Serum preparations for inhibiting retroviruses and tumor growth
OwnerMark E. Howardinventor
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Abstract
Serum preparations obtained from sharks are used to prepare compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, for inhibiting retrovirus replication in susceptible cells. Thus, the serum preparations are useful for inhibiting diseases associated with retroviral infection, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The serum concentrates are also used to inhibit growth of tumor cells, especially sarcomas and leukemias.
Claims25
A method for preparing shark serum concentrate useful in inhibiting disease in a mammal, comprising:
- (a) adding ethanol to shark blood in an amount sufficient to cause separation of red cells and serum, thereby forming an ethanol-shark blood mixture;
- (b) warming the ethanol-shark blood mixture to a temperature and for a time sufficient to evaporate the ethanol but not sufficient to inactivate serum complement;
- and
- (c) separating the mixture into precipitate and shark serum concentrate.
A method for inhibiting retroviral infection of susceptible mammalian cells, which comprises administering to the cells an amount of shark serum sufficient to inhibit said infection.
A method for inhibiting tumor cells, which comprises administering to the tumor cells an amount of shark serum concentrate sufficient to inhibit growth of said tumor cells, wherein the serum concentrate is produced by admixture of ethanol and shark blood followed by heating to a temperature and for a time sufficient to evaporate the ethanol but not sufficient to inactivate serum complement and separation of serum from precipitate.
A pharmaceutical composition which comprises shark serum produced by admixture of ethanol and shark blood followed by heating to a temperature and for a time sufficient to evaporate the ethanol but not sufficient to inactivate serum complement and separation of serum from precipitate, in an amount sufficient to inhibit retroviral replication in susceptible cells or neoplastic disease.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.