Metabolic Reprogramming for Influenza Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatment methods for viral infections, such as influenza, are limited by the understanding of metabolic changes in myeloid lineage immune cells and airway epithelia, restricting effective therapeutic approaches.
Innovation Solution
Administration of compounds with specific structures, such as NVP-BEZ235, which target metabolic pathways altered by influenza infection, including the PI3K/mTOR and cMyc pathways, to treat viral infections by modulating host cell metabolism and reducing viral replication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional antiviral therapeutics are used, then viral replication is inhibited, but the efficacy is limited due to high rates of antigenic shift and drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the therapeutic parameter from directly targeting the virus (antiviral agents) to targeting the host cell metabolic parameters (glycolysis, glutaminolysis, fatty acid oxidation). This parameter change allows the therapy to remain effective despite viral antigenic variations, as the metabolic pathways are conserved across different influenza strains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using host metabolic pathways as a mediator between the therapeutic agent and the virus. Instead of directly inhibiting viral replication, the compounds modulate host metabolism (glycolysis, glutaminolysis, fatty acid oxidation) to create an unfavorable environment for viral replication, thereby indirectly combating the virus.
2Productivity
If current treatment methods are used, then some viral replication is controlled, but the understanding of metabolic changes in immune cells and airway epithelia is limited, restricting effective therapeutic approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by identifying and characterizing the metabolic changes (glycolysis, glutaminolysis, fatty acid oxidation) that occur in host cells during influenza infection before developing targeted therapies. This preliminary understanding of metabolic reprogramming allows for the rational design of compounds that specifically target these altered pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the identified metabolic changes as both the diagnostic marker and the therapeutic target. The metabolic reprogramming (increased glycolysis, increased glutaminolysis, decreased fatty acid oxidation) serves as feedback information that guides the selection and optimization of compounds targeting these specific pathways.
3Reliability
If compounds targeting metabolic pathways are administered, then viral titers are reduced and survival rates are enhanced, but the complexity of metabolic pathway modulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by developing compounds that can simultaneously target multiple metabolic pathways (glycolysis, glutaminolysis, fatty acid oxidation) involved in influenza infection. The identified compounds exhibit multi-functional effects, modulating several metabolic pathways concurrently, which simplifies the therapeutic approach compared to targeting each pathway separately.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to methods of treating viral infections using known drugs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising same. More specifically, the disclosed methods are useful for the treatment of viral infections that are enveloped viruses. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.