ECM-Protective Agents for Secondary Infection Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for respiratory viral infections, such as influenza, often focus on pathogen elimination or stimulating immune responses, but fail to address the destructive impact of excessive immune responses on the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the lungs, leading to tissue damage and secondary bacterial infections like sepsis.

Innovation Solution

Administering a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-pathogenic agent, such as a neuraminidase inhibitor, in combination with an agent that down-regulates extracellular matrix-associated polypeptides, like matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), to prevent ECM destruction and secondary infections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If immune cells are recruited to eliminate the pathogen, then pathogen clearance is improved, but tissue damage increases due to excessive inflammatory responses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen clearanceVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces ECM-associated polypeptides as intermediary molecules that mediate between the immune response and tissue structure. These polypeptides serve as protective intermediaries that allow immune cells to function while preventing direct damage to the extracellular matrix, thus resolving the contradiction between pathogen clearance and tissue preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs agents that down-regulate ECM remodeling enzymes (such as MMPs and ADAMTS) in advance to cushion or protect the extracellular matrix from damage. By pre-establishing this protective mechanism, the tissue is buffered against the harmful effects of excessive inflammatory responses while maintaining immune cell activity for pathogen clearance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If ECM remodeling enzymes are activated to facilitate immune response, then immune protection is improved, but ECM integrity deteriorates leading to tissue disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune protectionVSAvoidECM integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the activity parameters of ECM remodeling enzymes by introducing agents that down-regulate their expression or function. This parameter modulation allows the immune response to proceed effectively while preventing excessive ECM degradation, thus maintaining the balance between immune protection and ECM integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different regulatory mechanisms to different aspects of ECM remodeling. By selectively down-regulating specific ECM-associated polypeptides and remodeling enzymes in certain contexts, the patent preserves local ECM quality where needed while allowing immune responses to proceed, thus maintaining both immune protection and ECM integrity in their respective domains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If host immune response is intensified to clear viral infection, then viral clearance is improved, but secondary bacterial infection risk increases due to tissue breaching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviral clearance efficiencyVSAvoidsecondary infection susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies protective agents that down-regulate ECM remodeling before tissue breaching can occur. This beforehand cushioning prevents the formation of breaches in the extracellular matrix that would otherwise allow secondary bacterial infections to establish, thus enabling aggressive viral clearance without increasing secondary infection risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ECM-protective agents as intermediary elements that stand between the intense immune response and the extracellular matrix structure. These intermediaries allow the immune system to clear viruses efficiently while preventing direct damage to tissue barriers, thereby eliminating the pathway for secondary bacterial infections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11400156B2Methods of preventing secondary infections

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 YEDA RES & DEV CO LTD

AI summary

A method of treating or preventing a disease associated with a secondary infection in a subject infected with a pathogen is provided. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-pathogenic agent directed towards the pathogen and a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which down-regulates at least one extracellular matrix-associated polypeptide.