Enzymes in cleaning products: an overview of toxicological properties and risk assessment/management.

Enzymes used in cleaning products have an excellent safety profile, with little ability to cause adverse responses in humans. For acute toxicity, genotoxicity, sub-acute and repeated dose toxicity, enzymes are unremarkable. Reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity are also not endpoints of concern.

Microscopic detection of viable Staphylococcus epidermidis in peri-implant tissue in experimental biomaterial-associated infection, identified by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation.

Infection of biomedical devices is characterized by biofilm formation and colonization of surrounding tissue by the causative pathogens. To investigate whether bacteria detected microscopically in tissue surrounding infected devices were viable, we used bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a nucleotide analogue that is incorporated into bacterial DNA and can be detected with antibodies. Infected human tissue was obtained postmortem from patients with intravascular devices, and mouse biopsy specimens were obtained from mice with experimental biomaterial infection.

Defining occupational and consumer exposure limits for enzyme protein respiratory allergens under REACH.

A wide range of substances have been recognized as sensitizing, either to the skin and/or to the respiratory tract. Many of these are useful materials, so to ensure that they can be used safely it is necessary to characterize the hazards and establish appropriate exposure limits. Under new EU legislation (REACH), there is a requirement to define a derived no effect level (DNEL).

The influence of antibodies on Staphylococcus epidermidis adherence to polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silicone elastomer in experimental biomaterial-associated infection in mice.

Biomaterial-associated infection (BAI) is a major problem in modern medicine, and is often caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis. We aimed to raise monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against major surface protein antigens of S. epidermidis, and to assess their possible protective activity in experimental BAI.