Human xenografts for microbicide testing and anatomical modeling

• US 6,455,246 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: Pennsylvania State University
• Inventors: Kreider, John W., Howett, Mary K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Lynette R. F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baskar, Padmavathi
• Application Number:
  US09/624,751
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 424/9.1, 424/9.2, 424/423, 424/430, 424/422, 435/1.1, 435/5, 435/7.2, 435/40.5, 435/40.51, 435/40.52, 600/36, 606/132, 604/48
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/0271 Chimeric vertebrates, e.g. comprising exogenous cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5082 Supracellular entities, e.g. tissue, organisms

Abstract

A method for screening candidate antimicrobial compounds is described that utilizes a human vaginal xenograft engrafted in a non-human host. The method may be performed by using pathogen inoculated human vaginal xenografts in order to screen a wide range of candidate antimicrobials administered topically or systemically.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a vaginal graft comprising isolated human vaginal tissue configured so as to comprise a lumen substantially lined with epithelial cells wherein said vaginal graft is engrafted into an immunocompromised non-human host.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said vaginal tissue comprises split thickness vaginal tissue.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said vaginal graft is infected with a pathogen.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said pathogen is selected from the group of consisting of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein said viruses are selected from the group consisting of HSV-2, HPV, and HIV.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said vaginal graft has been exposed to one or more gonadal hormones.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of β

-estradiol and progesterone.