Enterovirus Detection in Celiac Disease Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for celiac disease are inadequate as they do not account for the potential role of enteroviruses, which have been found to be present on the intestinal mucous membrane of patients with the disease, and there is a need for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Innovation Solution

The method involves detecting enteroviruses or their components in body samples, such as biopsies or blood, using techniques like in situ hybridization, PCR, or immunohistochemistry, and using anti-enterovirus compositions or vaccines to treat and prevent celiac disease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional diagnostic methods (biopsy examination under microscope) are used for celiac disease, then the diagnosis can be made based on intestinal villus height, but the method does not detect enterovirus presence which is actually associated with the disease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidenterovirus presence information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines conventional biopsy examination with enterovirus detection methods (in situ hybridization, PCR, immunohistochemistry) to create a comprehensive diagnostic approach that simultaneously assesses both intestinal villus morphology and enterovirus presence, thereby merging two diagnostic modalities into one unified procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The biopsy procedure is extended to serve multiple functions: traditional morphological assessment of intestinal villi and simultaneous detection of enterovirus through additional molecular and immunological techniques, making the single biopsy sample multi-functional for different diagnostic purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If only gluten-related autoantibodies are measured in blood tests, then the test is relatively simple and quick, but it misses the association with enterovirus infection that contributes to disease development

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic speedVSAvoiddisease etiology detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs enterovirus detection in addition to routine autoantibody measurement, preparing a more comprehensive diagnostic profile in advance that captures both immunological and viral aspects of the disease before treatment decisions are made

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces enterovirus detection as an intermediary diagnostic step that bridges the gap between simple autoantibody testing and comprehensive disease understanding, adding viral etiology information that mediates between rapid screening and detailed pathological assessment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If no specific treatment targets enterovirus, then the treatment protocol remains simple with only gluten avoidance, but the treatment cannot address the viral component that triggers or exacerbates the disease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment simplicityVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment approach is segmented into two distinct components: gluten avoidance (dietary management) and enterovirus-specific therapy (antiviral treatment or vaccination), allowing each component to be optimized independently while addressing different aspects of the disease pathogenesis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of information

If enterovirus detection is added to the diagnostic workflow, then more comprehensive disease information is obtained, but the diagnostic process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviral etiology informationVSAvoiddiagnostic procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The biopsy sample obtained for routine morphological examination is utilized to perform additional enterovirus detection, allowing the same sample to serve multiple diagnostic purposes without requiring separate invasive procedures, thereby reducing overall procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach allows for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and prevention of celiac disease by identifying enterovirus presence and using specific antiviral substances or vaccines to reduce or eliminate the virus, indicating successful treatment monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

The enterovirus genome was detected by in situ hybridization using probes that specifically identify a region with a length of 54 bases at the 5'NCR end of the genome of the enteroviruses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIn situ hybridization:

Implementation Method 2

The enterovirus genome was amplified from one sample of a patient with celiac disease but from none of the samples of reference patients (Figure 4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPCR amplification:

Implementation Method 3

The VP1 protein of enteroviruses was identified with a commercial monoclonal antibody (DakoCytomation Denmark A/S, clone 5-D8/1) by using an EnVision +[

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImmunohistochemistry:

Data Source

PatentEP2225366B1Use of enterovirus for diagnostics, treatment and prevention of celiac disease
Publication Date: 2015.04.22 VACTECH OY
  • EP2225366B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2D
  • EP2225366B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP2225366B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention is based on the finding that enterovirus is present in body samples of patients with celiac disease. The invention opens up the possibility for using enteroviruses in diagnosing, preventing, treating and monitoring the treatment of celiac-related diseases. The invention relates to a method for diagnosing, treating and monitoring the treatment of a celiac-related disease. The invention also relates to the use of enteroviruses or components or antibodies thereof for producing a vaccine, and the use of anti-enterovirus compositions for preparing a pharmaceutical against said disease.