Compositions and methods for treating clostridium difficile-associated diseases

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating clostridium difficile-associated diseases. Described herein are isolated polypeptides each containing one or more receptor-binding sites of toxin A (tcdA) of Clostridium difficile (Cd), nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides and nucleic acids.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to US Provisional Application Serial No. 61 / 782,390, filed March 14, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background technique [0003] Clostridium difficile (Cd) is an emerging pathogen causing opportunistic infections in hospitals and is the main cause of human antibiotic-associated diseases such as pseudomembranous colitis and diarrhea. [0004] The main pathogenic effect of Clostridium difficile is through two large protein toxins, toxin A (tcdA) and toxin B (tcdB), which destroy intestinal epithelial cells. tcdA and tcdB, are large protein toxins (250 to 308 kDa) with multiple functional domains. Early in the pathogenic process, the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of Clostridium difficile (Cd) first binds carbohydrates located on the surface of colonic epithelial cells. tcdA and / or tcdB enter cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis and destroy ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Clostridium difficile-associated disease results in additional medical costs and prolonged hospital stays

Significantly increased morbidity and mortality from Clostridium difficile-associated disease due to altered virulence of the resulting strain

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