# US 5,885,822 A · Method and system for growing molluscum contagiosum in xenografts to immunocompromised hosts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,885,822 A - Document ID: US5885822A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/699,744 - Filed: 1996-08-20 - Granted: 1999-03-23 - Earliest claimed: 1996-08-20 - Assignees: David A. Paslin - Inventors: David A. Paslin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5885822A ## CPC - C12N 7/00: Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof (preparing medicinal viral antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. virus vaccines, A61K39/00) - C12N 2710/24051: Methods of production or purification of viral material - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) ## Abstract A method and system is provided for the growth of the molluscum contagiosum virus in human skin xenografted to an immunocompromised host. A human skin graft is infected with molluscum contagiosum virus attached to or beneath a skin section of the immunocompromised host. According to the method, a section of skin of an immunocompromised host is prepared for receiving a human skin xenograft which is then placed onto or into the host. The human skin is infected with the molluscum contagiosum virus. The animals are monitored and the newly grown virus and its products are harvested for further study. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for growing molluscum contaglosum virus (MCV) in human keratinocytes comprising: preparing a xenograft of human epithelial tissue; grafting the xenograft onto or into an immunocompromised host; infecting the xenograft with MCV either before or after grafting the xenograft onto or into the immunocompromised host; wherein the infection results in productive MCV replication and the production of progeny virus. ### Claim 2 A system for expressing molluscum contaglosum virus (MCV) comprising: a xenograft of human epithelial tissue infected with MCV grafted onto or into an immunocompromised host such that the infection results in productive MCV replication and the production of progeny virus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of preparing a xenograft of human epithelial tissue includes exposing a sufficient area of a capillary bed surface of the immunocompromised host to support the xenograft; and the step of grafting the xenograft onto or into an immunocompromised host includes grafting the xenograft to the host such that a dermal side of the xenograft is in contact with the exposed area of the capillary bed surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the human epithelial tissue is postnatal skin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4 wherein the human epithelial tissue is a foreskin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the human epithelial tissue is selected from the group consisting of glabrous skin, hair bearing skin and mucous membrane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the host is an immunodeficient host. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, the step of exposing an area of a capillary bed surface including removing a section of skin from the immunocompromised host such that an area of a capillary bed surface on the immunocompromised host is exposed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, the step of exposing an area of a capillary bed surface including uplifting a section of skin from a body of the immunocompromised host, and the step of grafting the xenograft including grafting the xenograft to the area of the capillary bed in a cutaneous site, a subcutaneous site within the body, or on the uplifted section of skin and grafting the uplifted skin section to the body of the host. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of uplifting the host skin section is performed such that the exposed capillary bed surface is positioned on the host body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of grafting the xenograft includes grafting the xenograft to the host body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of grafting the xenograft includes grafting the xenograft to the uplifted host skin section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of uplifting the host skin section is performed such that the exposed capillary bed surface is positioned on the uplifted host skin section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of grafting the xenograft includes grafting the xenograft to the host body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of grafting the xenograft includes grafting the xenograft to the uplifted host skin section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The expression system according to claim 2 wherein the xenograft of human epithelial tissue grafted onto or into an immunocompromised host is a xenograft in contact with an area of a capillary bed surface of the immunocompromised host. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The expression system according to claim 2 wherein the xenograft is postnatal skin or mucous membrane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The expression system according to claim 2 wherein the immunocompromised host is a mammal whose immune system is genetically impaired. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The expression system according to claim 2 wherein the immunocompromised host is selected from the group consisting of SCID mice, NOD-SCID mice, nude mice, N-III nude mice and nude rats. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The expression system according to claim 16 wherein a host skin section is removed to expose a sufficient area of the capillary bed surface to support a tissue graft and the xenograft is attached to the area of the capillary bed surface at the location where the host skin section is removed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The expression system according to claim 16 wherein a section of skin of the immunocompromised host is uplifted from a body of the immunocompromised host to expose a sufficient area of the capillary bed surface to support a tissue graft, the xenograft is grafted to either the body or the uplifted section of skin. ### Claim 22 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7 wherein the immunodeficient host is selected from the group consisting of SCID mice, NOD-SCID mice, nude mice, N-III nude mice and nude rats. ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The expression system according to claim 2 wherein complete replicative cycles of MCV occur for at least 2 weeks after infection.