Polyclonal IgY Antibodies for Selective Pathogen Inhibition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for obtaining antibodies are limited in targeting substances causing disease symptoms from microbial cells, and current treatments often harm beneficial indigenous bacteria, exacerbating skin conditions.

Innovation Solution

Development of polyclonal IgY antibodies from ostrich eggs, produced by immunizing birds with a lysis solution from microbial cells like Staphylococcus aureus, which selectively bind to both microbial cells and substances causing symptom progression, allowing for direct application on the skin to inhibit pathogen proliferation without affecting beneficial bacteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional methods (mouse hybridoma) are used to obtain monoclonal antibodies, then antibody production is achieved, but the ability to target multiple disease-causing substances from microbial cells is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibody targeting capabilityVSAvoidproduction method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the antigen preparation into multiple components by lysing microbial cells to release intracellular substances, then using these segmented antigen components to immunize birds and generate polyclonal antibodies that can target multiple disease-causing substances simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal polyclonal antibodies that can target multiple antigens (microbial cells and their secreted substances) simultaneously, making a single antibody preparation capable of addressing multiple disease mechanisms rather than requiring separate monoclonal antibodies for each target

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If antibiotics or sterilizing agents are used to eliminate pathogens, then pathogen proliferation is inhibited, but beneficial indigenous bacteria are also eliminated, exacerbating skin conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen inhibition effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to beneficial bacteria

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating antibodies with specific affinity for pathogen antigens while sparing beneficial bacteria, allowing selective targeting of harmful organisms without affecting the beneficial microbial environment of the skin

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of broad-spectrum antibiotics (which eliminate both pathogens and beneficial bacteria) into a beneficial selective approach using polyclonal antibodies that specifically target pathogen antigens while preserving beneficial indigenous bacteria

Inventive Principle:

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

3Quantity of substance

If antibodies are obtained by immunizing with microbial cells only, then cellular antigens are targeted, but secreted substances causing symptom progression are not targeted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibody titerVSAvoidantibody target range

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by lysing microbial cells before immunization to release and expose secreted substances and intracellular antigens, ensuring these substances are available as immunogens to generate antibodies against them, rather than relying on whole cell immunization which may not adequately present these antigens

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 alleviate atopy and acne by inhibiting specific pathogens while preserving beneficial skin microbiota, with a high titer and prolonged effectiveness demonstrated in experimental results.

Implementation Method 1

homogenizing the microbial cells in phosphate buffer solution by a homogenizer to obtain the lysis solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHomogenization:

Implementation Method 2

an antibody selectively binds to an antigen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntigen-antibody binding:

Data Source

PatentEP3406716B1Antibody and antibody-containing composition

Publication Date: 2023.10.04 OSTRICH PHARMA KK

Figure 1~1(b)
Figure 2~2(b)

AI summary

For many diseases due to microbes or the like, proliferation of microbes themselves is a cause of a symptom. However, there were cases where a substance released by the microbes is a cause of a symptom. In such cases, when attempting to treat a disease with an antibody, it was necessary to obtain an antibody against an antigen that is a substance causing the disease. However, it was difficult to find the underlying substance causing the disease among substances released by the microbes. An antibody (polyclonal) binding to not only an antigen but also to a substance, which is secreted by the antigen and accelerates the deterioration of a symptom, is obtained by immunizing birds with a lysis solution produced from lysing microbial cells as an antigen. Further, an antibody obtained with a surface protein of a virus as an antigen is expected to inhibit an infection by a virus.