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AssigneeThe Rockefeller University
InventorsElaine I. Tuomanen, Diana R. Cundell
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The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preventing pneumococcal infection. In particular, this invention relates to the identification of the minimum receptor targets of pneumococcal adherence to pulmonary and vascular endothelium, and to compositions and methods for preventing such adherence. In particular, the invention relates to the ability of one or more carbohydrate entities having the following motif or motifs: a disaccharide N-acetyl-D-galactosamine .beta.1-3Gal motif, a disaccharide N-acetyl-D-galactosamine .beta.1-4Gal motif, and an N-acetyl-D-glucosamine motif, effective to induce elution of adherent S. pneumoniae from host cells. In particular, a composition containing all three motifs can elute about 100% of pneumococcal bacteria from lung epithelial cells, and from venous endothelial cells. In a particular embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition of the invention can be used to treat pneumococcal infections in which the host cells are lung epithelial cells. For use in blocking adherence to, or eluting adherent bacteria from, lung epithelial cells, the pharmaceutical composition is an aerosol formulation. The invention further provides formulations for parenteral administration for treating systemic blood-borne infections by preventing or reversing binding to venous endothelial cells. The invention further relates to methods and kits for determining the presence of pneumococci in a biological sample from a subject.
A pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a carbohydrate containing a disaccharide N-acetyl-D-galactosamine .beta.1-3Gal motif effective to induce elution of adherent Streptococcus pneumoniae from host cells, an amount of a second carbohydrate containing a disaccharide N-acetyl-D-galactosamine .beta.1-4Gal motif effective to induce elution of adherent S. pneumoniae from host cells, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
A method for preventing or treating an infection with S. pneumoniae comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment for an infection with S. pneumoniae an amount of a carbohydrate containing a disaccharide N-acetyl-D-galactosamine .beta.1-3Gal motif effective to induce elution of adherent S. pneumoniae from host cells.
A method for detecting the presence of S. pneumoniae in a sample from a subject comprising detecting the binding of a carbohydrate containing a disaccharide N-acetyl-D-galactosamine .beta.1-3Gal motif to S. pneumoniae.
A kit for detecting the presence of S. pneumoniae in a sample from a subject comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.