New antibodies may pave the way for more effective drugs against influenza infection -
research to the development of new antibodies at the Hebrew University Faculty of medical Jerusalem could open the way for more effective drugs against influenza infection.
Influenza is a major global health problem. annual epidemics of seasonal influenza causes about three to five million cases of severe illness, resulting in between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths worldwide. In the United States, seasonal influenza epidemics are estimated at 3.1 million days of hospitalization and an average of $ 10.4 billion loss in direct medical costs. "It is urgent to develop new drugs against influenza infection, which requires an understanding of the life cycle of the virus and its interaction with the immune system of the host," said Yotam Bar-On, a Hebrew University PhD candidate in immunology and cancer research.
Bar-on has conducted her research under the supervision of Professor Ofer Mandelboim the Lautenberg Center for General and tumor immunology, at medical research Institute of Israel-Canada at the Faculty of medicine of the Hebrew University. the research obtained Bar-on a price Kaye innovation, which was presented on June 11 in conjunction with the 77th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University.
in the past, said Bar-on, it has been shown that natural killer cells (NK) cells belonging to the innate immune system of the body can eliminate cells infected by influenza viruses. This is made possible through a major receptors NK killing, NKp46, which recognizes the influenza virus expressed on the infected cells.
A problem arises, however, in that the influenza virus has a novel immune evasion mechanism is mediated by the neuraminidase (NA) protein. NA counterattacks NKp46 recognition of infected cells and reduces its ability to eliminate.
The search for Bar-On has shown, for the first time, the NA inhibitors (which are already commonly used to treat influenza infections) improve the murder NKp46-mediated infected cells. With further research on peptide components of the NA protein, Bar-On has developed antibodies that can bind to the NA, indeed "attach" and put off.
The Task Bar-On was patented by the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University, Yissum, seeking commercial partners for further research and development.
Bar-On is currently working on the cross-reactivity of generation, anti-influenza antibodies that will bind the NA proteins in most strains of flu known today. He showed that when injected to mice infected with influenza virus, these antibodies have significantly improved survival.
work of Bar-On should make possible future new and more effective drugs, which will be both the NA target and at the same time to stimulate more effectively killing NKp46-mediated virus influenza. "In total, the new antibodies we developed allow our immune system to respond more effectively to a wide variety of influenza infections," says Bar-On.
Kaye Innovation Awards at the Hebrew University have been awarded annually since 1994. Isaac Kaye of England, a prominent industrialist in the pharmaceutical industry, established the awards to encourage faculty, staff and students of the Hebrew University to develop innovative methods and inventions with good commercial potential which will benefit the university and society.
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