Antibodies Targeting Staphylococcus aureus Efb Protein

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapeutic strategies against Staphylococcus aureus, particularly due to its increasing antibiotic resistance, have been ineffective due to the pathogen's immune evasion molecules that suppress natural immunity and hinder vaccine development.

Innovation Solution

Development of antibodies or antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to the extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb) of Staphylococcus aureus, inhibiting fibrinogen and complement protein binding, thereby preventing the bacteria from being recognized by phagocytic receptors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional antibiotics are used to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections, then bacterial growth can be inhibited, but antibiotic resistance develops rendering the treatment ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using antibiotics to kill bacteria directly, the invention uses antibodies to block the bacteria's immune evasion molecules (Efb and Coa proteins) that prevent phagocytosis. This reverses the traditional approach by targeting the pathogen's protective mechanisms rather than attempting to overcome bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces antibodies as intermediary molecules that bind to the Efb and Coa proteins on the bacterial surface, preventing these evasion molecules from interfering with phagocytosis. The antibodies act as mediators between the immune system (phagocytes) and the pathogen, restoring natural immune function without requiring direct bacterial killing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If vaccines are developed against Staphylococcus aureus, then immunity can be induced, but the pathogen's immune evasion molecules suppress the immune response and hamper vaccine effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevaccine effectivenessVSAvoidimmune suppression

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and targets the specific immune evasion molecules (Efb and Coa proteins) responsible for suppressing immune response. By isolating these problematic molecules as vaccine targets, the vaccine induces antibodies specifically against the evasion mechanisms, allowing the immune system to recognize and neutralize these protective bacterial factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful immune evasion molecules into beneficial vaccine targets. The Efb and Coa proteins that originally protected the bacteria are now used as antigens to stimulate the production of neutralizing antibodies, turning the pathogen's weapons into tools for immune protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If antibodies are designed to bind to Efb and Coa proteins, then phagocytosis can be restored, but the bacteria may develop alternative evasion mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephagocytosis functionVSAvoidbacterial evasion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention targets multiple immune evasion molecules (both Efb and Coa proteins) simultaneously with a single therapeutic approach. By developing antibodies against both evasion mechanisms, the treatment addresses multiple bacterial escape routes, making it harder for the bacteria to develop alternative evasion strategies through single-point mutations or loss of function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The antibodies effectively block phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by neutralizing the immune evasion mechanisms, providing a potential therapeutic approach to combat antibiotic-resistant strains.

Implementation Method 1

an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds an extracellular fibrinogen binding protein

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntibody-antigen binding:

Implementation Method 2

preventing the bacteria from being recognized by phagocytic receptors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhagocytosis inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS11407819B2Compositions and use of a fibrinogen binding motif present in EFB and COA for therapeutics and vaccines against <i>Staphylococcus aureus </i>

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

AI summary

The present disclosure provides methods and composition including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, chimeric molecule of an extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb) and targeted agent delivery pharmaceutical composition comprising at least a portion of a modified N-terminus region, at least a portion of a modified C-terminus region, or both, wherein the modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein results in inhibiting the fibrinogen binding, C3 binding, or both or administering to a subject a pharmacologically effective amount of a vaccine in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, comprising a modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein comprising at least a portion of a modified N-terminus region, at least a portion of a modified C-terminus region, or both, wherein the modified extracellular fibrinogen binding protein results in not shielding the staphylococcus bacterium from recognition by a phagocytic receptor.