Sunday, August 21, 2016

Inventing Virus Traps

Viruses will bind to any cell possessing the correct receptor. This leaves them vulnerable to engineered cells expressing the correct receptor, but are otherwise not viable for productive infection. In work published in Ecology Letters, we described a mathematical model to predict the effectiveness of virus traps in driving viruses to extinction. We validated the model using bacteriophage Φ6 and a naturally occurring trap host. We found that traps could indeed drive viruses to extinction. The figure below accompanied a New York Times article about the work.

viral-lg
United States Patent Application20060018912
Kind CodeA1
Finberg; Robert W. ;   et al.January 26, 2006
Snares for pathogenic or infectious agents and uses related thereto 
Abstract
The present invention provides a snare molecules comprising an attachment moiety (which facilitates attachment of a receptor to a cell) and a receptor for a toxic pathogenic or infectious agent, e.g., a virus. Methods of producing such snare molecules and their therapeutic and/or prophylactic uses are also provided by the present invention
Inventors:Finberg; Robert W.; (Sudbury, MA) ; Asher; Damon R.; (Holden, MA)
Correspondence Address:
    LAHIVE & COCKFIELD, LLP.
    28 STATE STREET
    BOSTON
    MA
    02109
    US
Assignee:UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
MA
Family ID:35285443
Appl. No.:11/139272
Filed:May 27, 2005
Related U.S. Patent Documents
Application NumberFiling DatePatent Number
60575149May 28, 2004
60661991Mar 11, 2005
Current U.S. Class:424/178.1 ; 530/391.1
Current CPC Class:C07K 16/1009 20130101; C07K 14/705 20130101
Class at Publication:424/178.1 ; 530/391.1
International Class:A61K 39/395 20060101 A61K039/395; C07K 16/46 20060101 C07K016/46
Claims
1. A snare molecule, comprising an attachment moiety that facilitates attachment of the molecule to a blood cell and a receptor for a pathogenic agent, wherein the receptor is not naturally found on the blood cell. 
From PAIR:
07-05-2016NOANotice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85)

I expect the US patent to issue shortly!
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