Selective Destruction Of Cells Infected With The Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Patent · 28 March 2006

OSTI ID:880117

Keener, William K ^[1]; Ward, Thomas E ^[1]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID

Compositions and methods for selectively killing a cell containing a viral protease are disclosed. The composition is a varient of a protein synthesis inactivating toxin wherein a viral protease cleavage site is interposed between the A and B chains. The variant of the type II ribosome-inactivating protein is activated by digestion of the viral protease cleavage site by the specific viral protease. The activated ribosome-inactivating protein then kills the cell by inactivating cellular ribosomes. A preferred embodiment of the invention is specific for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and uses ricin as the ribosome-inactivating protein. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variant of the ribosome-inactivating protein is modified by attachment of one or more hydrophobic agents. The hydrophobic agent facilitates entry of the variant of the ribosome-inactivating protein into cells and can lead to incorporation of the ribosome-inactivating protein into viral particles. Still another preferred embodiment of the invention includes a targeting moiety attached to the variants of the ribosome-inactivating protein to target the agent to HIV infectable cells.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN IDAHO TECH CO; BECHTEL BWXT IDAHO LLC; Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223; AC07-99ID13727; AC07-05ID14517
• Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
• Patent Number(s): US 7,018,633
• Application Number: 10/618560
• OSTI ID: 880117
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English