Description of Invention:
The inventors have isolated a number of previously unknown sRNAs found in E. coli. Previous scientific publications by the inventors and others regarding sRNAs have shown these sRNAs to serve important regulatory roles in the cell, such as regulators of virulence and survival in host cells. Prediction of the presence of genes encoding sRNAs was accomplished by combining sequence information from highly conserved intergenic regions with information about the expected transcription of neighboring genes. Microarray analysis also was used to identify likely candidates. Northern blot analyses were then carried out to demonstrate the presence of the sRNAs. Three of the sRNAs claimed in the invention regulate (candidates 12 and 14, negatively and candidate 31, positively) expression of RpoS, a major transcription factor in bacteria that is important in many pathogens because it regulates (amongst other things) virulence. The inventors' data show that these sRNAs are highly conserved among closely related bacterial species, including Salmonella and Klebsiella, presenting a unique opportunity to develop both specific and broad-based antibiotic therapeutics. The invention contemplates a number of uses for the sRNAs, including, but not limited to, inhibition by antisense, manipulation of gene expression, and possible vaccine candidates.
Inventors:
Susan Gottesman (NCI) Gisela Storz (NICHD) Karen Wassarman (NICHD) Francis Repoila (NCI) Carsten Rosenow (EM)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-072-2001/0 --
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/266,402 filed 01 Feb 2001
PCT Application No. PCT/US02/03147 filed 31 Jan 2002
U.S. Patent Application No. 10/627,007 filed 25 Jul 2003
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
