Purified bacterial extract sprayed into lungs ramps up innate immune system

[Guest guest]

Public release date: 3-Dec-2007

Purified bacterial extract sprayed into lungs ramps up innate immune

system

EurekAlert (press release) - Washington,DC*

Contact: Fleischman

jfleischman@...

513-929-4635

American Society for Cell Biology

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-12/asfc-pbe102407.php

Providing powerful protection from inhaled deadly pathogens

Washington, D.C. -- A purified extract prepared from a common

microbe and delivered to the lungs of laboratory mice in a spray set

off a healthy immune response and provided powerful protection

against all four major classes of pathogens including those

responsible for anthrax and bubonic plague, according to a

presentation at the American Society for Cell Biology's 47th Annual

Meeting.

In addition, when the researchers exposed another group of mice to

an aerosol of live Streptococcus pneumoniae, the only animals that

survived were the ones that had been pre-treated with the spray. A

total of 83 percent of these mice survived. None of the untreated

animals lived.

The researchers at the M.D. Cancer Center in Houston

developed the spray from a purified extract of the common

coccobacillus named Haemophilus influenzae, the cause of ear and

sinus infections in human children.

Their " aerosolized lung innate immune stimulant, " as the scientists

have named the spray treatment, could benefit immune-compromised

patients with cancer, HIV or other diseases as well as emergency

workers and the general public facing uncommon threats like an

aerosolized bioterror attack or a spreading respiratory epidemic.

According to Brenton who with his postdoctoral advisor, Burton

Dickey, developed the spray, the treatment works best if

administered four to 24 hours before exposure. Nearly all mice

survived when treated before exposure to lethal doses of anthrax,

influenza, and the dangerous mold, Aspergillus. But, the treatment

also has some benefit when given after exposure. Effectiveness

declines over time but seems to last up to five days after a single

dose.

The researchers report that protection by stimulant is associated

with rapid pathogen killing in the airways, does not depend on

recruitment of other immune defense cells such as neutrophils, and

correlates with increased levels of antimicrobial polypeptides in

the lung lining fluid. The host response is localized to the

airways, and safety studies indicate that the treatment causes

minimal side effects, even with repeated doses.

Preclinical testing is being completed, and clinical trials are

being designed.

In tests on mice, the stimulant was protective against all four

major classes of pathogens (Gram-positive and Gram-negative

bacteria, fungi, and viruses), including the Class A bioterror

agents Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), F. tularensis (tularemia) and

Yersinia pestis (bubonic plague).

###

Paper, Stimulation of Lung Innate Immunity Protects Against a Broad

Range of Infectious Microbes, will be presented at: 12 noon to 1:30

p.m., Monday, Dec. 3

For more information:

Brenton L.

bscott@...

(713) 563-0425

ASCB meeting press office:

Fleischman, ASCB science writer:

jfleischman@... or (513) 929-4635

or

Yarbrough, ASCB meeting information officer:

cyarbrough@... or (858) 243-1814

[Guest guest]

this sounds very promiseing, wish I had some now.

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> Public release date: 3-Dec-2007

> Purified bacterial extract sprayed into lungs ramps up innate

immune

> system

> EurekAlert (press release) - Washington,DC*

> Contact: Fleischman

> jfleischman@...

> 513-929-4635

>

> American Society for Cell Biology

> http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-12/asfc-pbe102407.php

>

> Providing powerful protection from inhaled deadly pathogens

>

> Washington, D.C. -- A purified extract prepared from a common

> microbe and delivered to the lungs of laboratory mice in a spray

set

> off a healthy immune response and provided powerful protection

> against all four major classes of pathogens including those

> responsible for anthrax and bubonic plague, according to a

> presentation at the American Society for Cell Biology's 47th Annual

> Meeting.

>

> In addition, when the researchers exposed another group of mice to

> an aerosol of live Streptococcus pneumoniae, the only animals that

> survived were the ones that had been pre-treated with the spray. A

> total of 83 percent of these mice survived. None of the untreated

> animals lived.

>

> The researchers at the M.D. Cancer Center in Houston

> developed the spray from a purified extract of the common

> coccobacillus named Haemophilus influenzae, the cause of ear and

> sinus infections in human children.

>

> Their " aerosolized lung innate immune stimulant, " as the scientists

> have named the spray treatment, could benefit immune-compromised

> patients with cancer, HIV or other diseases as well as emergency

> workers and the general public facing uncommon threats like an

> aerosolized bioterror attack or a spreading respiratory epidemic.

>

> According to Brenton who with his postdoctoral advisor,

Burton

> Dickey, developed the spray, the treatment works best if

> administered four to 24 hours before exposure. Nearly all mice

> survived when treated before exposure to lethal doses of anthrax,

> influenza, and the dangerous mold, Aspergillus. But, the treatment

> also has some benefit when given after exposure. Effectiveness

> declines over time but seems to last up to five days after a single

> dose.

>

> The researchers report that protection by stimulant is associated

> with rapid pathogen killing in the airways, does not depend on

> recruitment of other immune defense cells such as neutrophils, and

> correlates with increased levels of antimicrobial polypeptides in

> the lung lining fluid. The host response is localized to the

> airways, and safety studies indicate that the treatment causes

> minimal side effects, even with repeated doses.

>

> Preclinical testing is being completed, and clinical trials are

> being designed.

>

> In tests on mice, the stimulant was protective against all four

> major classes of pathogens (Gram-positive and Gram-negative

> bacteria, fungi, and viruses), including the Class A bioterror

> agents Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), F. tularensis (tularemia) and

> Yersinia pestis (bubonic plague).

>

>

> ###

> Paper, Stimulation of Lung Innate Immunity Protects Against a Broad

> Range of Infectious Microbes, will be presented at: 12 noon to 1:30

> p.m., Monday, Dec. 3

>

> For more information:

>

> Brenton L.

> bscott@...

> (713) 563-0425

>

> ASCB meeting press office:

>

> Fleischman, ASCB science writer:

> jfleischman@... or (513) 929-4635

>

> or

>

> Yarbrough, ASCB meeting information officer:

> cyarbrough@... or (858) 243-1814

>