Mucosal Membrane Receptor and Uses Thereof

The invention is based on the identification of aminopeptidase N (APN) as the receptor for F4 fimbriae of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Based on the observation that oral administration of F4 fimbriae induces a protective intestinal mucosal immune response against a subsequent challenge with F4 ETEC, and the observation that the internalization of said F4 fimbriae is clathrin-mediated, the present invention provides the characterization of APN as a target useful in: in an in vitro assay to screen for molecules that are capable to mimic the clathrin-mediated F4 endocytosis; in an in vitro assay to screen for molecules that are capable to modulate the binding of F4 fimbriae with APN; ; in the development of a carrier for the delivery of antigens / therapeutics, i.e. immunomodulators to the intestinal submucosa or the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, wherein said carrier comprises an APN specific target molecule that mimics the clathrin-mediated F4 endocytosis. The use of the carriers thus identified or the treatments thus identified, in a method of inducing an antigen specific intestinal mucosal immune response, and/or in the treatment of bacterial diarrhea, is a further aspect of the present invention.

Attached files:


Patents:
WO 2,009,103,555

Inventor(s): RASSCHAERT KRISTIEN [BE]; GODDEERIS BRUNO [BE]; COX ERIC [BE]; DEFORCE DIETER [BE]

Type of Offer: Sale



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