Systemix, Inc.

Leland Stanford Junior University

University of California

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Joseph M McCune

Hideto Kaneshima

Reiko Namikawa

Irving L Weissman

Kipp Andrew Weiskopf

Kim J Hasenkrug

Cheryl A Stoddart

Mark L Bonyhadi

Seishi Kyoizumi

Susan K Mayo

Emilya Shtivelman

Lishan Su

CherylA Stoddart

Methods are provided for treating a subject with for an intracellular pathogen infection, by administering an agent that reduces the binding of CD47 on a infected cell to SIRPα on a host phagocytic cell, in an effective dose for increasing the phagocytosis of infected cells.

CD47 targeted therapies for the treatment of infectious disease

Methods are provided for treating a subject with for an intracellular pathogen infection, by administering an agent that reduces the binding of CD47 on a infected cell to SIRP&#x3b1; on a host phagocytic cell, in an effective dose for increasing the phagocytosis of infected cells.

A human hematopoietic system is provided in an immunocompromised mammalian host, where the hematopoietic system is functional for extended periods of time. Particularly, human fetal liver tissue and human fetal thymus is introduced into an appropriate site of a young immunocompromised mouse at a site supplied with a vascular system, whereby the fetal tissue results in novel formation of functional human bone marrow tissue.

Extended human hematopoiesis in a heterologous host

The invention provides methods for screening agents for potential anti-viral effects by assessing the ability of the agents to suppress viral replication and/or pathology in thymic cells grown in thymic organ culture in vitro. Also provided are methods to study viral pathology and infectivity.

Method for screening potential therapeutically effective antiviral agents

A method for initiating metastasis of human tumor cells under experimental conditions is provided. Immunocompromised non-human mammals having a viable, xenogeneic organ or tissue are used as a host for human tumor cells. The cells are introduced into the chimeric animal after the solid tissue is implanted and are then able to grow and metastasize as they would in situ. Therapeutic regimens may be evaluated in this system to determine efficacy against metastatic processes.

Small animal metastasis model

Xenogeneic tissue is introduced into an immunocompromised host for interacting with agents and using such interaction for evaluating efficacy of drugs and vaccines, producing xenogeneic monoclonal antibodies, evaluating the effect of the various agents on specific tissues and the like. Particularly, drugs can be evaluated for their efficacy against a wide variety of pathogens which infect xenogeneic tissue, agents can be evaluated for their effect on the xenogeneic immune system and monoclonal antibodies to a predetermined epitope may be produced.

Chimeric immunocompromised mammal comprosing vascularized fetal organ

Chimeric immunocompromised hosts are provided, comprising human bone marrow of at least 4 weeks from the time of implantation. The bone marrow is found to assume the normal population of bone marrow except for erythrocytes. The bone marrow may be used to study the effect of various agents on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells.

In vivo use of human bone marrow for investigation and production

A method is provided for screening compounds for the ability to supress thymocyte depletion in thymuses of HIV-infected individuals, particularly enhancing the CD4.sup.+ -expressing population as compared to an untreated individual. Particularly, drugs are provided which allow for this result, cyclosporine A being exemplary.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Joseph M McCune