Treating and preventing microbial infections
Inventors
Sommer, Morten • MARTINEZ, Virginia • VAN DER HELM, Eric • HAABER, Jakob Krause • DE SANTIAGO TORIO, Ana • Grøndahl, Christian • Clube, Jasper
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Assignees
MemberSNIPR BiomeSNIPR BiomeSNIPR Biome develops precision medicines for infections and diseases linked to antimicrobial resistance and microbiome dysbiosis, using CRISPR-based gene editing to selectively target pathogenic bacteria while sparing the rest of the microbial community. The company applies programmable CRISPR platforms, delivered by engineered phages or probiotics, to address difficult-to-treat infections and modulate the human microbiome. Its programs span discovery through Phase 2 clinical trials, with a significant patent portfolio supporting these innovations.
SNIPR Biome develops precision medicines for infections and diseases linked to antimicrobial resistance and microbiome dysbiosis, using CRISPR-based gene editing to selectively target pathogenic bacteria while sparing the rest of the microbial community. The company applies programmable CRISPR platforms, delivered by engineered phages or probiotics, to address difficult-to-treat infections and modulate the human microbiome. Its programs span discovery through Phase 2 clinical trials, with a significant patent portfolio supporting these innovations.
Publication Number
US-10920222-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides methods for treating or preventing microbial (eg, bacterial) infections and means for performing these methods. In particular, treatment of infections requiring rapid and durable therapy is made possible, such as for treating acute conditions such as septicemia, sepsis, SIRS or septic shock. The invention is particularly useful, for example, for treatment of microbes such as for environmental, food and beverage use. The invention relates inter alia to methods of controlling microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biofouling of a substrate or fluid in an industrial or domestic system. The invention also useful for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections in subjects receiving a treatment for a disease or condition, such as a transplant or a treatment for cancer, a viral infection or an autoimmune disease.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of treating or reducing an infection associated with septicemia caused by first bacteria in a subject. The method selectively kills the first bacteria comprised by the subject by cutting a target site comprised by the genomes of the first bacteria using a Cas nuclease programmed by a guide RNA to cut the target site.
The subject comprises second bacteria of one or more strains or species different from the first bacteria. The genomes of the second bacteria do not comprise the target site and are not cut by the Cas nuclease in the subject, whereby second bacteria survive in the presence of the Cas nuclease in the subject.
The first bacteria are Enterobacteriaceae bacteria selected from Escherichia, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Shigella, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter. The disclosed context addresses septicemia, sepsis, septic shock, and SIRS, and describes programmable nuclease genome cutting intended to rapidly reduce infection while avoiding cutting of non-target bacteria that lack the target site.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim scope centers on selective genome-target cutting with a programmed Cas nuclease and survival of non-target bacteria lacking the target site.
Selective genome cutting to treat septicemia-associated infection with target-site discrimination
A method of treating or reducing an infection associated with septicemia and caused by first bacteria in a subject by selectively killing the first bacteria comprised by the subject by cutting a target site comprised by the genomes of the first bacteria using a Cas nuclease programmed by a guide RNA to cut the target site.
First bacteria restricted to Enterobacteriaceae with non-target second bacteria spared
The first bacteria are Enterobacteriaceae bacteria selected from Escherichia, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Shigella, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter, wherein the subject comprises second bacteria of one or more strains or species different from that of the first bacteria, wherein the genomes of the second bacteria do not comprise the target site and are not cut by the Cas nuclease in the subject, whereby second bacteria survive in the presence of the Cas nuclease in the subject.
The claimed scope is the selective killing of septicemia-associated first bacteria via guide-RNA-programmed Cas nuclease cutting of a target genomic site, paired with the requirement that second bacteria lacking the target site are not cut and therefore survive.
Stated Advantages
Selectively kills first bacteria while allowing second bacteria of different strains or species lacking the target site to survive.
Treats or reduces an infection associated with septicemia caused by first bacteria in a subject.
Documented Applications
Treating or reducing an infection associated with septicemia that is caused by first bacteria in a subject.
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