Compositions and Methods for Treating and Preventing Gastroenteric Diseases
Rebecca Adkins, Kurt Schesser and Andrea Echeverry
Problem
Newborns and young children are more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections as their immune systems are not as well developed as in adults. Thus far, most treatment approaches have been directed towards adults, with little research on neonatal or young children due to the lack of appropriate models for investigating immune responses to enteric bacterial pathogens or pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.
Solution
A novel murine neonatal model of infection with an enteric pathogenic bacterium has been created. A key feature of this model is the exposure of neonates via the natural oral route, or in the manner that children would most likely encounter such bacteria.
Competitive Advantage
No other models exist for neonates that have a marked resistance to infection with a known pathogen. Therefore, this novel approach could lead to new potent vaccines and therapeutic agents for intestinal pathogens that can be administered by oral/intestinal routes, especially in newborns and children. Moreover, the findings describe a novel system for pre-clinical modeling of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.
Applications
The novel murine model would be a useful tool in developing and testing the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutic agents against intestinal pathogens and inflammatory bowel disease in children. In addition, this discovery is important in the development of oral vaccines, which are less invasive and easier to administer to children, do not require highly skilled health workers for administration, and are more amenable to efficient distribution over large geographic areas.
Patent Status
United States Patent application 12/202,838 was filed on September 2, 2008, and US2009/0062204A1 was published March 5, 2009.
Licensing Opportunity
We are seeking commercialization partnerships for a novel approach for preventing and/or treating gastrointestinal infections in newborns and children.
About the Inventors
Rebecca Adkins, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.
Kurt Schesser, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Department of Microbiology and Immunology, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Miller School of Medicine.
Andrea Echeverry is a Ph.D. graduate student with Dr. Adkins as her advisor, in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Selected References
Echeverry A, Schesser K, Adkins R. Murine neonates are highly resistant to Yersinia enterocolitica following orogastric exposure. Infect Immunol. 2007, 75:2234-2243.
Rose S, Lichtenheld M, Foote M, Adkins B. Murine neonatal CD4+ cells are poised for rapid Th2 effector-like function. J. Immunol. 2007, 178:2667-2678.
Opiela SJ, Levy RB, Adkins B. Murine neonates develop vigorous in vivo cytotoxic and Th1/Th2 responses upon exposure to low doses of NIMA-like alloantigens. Blood 2008, In press.
