Methods for preventing or treating disease mediated by toxin-secreting bacteria

Abstract

Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating disease mediated by toxin-secreting bacteria. Inventive methods and compositions are suited to preventing or treating infections caused by bacterial toxins that enter host cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis (e.g., the anthrax and diphtheria toxins). Methods comprise a step of administering to an individual a pharmaceutical composition that includes an effective amount of an inhibitor of endosomal acidification. The inhibitor may be a primary amine, a carboxylic ionophore, or a selective inhibitor of the vacuolar proton pump (V-ATPase). The inhibitors of endosomal acidification may be employed in combination with other therapeutics such as antibiotics and antitoxins in order to prevent, treat or cure the disease. The present invention describes techniques and reagents useful in the treatment of microbial infections, and particularly of infections with anthrax.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.