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US 7,803,565 B1Granted
Use of lymphocytes to measure anthrax lethal toxin activity
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsDavid M. Frucht, Hui Fang
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Abstract
It is disclosed herein that isolated lymphocytes, such as human B-cells and CD4+ T-cell can be used to determine an amount of lymphocyte-associated anthrax lethal toxin activity present. Methods of using isolated lymphocytes to identify anthrax therapeutic agents and to determine the efficacy of a potential anthrax therapeutic are disclosed. Methods are also provided for diagnosing and treating anthrax infections.
Claims32
A method of identifying an agent that decreases pathogenicity of anthrax, comprising:
- exposing isolated lymphocytes to anthrax lethal toxin (LT);
- contacting the lymphocytes with a test agent;
- and
- detecting lymphocyte-associated LT activity, wherein detecting lymphocyte-associated LT activity comprises:
- detecting a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK)-dependent cytokine response of the lymphocytes to the LT, wherein an increased MAPKK-dependent cytokine response in the presence of the test agent indicates that the lymphocyte-associated LT activity is decreased and that the test agent decreases pathogenicity of anthrax;
- or
- determining whether there is an increase in proliferation of the lymphocytes, wherein an increase in lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of the test agent indicates that the lymphocyte-associated LT activity is decreased and that the test agent decreases pathogenicity of anthrax.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.