Animal derived cell with antigenic protein introduced therein
US5677176A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/56988
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention comprises animal derived cells, especially erythrocytes, which have been artificially modified (and referred to as engineered erythrocytes or RBCs) so as to incorporate in their plasma membranes an antigen, CD4 protein derived from lymphocytes) which will cause them to selectively seek out and fuse with other cells that are infected with a virus, especially the AIDS virus. These modified cells can be further altered so as to contain in their cytoplasm a cytotoxic agent which, after the cell has fused with a target cell, will result in the pooling of their respective cytoplasms and the death of both cells. Such modified cells can be used as a basis for an in vitro diagnostic assay involving cells derived from the blood of patients suspected of having AIDS.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.