Compositions and methods for affecting virulence determinants in bacteria
AssigneeTrustees of Dartmouth College
InventorsAmbrose L. Cheung, Adhar Manna, Gongyi Zhang
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Abstract
A novel sarR gene and sarR gene product which down regulates the expression of sarA and the resulting virulence determinants in Staphylococcus aureus is provided. Methods for modulating the expression of sarA and virulence determinants are also provided. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides structural information relating to the gene product and enables the identification and formulation of lead compounds and reducements for treating and preventing infections by S. aureus and related bacteria.
Claims27
A nucleic acid sequence which regulates the expression of virulence determinants in gram positive bacteria.
An isolated polypeptide which regulates the expression of virulence determinants in gram positive bacteria.
A polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequence essentially as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
- 2.
A kit for identifying the presence of a sarR gene or sarR gene product comprising a means for analyzing a biological sample for the presence of the sarR gene or the sarR gene product.
A method of treating a mammal suffering from or susceptible to a gram positive bacterial infection comprising administering a compound capable of selective occupation of a sarA promoter receptor.
A method of screening for lead compounds which inhibit the expression of virulence determinants in gram positive bacteria comprising identifying chemical entities having structural similarities to the SarR protein sufficient to allow said chemical entities to form heterodimers with SarA protein.
A method of screening for lead compounds which inhibit the expression of virulence determinants in gram positive bacteria comprising identifying chemical entities having structural similarities to the SarR protein sufficient to allow said chemical entities to bind sarA promoter receptors.
A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of gram positive bacteremia comprising a SarR agonist.
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound that binds to the P1 promoter region of a sarA gene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.