Patent Number: 7655454
Docket Number: 20002
Serial Number: 11077107
Date Patented: 02/02/2010

Technology Description:   Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have discovered a bacteriological medium that can be used to grow and store Campylobacter.  Campylobacter is a major cause of human foodborne illnesses worldwide.  Most media currently used to grow the bacterium require the use of blood—which is costly—varies in quality, and may be difficult to obtain. Development of a media that supports the growth of this bacterium is critical in researching and developing methods to reduce and prevent this bacterium from entering the food supply.  This invention is a chemically defined, easily prepared, inexpensive, blood-free medium.  It should give scientists the ability to identify the exact bacterial type and concentration when performing research experiments.  Other technologies exist, but they require red blood cells or do not support the growth of the bacterium as well as ARS’s media.   Microbiology and biomedical laboratories, and regulatory agencies monitoring the presence of these bacteria in foods could adapt this technology for commercial use.   Reference:   Please refer to S.N. 11/077,107 (Docket #0200.02), “Bacteriological Culture Medium for Campylobacteriaceae Species,” which was filed on March 9, 2005. Foreign rights are not available.   Inventor:   Arthur Hinton, Jr. Poultry Processing and Meat Quality Research Athens, GA  30605; Phone: (706) 546-3621 Fax: (706) 546-3633 ahinton@saa.ars.usda.gov