C11128: Auto-luminescent Mycobacterial Reporter StrainsNovelty:
This technology comprises novel engineered virulent strains of M. tuberculosis and M. ulcerans to produce light without requiring the addition of exogenous substrate.
Value Proposition:
The utility of existing bioluminescent mycobacterial strains in drug and vaccine development research is limited by the requirement of the addition of exogenous substrate to make light. The disclosed technology surpasses this limitation and provides a more efficient use of such strains in drug development. The features of this invention are:
• These auto-luminescent strains are easily detectable in study animals infected with the strains.
• Bioluminescence so produced may help in monitoring the response to drug treatment or vaccination.
• Easy detectability of the strains saves time, sacrifices fewer animals, and reduces deviation of experimental results.
• Gene construct used in the mycobacterial strains can also be used for other disease causing bacteria to assist in the respective treatment efforts.
Technical Details:
Bioluminescent strains of M. tuberculosis and other mycobacteria can be useful for drug and vaccine development research by providing real-time surrogate markers for viable bacteria. Johns Hopkins researchers have engineered strains of M. tuberculosis and M. ulcerans without compromising their virulence while enabling them to auto-luminate without the need for any exogenous substrate. Specifically, autoluminscence is achieved through use of a plasmid that contains the luxAB gene of the bacterial luciferase operon. Moreover, researchers have shown that the light produced is easily detectable in living animals infected with these strains such that these strains can be used for serial, real-time monitoring of the response to treatment or vaccination. In addition to saving time, this saves animals and reduces experimental variability because the same animals can be followed over time instead of relying on results from different animals sacrificed at different time points to follow the treatment response.
Looking for Partners:
To develop & commercialize the technology as an efficient research tool for the development of anti microbial drugs and vaccines.
Stage of Development:
Discovery
Data Availability:
Under NDA/CDA
Publications/Associated Cases:
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 54, 7, 2806-2813 , PLoS ONE 7(1)
