STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes), A Regulator of Innate Immune Responses
Glen Barber
Problem
A number of infectious agents and toxins target the ER. Accordingly, the ER has evolved to recognize and respond to these cellular stresses, which include mediating innate immune signaling in the cell following infection. Identifying the pathways and harnessing innate immune signaling could potentially lead to novel ways of developing new vaccines strategies to safely yet effectively stimulate the adaptive immune responses.
Solution
STING activates innate immune responses. Accordingly, it is expected that it can be attached to disease specific antigens and used in vaccines as an adjuvant and in other systems where the regulation of the immune system is crucial. Evidence indicates that STING is responsible for recognizing DNA based pathogens (viruses and some bacteria) as well as RNA viruses making the suppression of STING function a key focus following cellular infection. This may allow the development of novel therapeutics to combat disease. Finally, STING may be suppressed in malignant disease as a mechanism of immune-evasion and may provide a prognostic marker in predicting disease outcome and response to therapeutic regime
Competitive Advantage
Unique activator of primary innate immune responses, including the production of Type I IFN.
Applications
Vaccines, cancer prognostic, viral therapeutics, cancer immunotherapies, autoimmune approaches etc.
Patent Status
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US09/52767 filed on August 4, 2009
Licensing Opportunity
The University of Miami is looking for a commercialization partner. An exclusive worldwide license is available.
About the Inventors
Dr. Barber joined UM in 1999, having served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. He is presently Professor in the Department of Medicine and in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UM. Dr. Barber also holds the position of Eugenia J. Dodson Chair in Cancer Research and is the Associate Director for Basic Research UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMSCCC) as well as co-leader of the UMSCCC Viral Oncology Program.
Dr. Barbers laboratory focuses on studying mechanisms of innate immunity to viral infection and malignant disease. This research includes studying how the interferons (IFNs) mediate their anti-viral and anti-proliferative effects. Dr. Barbers laboratory most recently identified a molecule (STING; stimulator of interferon genes) that appears essential for effective innate immune signaling processes. Current research is also directed to identifying new IFN-induced genes and examining their importance in cellular growth control and immunity and their possible deregulation in cancer cells.
Dr. Barber has also developed VSV-based viral vectors that preferentially kill infected cancer cells and not normal cells due to innate immune defects being prevalent in the former. A variety of applications of these oncolytic VSV vectors are being developed to allow use of this technology in cancer gene therapy. Other laboratory interests included investigating how hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) contribute to oncogenesis. Understanding mechanisms involved in these processes could lead to an improvement of current therapies, as well as the identification of new therapeutic targets in malignant disease involving these viruses
Selected References
Ishikawa H, Barber GN. STING is an endoplasmic reticulum adaptor that facilitates innate immune signalling. Nature. 2008 Aug 24.
