Human Milk Oligosaccharides Inhibit Coronavirus Binding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments lack effective solutions for preventing or attenuating coronavirus-induced inflammation, particularly in the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract, where coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 bind to the ACE2 receptor, leading to severe inflammation and immune responses.
Innovation Solution
Compositions of human milk oligosaccharides (hMOS), such as 2′-fucosyllactose, are used to prevent viral binding, promote gut commensal bacteria growth, and directly reduce inflammation by administering them alone or in combination with other agents to the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional treatments are used for coronavirus infection, then viral infection can be addressed, but host inflammation is not effectively prevented or attenuated
Solution Approach 1:
Human milk oligosaccharides act as intermediary molecules that bind to coronaviruses in the gut, preventing direct interaction between the virus and host ACE2 receptors. This intermediary binding mechanism effectively blocks viral attachment and entry into host cells, thereby preventing host inflammation without requiring direct antiviral intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes specific functional components (human milk oligosaccharides) from human milk to isolate and amplify the protective anti-inflammatory effects. These extracted oligosaccharides are then administered as concentrated therapeutic compositions to specifically target and prevent coronavirus-induced inflammation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If human milk oligosaccharides are administered to prevent viral binding, then host inflammation is reduced, but the mechanism requires specific oligosaccharide structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and utilizes specific structural parameters of human milk oligosaccharides (such as fucosylated and sialylated structures) that are critical for their protective function. By focusing on these specific structural parameters and producing oligosaccharides with defined configurations, the patent achieves effective viral binding prevention while managing structural complexity through targeted synthesis or selection
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 hMOS compositions effectively inhibit coronavirus binding, reduce inflammation, and promote recovery from pathogen-induced immune responses, offering a natural and effective treatment for coronavirus-induced inflammation.
Implementation Method 1
preventing viruses, or other respiratory pathogens, from binding to host cells or tissue
Implementation Method 2
reducing host inflammation by, e.g., promoting growth and/or functions of common gut commensal bacteria
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides compositions and methods for utilizing oligosaccharides, such as isolated human milk oligosaccharides, to attenuate a respiratory pathogen infection-induced host inflammation and/or to promote recovery from a respiratory pathogen infection-induced host inflammation in a subject.