Targeting IL-17A for treating neuroinflammation from Group A Streptococcus infections
This technology is a mechanism for treating brain disorders resulting from Group A Streptococcus infection including encephalitis by targeting a serum cytokine biomarker IL-17A.
Unmet Need: A specific target for Group A Streptococcus infection sequelae in the brain
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus (GAS)) infections can give rise to brain disorders including Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS). The mechanisms for how such neuropsychiatric disorders derive from GAS include autoantibody entry into the brain, but the exact mechanisms are poorly understood. Treatment options are limited to antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasmapheresis, however specific therapies targeting autoantibody entry into the brain do not exist due to the lack of understanding.
The Technology: IL-17A antibodies to treat severe neuroinflammation post-Streptococcus infection
This technology identifies a target for treating a specific mechanism of neuroinflammation resulting from Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection with neutralizing antibodies. The target is serum biomarker IL-17A, a major cytokine produced by Th17 lymphocytes that was shown to be critical to blood-brain-barrier damage and microglia activation, two hallmarks of neuroinflammation after GAS infection. As such, by neutralizing IL-17A, this technology could be exploited to treat severe conditions such as Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS).
This technology has been validated with a mouse model of GAS infections.
Applications:
- Treatment for PANDAS/PANS
- Treatment for Sydenham’s Chorea
- Research tool for understanding the Th17/IL-17A pathway
- Drug screening tool for conditions relating to Th17
- Component of disease-on-a-chip models
Advantages:
- Specific to the condition mechanism
- Repurposes existing FDA-approved IL-17A blocking antibodies
- May obviate the need for antibiotics
- Can dampen severe pathology
- Treats the source of condition rather than symptomatic relief offered by corticosteroids
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU19125, CU22376, CU22377
Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik