This technology describes the use of proteasome inhibitors to treat microsporidian infections in a variety of host species including honey bees.
While there are many treatments for bacterial and viral infections, few medications target microsporidia, which are unicellular parasitic fungi that infect mainly invertebrate hosts. Fumagillin is one of the only drugs that targets microsporidia, but it can be toxic at high doses and has the potential for drug resistance. The industrial production of this drug is also being discontinued, creating an urgent need for reliable alternatives. Additionally, Fumagillin has been shown to not fully control the microsporidian infection of adult honey bees by N. ceranae, one of the most widespread diseases in honey bee colonies.
This technology repurposes proteasome inhibitors, which are often studied in the context of cancer treatment, to target microsporidia in multiple diverse host species. Drugs like MG132 and Ixazomib, which is FDA-approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma, can reduce the intensity of N. ceranae infections in honey bees, even more effectively than Fumagillin.
This technology has been validated in caged trials and field testing in honey bee colonies is planned.
Jonathan Whitehead Snow, Ph.D.
Patent Pending
IR CU19034
Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer