A New Antiviral Pathway that is Responsible for Viral Clearance: Modulation of ADAR1 Activities Enhance Antiviral Therapies and Virus Infection of Tissue Culture Systems
Description of Invention:
This technology relates to the finding that the antiviral activity of interferon (IFN) is mediated by the activation of an enzyme RNA adenosine deaminase (ADAR1). This enzyme acts by deaminating adenosine residues in dsRNA molecules of the virus into inosine residues. This, in turn, may lead to mutations, genomic instability and ultimately to complete degradation and elimination of the virus. The subject patent application focuses on Hepatitis C virus (HCV), but may be broadly applied to the other viruses.
Potential Area of Application:
Based on the above-described finding, the technology offers two important utilities in the medical field:
Antiviral therapeutics: Because ADAR is so potent as an inhibitor of the growth of HCV, an agonist of this pathway or specifically of ADAR should enhance the clearance of the virus from the cells. Methods to identify such ADAR agonists are described in the subject patent applications.
HCV cell line for drug and vaccine research: The finding described in the subject patent application may lead to an efficient cell line for growing HCV. Currently, there is not a good system to grow this virus. The addition of ADAR inhibitors (such as RNAi or chemicals that target the catalytic domain of ADAR) to the system will result in a system that can efficiently grow the virus. Such a cell line is important for vaccine development against HCV as well as the development of anti-viral therapeutics.
Inventors:
Deborah R. Taylor et al. (FDA)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-121-2004/0 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/605,238 filed 27 Aug 2004
U.S. Patent Application No. 11/212,258 filed 26 Aug 2005 Licensing Status:
In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Robert M. Joynes J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)594-6565
Email: joynesr@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
