The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

Genzyme Corporation

The Bingham and Women's Hospital

Arthur O Tzianabos

Dennis L Kasper

Andrew B Onderdonk

Laurie E Comstock

Katja G Weinacht

Michael J Coyne

Robert J Miller

Pericles Calias

Ying Wang

Julia Y Wang

Denis L Kasper

Methods and products for treating and protecting against asthma and allergic conditions are provided. The methods and products are related to certain naturally occurring and synthetic zwitterionic polymers which are found to induce certain T regulatory (Treg) cells and to exert immunosuppressive effects in vitro and in vivo.

Zwitterionic immunomodulators for the treatment of asthma and allergy

The present invention is directed to methods for producing and selecting new mutant strains ofthat constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; compositions directed to the new mutant strains ofthat constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; improved methods for purification of individual capsular polysaccharides; and compositions directed to new res02 and inv19 genes and their gene products. Significantly, the present invention provides methods and compositions for overexpressing and purifying immunomodulatory capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) in high yield.

Method for overexpression of zwitterionic polysaccharides

The present invention is directed to methods for producing and selecting novel mutant strains ofthat constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; compositions directed to the novel mutant strains ofthat constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; improved methods for purification of individual capsular polysaccharides; and compositions directed to novel res02 and inv19 genes and their gene products. Significantly, the present invention provides methods and compositions for overexpressing and purifying immunomodulatory capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) in high yield.

The invention relates to immunomodulatory compositions and related methods. The immunomodulatory compositions of a formula disclosed herein are useful for the prevention of sepsis and the treatment and prevention of diseases associated with inflammation and/or NOS.

Immunodulatory compositions and methods of use thereof

A pharmaceutical composition consisting of identical repeating units, each unit having a charge motif composed of a positively charged free amino moiety and a negatively charged moiety, wherein the positively charged free amino moiety and the negatively charged moiety of each charge motif are separated by at least one neutral amino acid, and wherein the positively charged free amino moiety of one of the charge motifs is separated by a distance of at least 8 amino acids from the positively charged amino moiety of another charge motif, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Said pharmaceutical composition is useful for inducing IL-2, activating T cells to produce a T helper 1 cytokine profile, suppressing IgG antibody response to specific antigen, promoting allograft survival, reducing postoperative surgical adhesion formation, and/or protecting against abscess formation associated with surgery, trauma or diseases that predispose the host to abscess formation.

Immunomodulating polymers

Methods and products for inducing IL-2 secretion, inducing IL-10 secretion, activating T cells, suppressing IgG antibody response to specific antigen, promoting allograft survival, reducing postoperative surgical adhesion formation, and protecting against abscess formation associated with surgery, trauma or diseases that predispose the host to abscess formation are provided. The methods of the invention are accomplished using an immunomodulator which is a polymer having at least two repeating charge motifs separated by at least a certain minimum distance.

Methods and products for protecting against abscess formation associated with surgery, trauma or diseases that predispose the host to abscess formation are provided. Methods for forming immunomodulators and pharmaceutical compositions relating thereto also are provided. The products useful in the invention are polysaccharides including a repeat unit having a positively charged free amino group and a negatively charged group. The preferred polysaccharide is B. fragilis capsular polysaccharide A.

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Reading, MA, United States of America

Arthur O Tzianabos