# US 2021/0275635 A1 · Compositions and related methods for controlling vector-borne diseases

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- Number: US 2021/0275635 A1
- Document ID: US20210275635A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/120,476
- Filed: 2020-12-14
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-24
- Assignees: Flagship Pioneering Innovations V, Inc.
- Applicants: Flagship Pioneering Innovations V, Inc.
- Inventors: Ignacio MARTINEZ; Zachary Garo ARMEN; Christine CEZAR; Barry Andrew MARTIN; Maier Steve AVENDANO AMADO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275635A1

## CPC

- A61K 38/1729: {Cationic antimicrobial peptides, e.g. defensins}
- A61P 31/04: Antibacterial agents
- A61K 38/16: Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof {(enzyme inhibitors A61K38/005)}
- A61K 38/1703: {from vertebrates}
- A61K 38/1767: {from invertebrates}
- C07K 14/43563: {from insects}
- C07K 14/43572: {from bees}
- C07K 14/43581: {from Drosophila}
- C07K 14/43586: {from silkworms}
- C07K 2319/10: containing a tag for extracellular membrane crossing, e.g. TAT or VP22
- Y02A 50/30: Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

Provided herein are methods and compositions useful for human health, e.g., for targeting one or more microorganisms resident in a host insect (e.g., arthropod, e.g., insect, e.g., pathogen vector), the modulation resulting in a decrease in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes a modulating agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is detrimental to the host. By disrupting microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, or microbial diversity, the modulating agent described herein may be used to decrease the fitness of a variety of insects that carry vector-home pathogens that cause disease in humans.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of decreasing fitness of a vector for a human pathogen, the method comprising: delivering an antimicrobial peptide having at least 90% sequence identity with one or more of the following: cecropin (SEQ ID NO: 82), melittin, copsin, drosomycin (SEQ ID NO: 93), dermcidin (SEQ ID NO: 81), andropin (SEQ ID NO: 83), moricin (SEQ ID NO: 84), ceratotoxin (SEQ ID NO: 85), abaecin (SEQ ID NO: 86), apidaecin (SEQ ID NO: 87), prophenin (SEQ ID NO: 88), indolicidin (SEQ ID NO: 89), protegrin (SEQ ID NO: 90), tachyplesin (SEQ ID NO: 91), or defensin (SEQ ID NO: 92) to the vector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery comprises delivering the antimicrobial peptide to at least one habitat where the vector grows, lives, reproduces, feeds, or infests.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial peptide is delivered in an insect comestible composition for ingestion by the vector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial peptide is formulated as a liquid, a solid, an aerosol, a paste, a gel, or a gas composition.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the insect is at least one of a mosquito, midge, louse, sandfly, tick, triatomine bug, tsetse fly, or flea.

### Claim 6

A composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide having at least 90% sequence identity with one or more of the following: cecropin, melittin, copsin, drosomycin, dermcidin, andropin, moricin, ceratotoxin, abaecin, apidaecin, prophenin, indolicidin, protegrin, tachyplesin, or defensin formulated for targeting a microorganism in a vector for a human pathogen.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The composition of claim 6, wherein the antimicrobial peptide is at a concentration of about 0.1 ng/g to about 100 mg/g in the composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The composition of claim 6, wherein the antimicrobial peptide further comprises a targeting domain.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The composition of claim 6, wherein the antimicrobial peptide further comprises a cell penetrating peptide.