Advantages
- Proteins with binding ability comparable to that of mammalian antibodies can be obtained, which recognize and bind to lethal toxins for which mammalian antibodies cannot be produced.
- Synthesized from a single gene, it is easy to create and isolate, and can be synthesized in large quantities at low cost.
- In addition to research reagents, it can be used as a reagent for testing and detecting toxins and pathogens.
Technology Overview & Background
Currently, antibodies derived from mammals such as mice are widely used in test reagents. However, the production of such antibodies involves genetic engineering methods, and the preparation of large quantities, isolation and purification, and improvement and modification of antibodies once produced are time-consuming and labor intensive, making the test reagents generally expensive. Furthermore, it is difficult to obtain antibodies for bacterial and snake toxins, which are lethal to mammals, using the same methods.
Recently, the existence of the Dscam protein, which functions similarly to mammalian antibodies, has been revealed in crustaceans. Dscam is a highly conserved protein in animals, but its function differs greatly from animal to animal. Among them, it is known to function like an antibody in crustaceans, and it has been shown that the sequence diversity of Dscam binding sites to antigens is particularly high in shrimp.
The researchers focused on the shrimp Dscam and succeeded in creating a Dscam that specifically recognizes and binds to bacterial toxins that are lethal to mammals, such as cholera, and to viruses that are highly dangerous. Furthermore, by isolating their genes, we have experimentally confirmed that they can be utilized as research tools in the same way as mammalian antibodies.
Since the shrimp-derived Dscam is a protein synthesized from a single gene, it is easier to produce and isolate than mouse antibodies and can therefore be prepared in large quantities at very low cost. In addition, the company aims to obtain grants for the development of this protein, as it is expected to have practical applications not only as a research reagent but also for testing in developing countries where there are many deaths due to pathogenic bacteria and snake toxins.
Development Stage & Future Research Plans
- Lassa virus glycoprotein, cholera toxin, and HIV virus-derived protein (HIV-1 p24) were inoculated into the shrimp, and several Dscam that recognize and bind to the respective antigens were obtained. Also, the isolation of their genes was successfully achieved.
- To obtain Dscam that can be used as a Direct-ELISA, vectors for recombinant Dscam expression in the form of Luciferase-fusion were constructed.
- For comparison of antigen recognition ability, commercially available mouse antibody against HIV-1 p24 was compared with Dscam against HIV-1 p24 obtained by the present invention, and it was confirmed that equivalent sensitivity was obtained.
- Basic data such as dissociation constants of each Dscam are being obtained for commercialization.
Publication(s)
Prepared in submission.
Patent(s)
Applied and not yet published.
Principal Investigator & Academic Institution
Yoshinao Kubo, PhD (Associate Professor, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University)
Expectations
TECH MANAGE is now looking for companies to collaborate with the researcher(s) and develop this technology further under the licensing of the related patent(s) described above.
You can also consider joint research using the invention, providing know-how under a confidentiality agreement (CDA), or setting up evaluation or licensing options.
Project No.JT-05013