Assay Technology

TECHNOLOGY:
Mycobacterium Gene that Encodes for the Enzyme Dihydrofolate Reductase

DESCRIPTION:
Tuberculosis is a disease of worldwide significance and notoriety. About eight million new cases of tuberculosis occur annually resulting in 2.9 million deaths. The risk becomes even greater if the person is co-infected with HIV. The Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) complex represents one of the most serious opportunistic infections. Unlike M. tuberculosis which can be succesfully treated with two or three drug combinations, the M. avium complex is resistant to many anti-mycobacterial agents. Although M. avium infections in AIDS patients are treated with multiple drugs, the long-term prognosis is poor. As cases of HIV are projected to increase, cases of tuberculosis will likely increase as well. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an important drug target for tuberculosis drug therapy.

This invention (technology) relates to the nucleic acid sequence and amino acid sequence of DHFR from mycobacteria and to expression of recombinant DHFR protein. Utilizing the recombinant protein, novel therapies and diagnostic strategies can be developed and selective antimycobacterial compositions can be designed and utilized to treat mycobacterial infections in patients. Prior to this invention, a DHFR gene had not been identified or cloned from any mycobacterial species.

DHRFR exhibits the following advantages:

• Can be used to produce recombinant peptides comprising an amino acid sequence containing all or portion of a mycobacterial DHFR protein;
• Useful as a screening tool for agents that inhibit the activity of DHFR protein;
• Can serve as basis for detection method for Mycobacterium infection.

DEVELOPMENT STATUS: Pre-clinical

PATENT PROTECTION: US Patent 6,229,001

REFERENCE NUMBER: S0212

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