessary to quickly combat acute
infestations, requiring treatment with traditional pesticides in
the short term, in order to readily establish the long-term
controls of IPM. Moreover, many of the ecological strategies have
limited applicability in indoor environments such as offices and
classrooms. Therefore, there is a need for a quick-acting,
effective, residually non-toxic method for combating insect,
arachnid, and other pests, which may be used as a replacement for
traditional pesticide treatments and as a supplement to the arsenal
of currently available IPM techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a method for combating invertebrate (i.e. insect and
arachnid) and microbe (i.e. bacterial, algal, fungal, and/or viral)
pests which is quick-acting, effective, and residually non-toxic
and which may be used as a replacement for traditional pesticide
treatments and as a supplement to the arsenal of currently
available integrated pest management techniques.
[0010] It has been surprisingly found that the application of a
composition comprising at least one protease enzyme is a method for
exterminating pests which achieves these objectives. The enzyme
component of the invention may comprise a single protease or a
protease-containing mixture of enzymes, whether natural, preformed,
or synthetic, at no more than 1% by weight. In an alternate
embodiment, the composition may also comprise a detergent
component. This detergent component comprises one or more
surfactant(s), detergent builder(s), or mixtures thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] A preferred embodiment of the method of the present
invention employs a composition comprising an enzyme component. The
enzyme component comprises at least one protease enzyme that may be
a natural, preformed, or synthetic protease, alone or in
combination with other enzymes. The protease(s) used in the
composition of a preferred embodiment of the present invention may
be any of the peptidases, serine proteases, zinc proteases, thiol
proteases, and/or acid proteases. The protease(s) may be digestive
protease(s) from an animal, plant, bacterium, or fungus. Additional
enzyme(s) may be any of hydrolases, oxidoreductases, transferases,
lyases, ligases, and/or isomerases. The additional enzyme(s) may
comprise digestive enzyme(s) from an animal, plant, bacterium, or
fungus. Preferably, the enzyme component comprises at least one
protease. Some pests may require at least one other hydrolase, more
preferably a mixture of at least one protease and at least one
cellulase, lipase, glycosidase, amylase, chitinase, other protease,
or mixture thereof.
[0012] Protease enzymes may be obtained from various commercial
sources. A preferred protease source is the mixture of
proteases--IUB 3.4.21.14 and IUB 3.4.24.4--sold as Burcotase AL-25
and available from Burlington Chemical Co. of Burlington, N.C.
Specialty Enzymes and BioChemicals Co. in Chino, Calif. has several
preparations, including one derived from Bacillus subtilis, var,
and Bacillus licheniformis, var. About 20% by weight or less of the
composition may comprise enzymes, more preferably about 0.3-10%,
even more preferably about 1-5%, and still more preferably no more
than 1%. I have surprisingly found that higher percentages than 1%
may give rise to anaphylactic shock and/or ocular and/or dermal
irritation or sensitivity and/or occupational asthma.
[0013] The enzyme(s) used in the composition of a preferred
embodiment of the present method are dissolved or suspended in
water. In an alternate embodiment, they may be dissolved or
suspended in a solution comprising a detergent component and a
stabilizer.
[0014] The detergent component may comprise one or more
surfactants--e.g., soap(s), --detergent builders, or mixtures
thereof. The surfactant may be one or more of the cationic,
anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, amphiphilic, or
ampholytic surfactants, the soaps, or the mixtures thereof.
Preferably, the detergent component will comprise at least one
surfactant, more preferably at least one surfactant and at least
one detergent builder, and even more preferably at least one
detergent builder and a fragrance oil, e.g., peppermint.
Alternately, the detergent component will preferably comprise at
least one each of anionic and nonionic surfactants, and a fragrance
oil, e.g., peppermint, and more preferably, at least one detergent
builder, at least one each of anionic and nonionic surfactants, and
a fragrance oil, e.g., peppermint.
[0015] Preferred anionic surfactants include alkali metal-,
alkaline earth metal-, ammonium-, and alkylammonium-carboxylate,
-sarcosinate, -sulfonate, and -sulfate salts of saturated or
unsaturated alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl compounds. More preferred
anionic surfactants include the salts of saturated and unsaturated
alkyl alcohols, fats, fatty acids, and oils, including tallow or
coconut, palm, castor, olive, or citrus oils. Even more preferred
anionic surfactants include the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal,
ammonium, and alkylammonium salts of C.sub.8-C.sub.20 alcohol
sulfates and of C.sub.8-C.sub.20 fatty acids.
[0016] Preferred nonionic surfactants include alkoxylated and
polyalkoxylated compounds. More preferred nonionic surfactants
include ethoxylated- and polyethoxylated-alkylphenols, -alcohols,
-polyols, -fatty acids, -fatty acid amides, and -carboxylic acids.
Even more preferred nonionic surfactants include the alkylaryl
polyethylene glycols, e.g., alkylphenyl ethers of polyethylene
glycol.
[0017] Preferred soaps may be one or more of the natural soaps,
neat soaps, insecticidal or antibacterial soaps; the oil soaps or
castile soaps; the household or commercial cleaners or degreasers,
such as dish soap; the oil-spiked, extract-spiked, or saponified
botanical oil-based soaps such as soaps comprising, e.g., an oil,
saponified oil, or extract of citronella (or citronellol or
rhodinol), pine (or terpineol), cedarwood, sandalwood, wormwood,
lemon grass, citrus (e.g., lemon), lavender, eucalyptus, sassafras,
neem tree, balsam, niaouli, cajeput, clove, cubeb, thyme, garlic,
wintergreen, peppermint or another mint, American wormseed, Levant
wormseed, Juniperus spp., or Chrysanthemum spp., or comprising,
e.g., an additive such as menthol, menthane, sobrerol, camphor, or
anethole, or comprising a mixture thereof; or the mixtures thereof.
Preferably, the soap-type surfactant will comprise a peppermint
soap, i.e. a soap preparation comprising a peppermint oil or
peppermint extract additive or a saponified peppermint oil or
another extract or fragrance or plant oil, e.g., gerinol, geranium
oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, cedar oil, citronella oil,
citrus oil, sage oil, pennyroyal oil, teetree oil, mint oil, clove
oil, pepper oil, marigold oil, tansy oil, horsebalm oil,
wintergreen oil, bayberry oil, garlic oil, goldenseal oil, hyssop
oil, hemlock oil, cardamom oil, spearmint oil, oleander oil, jojoba
oil, canola oil, juniper oil, lavandin oil, lavender oil,
lemongrass oil, limonene and/or linalool, chamomile oil, neem oil,
olive oil, nutmeg oil, onion oil, pine oil, quassia oil, rue oil,
ryania oil, sage oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, thyme oil and/or
vegetable oil.
[0018] Preferred detergent builders include the alkali
metal-borates, -tripolyphosphates,
[0019] -pyrophosphates, -phosphates, -sesquicarbonates,
-carbonates, -silicates, -aluminosilicates,
[0020] -nitrilotriacetates, -citrates, -EDTAtes, and mixtures
thereof. A most preferred builder is sodium borate.
[0021] In one embodiment, the detergent component will make up
about 85% or less by dry weight of the composition. Preferably,
about 85% or less by dry weight of surfactants are used in the
composition, more preferably about 75% or less. Where a mixture of
surfactant(s) is utilized, about half or more of the surfactants
may preferably be anionic (at least about 50.+-.25% by weight) and
about half or less may preferably be nonionic (as much as about
50.+-.25% by weight). The composition may comprise, as part of the
detergent component, preferably about 25% or less by dry weight of
soap(s), more preferably about 5-15%, and still more preferably
about 5-10%. Where the detergent component comprises detergent
builder(s), either alone or together with surfactant(s), e.g.,
soap(s), preferably about 50% or less by dry weight of the
composition comprises builder, more preferably about 2-10%, and
still more preferably about 5%.
[0022] Commercially available enzyme and surfactant mixtures or
enzyme-containing fermentation products can be employed in a
preferred embodiment. A preferred mixture is Bacto-Zyme produced by
International Enzymes, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev.; other preferred
enzyme mixtures are sold as the "150," "150N," "300," and "300N"
products available from Great Lakes Biosystems, Inc. of Kenosha,
Wis. Bacto-Zyme comprises proteases, lipases, cellulases, and
amylases, among other enzymes. Such mixtures and products may be
prepared according to the methods taught in U.S. Pat. No.
3,561,944, U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,797, and ZA 6,908,059 (South Africa)
to Battistoni et al. These are formed by means of enzymatic
fermentation of a mixture comprising a simple sugar source, a
starch source, and a magnesium salt, preferably magnesium sulfate.
The simple sugar source may comprise a molasses and/or a sugar,
e.g., raw or refined cane or beet sugar. The simple sugar source is
optional; when used, it may also be substituted or supplemented
with kelp. The starch source may be one or more fermentable
carbohydrate sources, such as barley, wheat, oat, millet, rice,
corn, tapioca, potato, sago, canna, dasheen, legume (i.e. bean or
pea), or other cereal grain or plant carbohydrate storage organ
malt or mash, or a mixture thereof. Preferably, barley malt or oat
malt or a mixture thereof is utilized. Fermentation may be carried
out using a baker's or brewer's yeast, i.e. one or more strains of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, or mixtures
thereof. Upon completion of fermentation, at least one surfactant
and/or other supplement is added to the fermentation product to
form a mixture. Where such a fermentation product or
fermentation-surfactant mixture is used, the composition will
comprise preferably about 10-65% by dry weight (i.e. including the
water content of molasses, but excluding the weight of added water)
of it, more preferably about 20-50%, and still more preferably
about 25-50%. The commercially available enzyme and surfactant
mixtures--or the commercially available enzyme-containing
fermentation products themselves--may be supplemented with any of
the surfactants (e.g., soaps) and/or enzymes as described above.
Likewise, enzyme-free fermentation products resulting from
fermentation of any of the above-described starch sources, followed
by purification to remove such enzymes, may be supplemented with
any of the surfactants (e.g., soaps) described above and any
protease or a protease-other enzyme mixture as described above.
[0023] Irrespective of which source(s) of enzymes and/or
surfactants is utilized, various nitrogen source(s), acid
source(s), buffer(s), oil(s), extract(s), colloidal compounds,
e.g., colloidal silver and/or other additive(s) may also be
included in the composition. Preferred nitrogen sources include,
but are not limited to, urea, ammonium sulfate, and mixtures
thereof. When used, the nitrogen source may be present in amount up
to about 45% by dry weight of the composition. Where the
composition comprises urea, it is preferably about 40% or less by
dry weight of the composition, more preferably about 1-30%, even
more preferably about 5-30%, still more preferably about 10-30%. If
ammonium sulfate is utilized, preferably about 30% or less by dry
weight is present, more preferably about 0.5-30%, still more
preferably 0.5-20%.
[0024] Preferred acid sources include, but are not limited to, one
or more of acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,
succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, and phosphoric acid,
ammonium and/or metal ion salts thereof, or mixtures thereof; more
preferably, the acid source comprises citric acid, lactic acid,
ascorbic acid, or a mixture thereof. Up to about 15% by weight of
the composition may comprise an acid source. Where citric acid is
used, it is preferably about 0.5-5% by dry weight of the
composition, more preferably about 1-2%; where lactic acid is
employed, it is preferably about 2-10% by dry weight, and more
preferably about 4-8% by dry weight.
[0025] Preferred oils and extracts include, but are not limited to:
botanical oils and essential botanical extracts such as those of
citronella (and citronellol and rhodinol), pine (and terpineol),
and cedarwood, sandalwood, wormwood, lemon grass, citrus--e.g.,
lemon, --lavender, eucalyptus, sassafras, neem tree, balsam,
niaouli, cajeput, clove, cubeb, thyme, garlic, wintergreen,
peppermint and other mints, American wormseed, Levant wormseed,
Juniperus spp., and Chrysanthemum spp.; menthol, menthane,
sobrerol, camphor, and anethole; and mixtures thereof. The
composition may comprise preferably about 5% by weight of the
composition or less of oil(s) and/or extract(s), more preferably
about 0.1-5% by dry weight of the composition.
[0026] Water is also present in the composition. The amount of
water present in the composition may preferably range from about
60% to about 99.5% by weight of the composition.
[0027] Other optional additives that may be included in the
composition include, but are not limited to: alcohols, hydrogen
peroxide, glycerin, and borax; sugar sources, e.g., honey, sucrose,
corn syrup, molasses, etc.; pest pheromones, pheromone analogs, and
pheromone-type attractants, e.g., phoromone, 4-methyl-3-heptanone,
and pest-attractive organoborane derivatives; pest hormones, growth
regulators, and their analogs, e.g., methyl 12,14-dihomojuvenate,
methyl 12-homojuvenate, methoprene, hydropene, fenoxycarb,
lufenuron, diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron, and cyromazine; botanical
pesticides, e.g., rotenone, ryania (and ryanodine), sabadilla,
hellebore, limonene, linalool, and nicotene; aluminum-containing
compounds of which aqueous solutions or slurries may be formed; and
mixtures thereof. Glycerin is a preferred stabilizing agent.
[0028] Preferred aluminum compounds include, for example:
aluminum-halogen compounds, such as AlCl.sub.3,
AlCl.sub.3(H.sub.2O).sub.6, Al.sub.2(OH).sub.5Cl,
AlCl.sub.3O.sub.9, and Al[CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2].sub.6SO.sub.4I.sub.3;
aluminum-silicon compounds, such as Al.sub.2(SiF.sub.6).sub.3 and
MgAl.sub.2(SiO.sub.4).sub.2; aluminum hydroxides, e.g.,
Al(OH).sub.3, and aluminum-containing organic compounds including
carboxylates of the formula Al(OH).sub.3-n(R).sub.n wherein n is 1,
2, or 3--e.g., aluminum diformate, diacetate, or subacetate--and
Al.sub.2[C.sub.10H.sub.5(OH)(SO.sub.3).sub.2].sub.3;
aluminum-carbonate compounds, such as Al.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.3;
aluminum-phosphorous compounds, such as AlPO.sub.4;
aluminum-sulfates, e.g., Al.sub.2(SO.sub.4).sub.3, and alums, e.g.,
NaAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2; aluminates, such as NaAlO.sub.2;
aluminum-nitrate compounds, such as Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3,
Al(OH).sub.2(NO.sub.3), and Al(OH)(NO.sub.3).sub.2; and mixtures
thereof. Where an aluminum compound is added to the composition, it
may preferably be present at a concentration sufficient to provide
about 1% w/v or less of aluminum, more preferably about 0.5% w/v or
less of aluminum. Preferably, the majority of the aluminum will be
present in the form of dissolved aluminum ion, Al.sup.3+. Where
substantially all of the aluminum is present as dissolved
Al.sup.3+, preferably about 0.4% w/v of aluminum may be used.
[0029] The pH of the composition may be controlled using the acids
described above and may also be controlled using buffer systems
such as are known in the art. It is usually desirable to maintain a
pH of about 2 to about 12, and often preferable to maintain a pH of
about 4 to about 10. Rarely, a pH of about 1 may be employed. The
pH of the composition may be tailored to the optimal point, i.e. pH
or pH range, for enzymatic activity. For example, the pH may be
acidified and/or buffered either to the approximate optimal point
for protease activity or to some optimal intermediate point when a
mixture of enzymes is utilized. A pH of about pH5 is frequently
preferred as an approximate optimal point when acid proteases are
used. The optimal point for the protease mixture of Burcotase AL-25
is the range of about pH7 to about pH10.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the enzymatic composition may be applied using any
techniques known in the art. For example, it may be applied by
spraying, pressurized spraying, streaming, injecting, pouring,
soaking, flooding, splashing, splattering, sprinkling,
systematically dripping, drizzling, shampooing, foaming, washing,
mopping, wiping, spreading, scattering, absorbing, adsorbing,
misting, vaporizing, and/or fogging said composition, bathing
and/or soaking in said composition, and/or retaining a pool of said
composition. Such preferred embodiments may further employ one or
more baiting technique(s) in which a pest attractant (e.g., dry ice
as a carbon dioxide attractant) is used in or in conjunction with
said composition. In any application or technique used, the
enzymatic composition must contact the body--e.g., head, thorax,
and/or abdomen, internally or externally--of the pest for the
method to work. The concentration of the composition and/or the
volume of composition to be applied may depend on the species of
pest infesting the site to be treated.
[0031] The optimal mode(s) of application will vary with the type
of pest and specific environmental conditions present at an
infestation site. In some cases it is desirable to use a direct
contact mode of application and, e.g., a spraying technique will be
employed. Where pests are located in less accessible places such as
in structural cracks in or behind structural gaps in a building,
pavement, fixture, article of furniture, or in tree bark, either an
injection or a pressurized spraying technique is typically
preferred. A preferred direct mode of application for
structure-damaging pests comprises injecting the composition, e.g.,
into "galleries" within the structure or into the ground where the
pest colonies are located.
[0032] Where the infestation comprises an ectoparasite or a dermal,
fur, hair, down, or feather pest of a mammal, bird, reptile, or
plant, e.g., lice, fleas, mites, chiggers, or fungi, a preferred
technique involves shampooing and/or washing with said composition.
Where the infestation comprises a burrowing parasite or intradermal
pest, e.g., mange, scabies, mites, or springtails, a preferred
technique involves bathing and soaking or spraying and shampooing
in said composition.
[0033] Other preferred modes include indirect contact modes wherein
the composition may be applied to a pest-accessible surface or
interior so that an insect or arachnid pest may "voluntarily" come
into contact with the composition. With some pests, e.g.,
scorpions, a water-trap technique may be preferred in which a
container retaining a pool of the composition is set out and when
the pest approaches the pool, it contacts the enzymatic composition
or even falls into the pool, and drowns and/or is dissolved. In
another preferred indirect mode of application to protect plants,
the composition is applied systematically so that the plant pest
contacts the composition when it attacks the plant and dies and/or
is repelled. In another preferred indirect mode of application for
structure-damaging pests such as drywood termites, the composition
is suffused or soaked into or onto a structural object such as a
piece of wood which is within, or is placed within, the reach of or
contains the pests. In this technique, the structural object must
be made of a pest-chewable substance, i.e., a substance ingestible
or digestible by the pest or is pierceable by or manipulable by the
mandible(s), palp(s), pincer(s), or proboscis of the pest. In this
way, the pest can come into contact with the enzymatic
composition.
[0034] The indirect modes of application may also comprise baiting
said composition by adding an insect or arachnid pest attractant or
odor to the composition or otherwise employing a pest attractant in
conjunction with the composition. For example, the composition may
comprise bait such as: a sweet attractant, e.g., a fermentation
product or sugar source as described above; a pest pheromone-type
attractant such as a pest pheromone, pheromone analog, or
pheromone-type attractant as described above; a carbon dioxide
attractant, e.g., chunks of dry ice or a stream of bottled carbon
dioxide gas; and or a light attractant comprising a waterproof
light, whether continuous or blinking, white or colored, may be
added to the composition. Where the bait is used in conjunction
with the composition, a sweet or pheromone attractant, a carbon
dioxide attractant--such as dry ice, a candle flame or other
combustion flame, or a stream of bottled carbon dioxide gas--and/or
a light attractant--i.e. a continuous or a blinking light, whether
white or colored (e.g., green or "black" light)--is placed, e.g.,
adjacent to or above the composition. A preferred baiting technique
involves placing one or more pest pheromone packet(s), above the
level of the composition, upon the inside walls of a colored or
plain container partially filled with the composition. Another
preferred baiting technique involves placing a continuous white or
black light or a blinking green light above an open container of
the composition. A further preferred baiting technique comprises
placing a candle or other combustion flame above a pool of the
composition, e.g., by affixing a vertically standing candle to the
bottom of the composition-containing pool, or where a ring-shaped
container is employed, placing the burning candle or other
combustion flame or CO.sub.2 source within the ring. The site of
the attractant may, additionally or alternatively, be periodically
mopped, sprayed, misted, or fogged with the composition.
[0035] The method of the present invention has been found effective
against invertebrate pests at all stages of development, from egg
to larva to adult. In many cases it is also effective at dissolving
the nest of the pest: for example, paper wasp nests and the
immature pests they contain can be disintegrated on contact. A
non-exhaustive list of pests which have been successfully
eradicated by the method of the present invention includes black
ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, Pharaoh ants, termites, roaches
(all varieties tested), bark lice, book lice, hair lice, crab lice,
body lice, louse nits, fleas, scabies, mange, ringworm, psocids,
scale insects, bees, wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, bedbugs,
earwigs, silverfish, springtails, sowbugs, pillbugs, millipedes,
centipedes, gnats, fungus gnats, midges, dust mites, chiggers, bird
mites, skin mites, spider mites, spiders, scorpions, mosquitoes,
fruit flies, horse flies, deer flies, house flies, maggots, sewer
flies, black flies, moths, fabric moths, gypsy moths, tent
caterpillars, beetles, carpet beetles, drug store beetles,
crickets, grasshoppers, aphids, grubs, cutworms, slugs, pet and
cattle pests, fabric and pantry pests, occasional invaders, soil
pests, and lawn, garden, orchard, crop, and forestry pests
including ectoparasites of bark, leaves, roots, shoots, seeds,
fruits, and so forth. The method of the present invention has also
been found effective at decreasing or eliminating the incidence of
allergic reaction to dust. Although not wishing to be bound to any
particular theory, it is believed that this decreased incidence of
allergic reaction may be due to the enzyme's or enzymes'
degradation of allergenic dust mite proteins.
[0036] The method of the present invention has also been found
effective against microbe pests including bacteria, algae, and
fungi. For example, algae and organic debris present as undesirable
material filling ponds have been eliminated by applying the
enzyme-containing composition of the present invention to the pond
water and mixing it therewith. Although not wishing to be bound to
any particular theory, it is believed that this effect is a result
of the enzymes or enzymes' destruction of, e.g., the algal mats by
degrading the cell walls of the algae and the peptidomucous making
up these mats.
[0037] In addition, the method of the present invention has been
found effective at eliminating fungal infestations. For example,
application of the enzyme-containing composition according to the
method of the present invention has eliminated: powdery mildew,
copper spot, sooty mold, Pythium blight, fruit rot molds, Fusarium,
Septoria leaf spot, Puccinia spp. rusts, and various smuts from
growing plants; and ringworm fungus, athlete's foot fungus, and
jungle rot fungus infestations from mammals. Such treatment has
also been found effective to control scalpal, fungal seborrheic
dermatitis ringworm on mammals. Application of the
enzyme-containing composition of the present invention has also
been found to eliminate the incidence of (airborne) fungal-based
allergic reactions in the indoor environment.
[0038] Moreover, in testing the methods of the present invention,
it has been found that, by altering the concentration of the
enzyme-containing pesticidal composition, certain insect pest
species may be killed while others will survive treatment. For
example, at a 1:500 water dilution, the enzyme-containing,
pesticidal composition has been found to kill soft-shelled pests
including aphids, white flies, leaf miners, and mites, while having
little or no effect on either beetles, such as the beneficial lady
bug beetles, nor Aschersonia species of beneficial fungi. However,
at much higher concentrations all insects, including beetles, were
or can be destroyed.
Example 1
[0039] A solution of Bacto-Zyme cleaner (containing enzyme(s) and
surfactant(s)) was prepared by combining 1 part by volume of
Bacto-Zyme with 8 parts by volume water and a sprayer was filled
with this solution. A grammar school building in which a 4 inch
wide column of army ants extended throughout the entire length of
the main hallway was sprayed and the column was sprayed back to the
ants' point of entry, which was also copiously sprayed. The ants
were dissolved on contact and their scent trail was apparently
destroyed, as no further ants appeared following treatment.
Example 2
[0040] A solution as prepared in Example 1 was sprayed throughout a
grammar school building in which roaches, at night, were seen to be
covering over 75% of available wall and floor surfaces, in spite of
heavy, regular applications of traditional pesticides. The roaches
were quickly dissolved. Copious spraying was then continued in and
around the sinks, drains, and structural cracks and gaps of the
building. No live roaches were noted in the building for
approximately 3 months thereafter.
Example 3
[0041] A concentrated solution was prepared as follows. 5% by
weight of Burcotase AL-25 was dissolved in a castile soap solution
comprising 5% by weight of sodium borate and 5% peppermint oil.
This concentrate was diluted 1 part in 4 with water to form a
working solution. This solution was sprayed in an elementary school
building, which was heavily and regularly treated--to no
avail--with traditional pesticides to combat a round-the-clock
Oriental roach infestation. The drains, gaps, cracks, and the areas
beneath the sinks were also copiously sprayed according to the
method of the present invention, and the carpeted areas were
shampooed therewith. No more roaches appeared for over 4 months
following treatment.
Example 4
[0042] A 10 gallon carboy was filled with a solution as prepared in
Example 1. An anthill 5 feet in diameter, housing a large black ant
colony in a farm field was soaked with the enzymatic solution. The
colony was completely destroyed and the anthill collapsed on
itself.
Example 5
[0043] A pharmacy that had a persistent drug store beetle
infestation under the surface of the countertop was sprayed with
the solution as prepared in Example 1 and the solution was injected
into the space beneath the countertop. In spite of the resilience
of this species of beetle (they are known to eat strychnine and
pyrethrin-type pesticides), the method of the present invention
permanently eliminated this entrenched infestation.
Example 6
[0044] A house with a Pharaoh ant infestation was treated according
to the method of the present invention. Prior, traditional
pesticide treatment of the single colony living within the confines
of the house had, predictably, triggered the natural response of
this species to divide the colony. As a result, there were now at
least three colonies living within the confines of the house.
Treatment of the infestation with the solution as prepared in
Example 1, according to the method of the present invention,
eliminated all three colonies and no colony subdivisions were
formed.
Example 7
[0045] A school wherein over 50% of students had chronic head lice
reinfestations was treated according to the method of the present
invention. In spite of the teachers' and parents having tried three
commercially available products as well as repeatedly laundering
all clothes and fabrics, the reinfestation problem remained. The
school was sprayed and shampooed with the solution as prepared in
Example 1. The source of the infestation was eliminated and the
reinfestation problem was resolved.
Example 8
[0046] A new composition containing 75% by weight water, 1% by
weight protease, 4% glycerin, and the remaining 20% surfactant and
detergent builder mixture with a normal pH was prepared. Ticks were
destroyed within 2 minutes, with minimal dermal and ocular
irritation and sensitivity. No insects or arachnids have yet been
able to resist this particular combination of ingredients. Most die
within 6-30 seconds of being sprayed with 1 oz. per quart of water
with this new composition.
[0047] Although not wishing to be bound to any particular theory,
it is believed that the method of the present invention works as
follows. Upon contact with an invertebrate pest, the protease(s)
may directly attack the protein zipper which holds the halves of
the insect or arachnid exoskeleton together, normally until molting
begins, or may attack the substance of the proteinaceous body of
other invertebrate, e.g., mollusk, pests. The use of a detergent
component in the enzymatic composition may enhance this action by
allowing the composition to penetrate any waxy cuticle or
proteinaceous coating covering the body of the pest. This appears
to permit the enzyme(s) of the composition to penetrate to the
exoskeleton or body itself. Where cellulase(s), amylase(s),
glycosidase(s), and/or chitinase(s) are used along with the
protease(s), they may directly attack the matrix of the insect,
arachnid, or crustacean exoskeleton, which is often composed of
chitin, a cellulose derivative. The differing types and/or
thicknesses of exoskeleton in different pest species may account
for the need to apply a greater volume or concentration of the
composition in some cases than in others. Where the pest ingests
the composition, the enzymes therein may also cause internal
degradation in the pest. It is believed that enzymatic attack to
the body of the pest, whether by such, or other, routes, may likely
be responsible for the effective killing action afforded by the
present method. Because, in the above-described preferred
embodiments, a detergent component is employed in the composition,
the method of the present invention is typically self-cleaning,
thus helping to provide residual non-toxicity.
[0048] The advantages of the methods and compositions described
herein are seen in that the widespread use of large quantities of
costly synthetic organic pesticides may be significantly reduced or
replaced by the methods of the present invention. For example, the
practice of spraying highly toxic methyl bromide upon fruit and nut
groves may be effectively replaced with the use of inexpensive,
low- and non-toxic enzyme-containing compositions according to the
methods of the present invention.
[0049] Variations of the methods and compositions described herein
as a preferred embodiment may be apparent to those skilled in the
art once they have studied the above description. For example, it
may be apparent that the composition utilized in the present method
may be solutions or suspensions of one or more of the commercially
available protease enzyme-containing products, such as
enzyme-containing meat tenderizers, digestive aids, fabric
detergents, stain removers, dishwashing products, household
cleaners, water treatments, sewage treatments, and so forth.
Variations such as these are considered to be within the scope of
the invention, which is intended to be limited only to the scope of
the claims and the reasonably equivalent materials and methods to
those defined therein. The foregoing examples illustrate a
preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes can be made
without departing from the invention as defined in the appended
claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the
principles of patent law including the Doctrine of Equivalents.
* * * * *