Snares for pathogenic or infectious agents and uses related thereto

• US 20060018912A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Original Assignee: University Of Massachusetts
• Inventors: Finberg, Robert W., Asher, Damon R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/178.100
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/705 Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants tumour specific antigens C07K14/4748
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/1009 Picornaviridae, e.g. hepatitis A virus

Abstract

The present invention provides a snare molecules comprising an attachment moiety (which facilitates attachment of a receptor to a cell) and a receptor for a toxic pathogenic or infectious agent, e.g., a virus. Methods of producing such snare molecules and their therapeutic and/or prophylactic uses are also provided by the present invention

Claims

1. A snare molecule, comprising an attachment moiety that facilitates attachment of the molecule to a blood cell and a receptor for a pathogenic agent, wherein the receptor is not naturally found on the blood cell.

2. The molecule of claim 1, wherein the blood cell is an erythrocyte.

3. The molecule of claim 2, wherein the attachment moiety is an antibody that binds a cell surface molecule on a red blood cell.

4. The molecule of claim 3, wherein the cell surface molecule on the erythrocyte is selected from the group consisting of:

Fucosylglycoprotein alpha-n-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, Complement C4, Aquaporin 1, Complement decay-accelerating factor, Band 3 anion transport protein, Duffy antigen, Glycophorin C, Galactoside 2-L-fucosyltransferase 1, Galactoside 2-L-fucosyltransferase 2, CD44, Kell blood group glycoprotein, Urea transporter, complement receptor 1, Membrane transport protein XK, Landsteiner-Wiener blood group glycoprotein, Galactoside 3(4)-L-fucosyltransferase, Lutheran blood group glycoprotein, Glycophorin A, Glycophorin B, Blood group RH(CE) polypeptide, Blood group RH(D) polypeptide, Xg glycoprotein, and Acetylcholinesterase.

5. The molecule of claim 3, wherein the cell surface molecule is CR1.

6. The molecule of claim 1, wherein the attachment moiety is a GPI anchor.

7. The molecule of claim 1, wherein the attachment moiety comprises a biotin molecule.

8. The molecule of claim 1, wherein the attachment moiety is a chemical crosslinking reagent.

9. The molecule of claim 1, wherein the blood cell is a human blood cell.

10. The molecule of claim 1, wherein the pathogenic agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a bacterial cell, a virus, a toxin, and a parasite.

11. The molecule of claim 10, wherein the pathogenic agent is a virus.

12. A composition comprising the molecule of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

13. The molecule of claim 3, wherein the antibody lacks an Fc portion.

14. The molecule of claim 13, wherein the antibody is a single chain antibody.

15. A hematopoietic cell expressing the molecule of claim 1 on its surface.

16. A method of reducing the interaction of a pathogenic agent with its receptor on target host cells naturally infected by the pathogenic agent, comprising contacting non-target host cells lacking the naturally occurring receptor with a snare molecule comprising i) an attachment moiety that facilitates the binding or expression of a receptor by the non-target host cell and ii) a receptor for the pathogenic agent, such that interaction of the pathogenic agent with its naturally-occurring receptor on target host cells is reduced.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the attachment moiety is an antibody.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the attachment moiety is a GPI anchor.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the attachment moiety comprises a biotin molecule.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the attachment moiety is a chemical crosslinking reagent.

21. A method of reducing the pathogenicity or infectiousness of a pathogenic agent comprising, contacting non-target host cells lacking the naturally occurring receptor with a molecule comprising i) an attachment moiety that facilitates the binding or expression of a receptor by the non-target host cell and ii) a receptor for the pathogenic agent, such that pathogenicity or infectiousness of a pathogenic agent is reduced.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the attachment moiety is an antibody.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the attachment moiety is a GPI anchor.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the attachment moiety is a biotin molecule.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the attachment moiety is a chemical crosslinking reagent.