Universiteit Gent

Vib Vzw

Dieter Deforce

Eric Cox

Kristien Rasschaert

Bruno Goddeeris

Dirk Elewaut

August Verbruggen

Stijn Lambrecht

Filip Van Nieuwerburgh

Olivier Tytgat

Senne Cornelis

The invention is based on the identification of aminopeptidase N (APN) as the receptor for F4 fimbriae of enterotoxigenic(ETEC). Based on the observation that oral administration of F4 fimbriae induces a protective intestinal mucosal immune response against a subsequent challenge with F4 ETEC, and the observation that the internalization of said F4fimbriae is clathrin-mediated, the present invention provides the characterization of APN as a target useful in: in an in vitro assay to screen for molecules that are capable to mimic the clathrin-mediated F4 endocytosis; in an in vitro assay to screen for molecules that are capable to modulate the binding of F4 fimbriae with APN; in the development of a carrier for the delivery of antigens/therapeutics, i.e. immunomodulators to the intestinal submucosa or the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, wherein said carrier comprises an APN specific target molecule that mimics the clathrin-mediated F4 endocytosis. The use of the carriers thus identified or the treatments thus identified, in a method of inducing an antigen specific intestinal mucosal immune response, and/or in the treatment of bacterial diarrhea, is a further aspect of the present invention.

Mucosal membrane receptor and uses thereof

In vitro methods for differential diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy are disclosed which involve determining the levels of GDF15 in biological samples.

GDF15 as a differential marker for spondyloarthropathy

The invention is based on the identification of aminopeptidase N (APN) as the receptor for F4 fimbriae of enterotoxigenic(ETEC). Based on the observation that oral administration of F4 fimbriae induces a protective intestinal mucosal immune response against a subsequent challenge with F4 ETEC, and the observation that the internalization of said F4 fimbriae is clathrin-mediated, the present invention provides the characterization of APN as a target useful in: in an in vitro assay to screen for molecules that are capable to mimic the clathrin-mediated F4 endocytosis; in an in vitro assay to screen for molecules that are capable to modulate the binding of F4 fimbriae with APN; in the development of a carrier for the delivery of antigens/therapeutics, i.e. immunomodulators to the intestinal submucosa or the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, wherein said carrier comprises an APN specific target molecule that mimics the clathrin-mediated F4 endocytosis. The use of the carriers thus identified or the treatments thus identified, in a method of inducing an antigen specific intestinal mucosal immune response, and/or in the treatment of bacterial diarrhea, is a further aspect of the present invention.

Growing community of inventors

Ghent, Belgium

Dieter Deforce