Mycobacterial antigens expressed during latency
US8003776B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 2008 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K39/00
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method is provided for identifying mycobacterial genes that are induced or up-regulated under culture conditions that are nutrient-starving and which maintain mycobacterial latency, said conditions being obtainable by batch fermentation of a mycobacterium for at least 20 days post-inoculation, when compared with culture conditions that are not nutrient-starving and which support exponential growth of said mycobacterium. Said induced or up-regulated genes form the basis of nucleic acid vaccines, or provide targets to allow preparation of attenuated mycobacteria for vaccines against mycobacterial infections. Similarly, peptides encoded by said induced or up-regulated genes are employed in vaccines. In a further embodiment, the identified genes/peptides provide the means for identifying the presence of a mycobacterial infection in a clinical sample by nucleic acid probe or antibody detection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.