Marian Ruth Wachtel

US Patent:

6406885, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Oct 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/696188

Inventors:

Marian L. McKee - Great Falls VA
Alison D. OBrien - Bethesda MD
Marian R. Wachtel - Gaithersburg MD

Assignee:

Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine - Rockville MD

International Classification:

C12P 2106

US Classification:

435 691, 435 693, 435410, 435420, 536 231, 536 232, 536 237

Abstract:

This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species. The engineered plants expressing intimin or the intimin fusion protein are then fed to animals and/or humans to elicit the production of antibodies, which protect the animals/humans against EHEC colonization and infection, and against pathogens expressing the one or more other antigens and any cross-reactive antigens. The invention may also be practiced by expressing the intimin or intimin fusion protein in other host organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi.

US Patent:

6881411, Apr 19, 2005

Filed:

May 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150058

Inventors:

Marian L. McKee - Great Falls VA, US
Alison D. O'Brien - Bethesda MD, US
Marian R. Wachtel - Albany CA, US

Assignee:

Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine - Rockville MD

International Classification:

C12P021/06

US Classification:

4241841, 4242341, 4242523, 435 691, 435410, 435420, 435 693, 435 6, 435470, 536 231, 536 232, 536 237, 536 2371, 514 44

Abstract:

This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species. The engineered plants expressing intimin or the intimin fusion protein are then fed to animals and/or humans to elicit the production of antibodies, which protect the animals/humans against EHEC colonization and infection, and against pathogens expressing the one or more other antigens and any cross-reactive antigens. The invention may also be practiced by expressing the intimin or intimin fusion protein in other host organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi.

US Patent:

6942861, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Apr 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/837459

Inventors:

Marian L. McKee - Great Falls VA, US
Alison D. O'Brien - Bethesda MD, US
Marian R. Wachtel - Gaithersburg MD, US

Assignee:

Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine - Rockville MD

International Classification:

A61K039/00

US Classification:

4241691, 4241641, 4241841, 4241851, 4242571, 4242341, 530350, 5303882, 5303871, 5303884, 4353201, 435 691, 435325, 43525233, 435 6, 435410, 435420

Abstract:

The present invention describes the isolation and purification of histidine-tagged functional portions of intimin (his-tagged intimin or his-intimin), a protein associated with the ability of certain strains of pathogenic bacteria to adhere to epithelial cells. The invention further describes the use of intimin as an antigen to promote a protective immune response. In addition, the invention describes the combination of intimin with one or more other antigens and administration of the combination to promote a protective immune response against intimin and the one or more antigens. One aspect of the invention is the administration of intimin to target specific epithelial cells to promote a protective immune response to intimin proteins. Additional aspects of the invention include the use of intimin or intimin combined with one or more antigens and administration of the combination to target gastrointestinal mucosa and stimulate an immune response. Additionally, the invention describes administration of the combination of intimin combined with drugs, to provide a means for targeted delivery of drugs to specific epithelial cells.

US Patent:

20050244425, Nov 3, 2005

Filed:

Apr 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/108864

Inventors:

Marian McKee - Great Falls VA, US
Alison O'Brien - Bethesda MD, US
Marian Wachtel - Gaithersburg MD, US

International Classification:

A61K039/02
C12P021/06
C07K014/245

US Classification:

424190100, 530350000, 435069100

Abstract:

The present invention describes the isolation and purification of histidine-tagged functional portions of intimin (his-tagged intimin or his-intimin), a protein associated with the ability of certain strains of pathogenic bacteria to adhere to epithelial cells. The invention further describes the use of intimin as an antigen to promote a protective immune response. In addition, the invention describes the combination of intimin with one or more other antigens and administration of the combination to promote a protective immune response against intimin and the one or more antigens. One aspect of the invention is the administration of intimin to target specific epithelial cells to promote a protective immune response to intimin proteins. Additional aspects of the invention include the use of intimin or intimin combined with one or more antigens and administration of the combination to target gastrointestinal mucosa and stimulate an immune response. Additionally, the invention describes administration of the combination of intimin combined with drugs, to provide a means for targeted delivery of drugs to specific epithelial cells. Other aspects of the invention include the production of antibodies directed against his-intimin and methods of using such antibodies to provide passive immune protection, and in an assay system.