Lead Inventor:
Stephen P. Goff, Ph.D.
Severe Viral Infections Effect Quality of Life:
Virus infections are very common infective diseases and exceptionally widespread. The existing approaches to fight severe virus infections do not generate expected cure rates or quality of life. In addition, current approaches have some side effects, such as drastic shutoff of host function. Therefore, there is unmet need in the market for new innovative products. This invention identified a new protein that could inhibit virus replication and increase resistance to virus infection, which could aid in future anti-virus protein therapy.
Viral Infection Therapy Possible with Zinc Finger Protein:
This invention described a new isolated zinc finger protein (ZAP) useful for increasing resistance to a virus in a subject or mammalian cells. This invention provides compositions of the protein and methods of producing it in a mammalian cell. This invention also provides method of determining whether an agent increases expression of this ZAP protein in a mammalian cell. In addition, it gives method of determining whether an agent increases resistance to a virus in a mammalian cell.
Applications:
• It can be developed into viral replication inhibitor to increase resistance to a virus in a subject
• This invention provides screening tool for identifying new genes/agents with potent antiviral activity
Advantages:
• It can be administered by different routes, such as oral, subcutaneous routes et al, which gives a lot of flexibility
• This ZAP protein is sufficient on its own to induce an antivirus state without apparent effect on cell viability or physiology
Patent Status: Patent Pending (US20070025967A1) ~ see link below.
Licensing Status: Available for Sponsored Research Support
Publications: Gao G, Guo X, Goff SP. Inhibition of retroviral RNA production by ZAP, a CCCH-type zinc finger protein.
Science. 297(5587):1703-1706 (2002)