Johns Hopkins University

The University of British Columbia

University of Victoria Innovation and Development Corporation

Sophiris Bio Inc.

Uvic Industry Partnerships Inc.

Protox Therapeutics Corp.

James Thomas Buckley

Samuel Ray Denmeade

John Tod Isaacs

Dzung H Nguyen

James E K Hildreth

The present invention provides a method of treating BPH using modified pore-forming proteins (MPPs). These MPPs are derived from naturally occurring cytotoxic proteins (nPPs) that kill cells by forming pores or channels in the cell membrane, resulting in cell death. The MPPs are generated by modification of the nPPs such that they are capable of being selectively activated at normal prostate cells. Such modification may include the addition of a prostate-specific protease cleavage site to the activation sequence, and/or the addition of a prostate-specific targeting domain to allow selective targeting of prostate cells. These MPPs are capable of selectively targeting and killing normal prostate cells in vivo. The MPPs may be used either alone or in combination with other therapies for the treatment of BPH.

Method of treating or preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia using modified pore-forming proteins

Disclosed herein are modified proaerolysin (PA) peptide. In some examples, the proteins include a prostate-specific protease cleavage site and can further include a prostate-tissue-specific binding domain which functionally replaces the native PA binding domain. In other examples, the proteins include a furin cleavage site and a prostate tissue-specific binding domain which functionally replaces the native PA binding domain. Methods of using such peptides to treat prostate cancer are also disclosed.

Proaerolysin containing protease activation sequences and methods of use for treatment of prostate cancer

The infectivity of a population of enveloped viruses which comprise a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein in their membrane can be reduced by employing certain toxins such as aerolysin, alpha toxin of or enterolobin. Toxins which bind to glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins inactivate such viruses. The toxins can be used to produce attenuated viral vaccines, to purge blood products, cells, or tissues of such viruses, and to detect viruses in samples.

Channel forming toxins as antiviral agents

Aerolysin is shown to bind specifically to the Thy-1 antigen. Aerolysin-based methods, compositions and kits for detecting the presence of Thy-1 antigen are presented.

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Victoria, Canada

James Thomas Buckley