Patent ID: 8425945

Claim:
A method for promoting dispersal of a Pseudomonas or Candida microbial biofilm, the method comprising: adding to the environment of the Pseudomonas or Candida microbial biofilm an effective, non-toxic amount of nitric oxide or at least one nitric oxide generating or releasing agent; and inducing the accumulation of an effective amount of one or more reactive oxygen or nitrogen species within Pseudomonas or Candida microorganisms within the Pseudomonas or Candida microbial biofilm; wherein the effective, non-toxic amount of nitric oxide is equivalent to the amount of nitric oxide generated or released by about 25 nM to about 2.5 mM sodium nitroprusside for a Pseudomonas microbrial biofilm; and wherein the effective, non-toxic amount of nitric oxide is equivalent to the amount of nitric oxide generated or released by about 25 nM to about 100 nM sodium nitroprusside for a Candida microbrial biofilm.