Unilever Patent Holdings B.v.

Mologic Limited

Inverness Medical Switzerland Gmbh

Unilever Home and Personal Care Usa, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Internationale Octrooi Maatschappij 'octropa' Bv

Insense, Inc.

Chesebrough-pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.

Quest International B.v.

Unilever Home Products and Care Usa, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Microarray Limited

Archimed Llp

Inscentinel Limited

Inscentinal Limited

Paul James Davis

Michael Evans Prior

Keith May

Martine Elisa Verhoeyen

John Coley

Gita Parekh

Philip Porter

Mark Burnapp

James F Reynolds

Mark James Davis

Michael Catt

Neil James Parry

Andrew John Austin

Mark John Berry

Cornelis Paul Van Der Logt

Cornelis P Van Der Logt

James Alexander Schouten

Justin Sheldon Bayliss

Sandra Hemmington

Michael John Gidley

Cornelis T Verrips

Daniel Convents

Lester John Wadhams

Mark J Berry

Albert W Schoenmakers

Andrew Austin

Steve Wilson

Ronald F De Winter

Pieter De Geus

Petrus M De Kok

Petrus G Haring

Garry Clark Whitelam

James Schouten

Thomas S Beggs

Simon C Quarmby

Leon Gerardus J Frenken

Thomas Stewart Beggs

Cornelis P Logt Van Der

Ronald Frank Jacobus De Winter

Stephanie J Senior

Kenneth Alan Cherry

Peter William Tomkins

Julie Thompson

Chris Dunston

Corrine Austin

The present invention relates to detecting cleavage activity of an enzyme. The various aspects of the invention include an enzyme detection device, kit, method and use for detecting or measuring the presence in a test sample of the activity of an enzyme capable of cleaving a substrate. The invention also relates to indicator and binding molecules useful for carrying out the invention. The enzyme substrate contains a hidden binding site which is only revealed upon cleavage by the enzyme.

Detection of cleavage activity of an enzyme

Methods for monitoring inflammation status of a subject comprise determining levels of at least one neutrophil activation marker, or at least three markers, in urine samples taken from the subject at multiple time points, wherein increased levels of the at least one neutrophil activation marker, or at least one of the markers, in a urine sample are indicative of or predictive of an exacerbation of inflammation and/or wherein decreased levels of the at least one neutrophil activation marker, or at least one of the markers, in a urine sample following an increase are indicative or predictive of recovery from, or successful treatment of, an exacerbation of inflammation. Corresponding systems, test kits and computer programs are provided.

Monitoring inflammation status

An enzyme detection device () for detecting the presence, in a sample, of an enzyme capable of modifying a provided substrate (). The device () comprises a substrate which has a modification region () that is sensitive to modification by the enzyme from an unmodified state to a modified state. The device () further comprises a substrate recognition molecule () which binds the modification region () in either the modified or the unmodified state. The modification regionof the substrate is preferentially bound by the substrate recognition molecule () as compared with the enzyme when mixed. The device further comprises a detectable label () coupled to the substrate recognition molecule ().

Enzyme detection device

Described herein is an enzyme detection device for use in the detection of enzyme activity in a test sample. Also provided are indicator molecules for use in the detection of enzyme activity, particularly enzyme cleavage activity, in a test sample, and to methods for detecting the presence of enzyme activity.

Described herein is an enzyme detection device for detecting or measuring the presence in a test sample of the activity of an enzyme capable of cleaving a substrate. Also provided are methods for detecting enzyme activity, in particular the presence in a test sample of an enzyme capable of cleaving a substrate, and methods for determining the level or amount of such an enzyme in a test sample.

A skin dressing comprising first and second electrodes, an electrical power supply not electrically connected to either or both of the first and second electrodes, and further comprising a physiologically or antimicrobially active precursor substance, the dressing being operable, when placed on a skin site to be treated, to connect the electrical power supply to both the first and second electrodes, thereby to trigger the electrochemical oxidation or reduction of the precursor substance on one of the electrodes to produce a physiologically or antimicrobially active oxidized or reduced compound which is capable of diffusing towards the skin site for the treatment thereof.

Skin dressing with electrodes and physiologically active precursor substance

An enzyme detection product for detecting the presence of an enzyme in a sample. The product includes: a reaction zone for receiving the sample; a visualization zone for presenting a signal in response to the detection of the activity of the enzyme; and a membrane. The membrane is interposable between the reaction zone and the visualization zone and prevents passage from the reaction zone to the visualization zone the components having a size greater than a threshold size. The reaction zone includes a reactant capable of reacting with the enzyme in order to generate a reaction product having a size less than a threshold size.

Method for detecting the presence of a protease enzyme in a sample

A peptide clearing agent is provided for clearance of a conjugate of an enzyme and a binding molecule which binds specifically at a target location from a non-target location in a subject. The peptide clearing agent binds the active site of the enzyme. The peptide also binds to the asialoglycoprotein receptor expressed by hepatic cells to facilitate clearance through the liver. The peptide may be glycosylated to facilitate clearance through the liver by binding to hepatic cells expressing an asialoglycoprotein receptor. Typically, the peptide prevents or inhibits enzyme activity upon binding to the enzyme and is not substantially modified by the enzyme activity. The peptide may be based upon the dipeptide amino-naphthoic acid (ANA)-glutamate (GIu) and may comprise the amino acid sequence serine (Ser)-Alanine (Ala)-amino-naphthoic acid (ANA)-glutamate (GIu). In such cases, the enzyme of interest is typically CPG2.

Peptide clearing agents

A method of treatment of a human or animal body surface infection, particularly a fungal infection, comprises applying an aqueous liquid to the infected body surface, e.g. nail region, followed by applying a dressing comprising a source of hydrogen peroxide. Also provided is a combination of the liquid and dressing for use in the method.

Treatment of human or animal body surface infection

An enzyme detection product () for detecting the presence of an enzyme in a sample. The product () comprises: a reaction zone () for receiving the sample; a visualization zone () for presenting a signal in response to the detection of the activity of the enzyme; and a membrane (). The membrane () is interposable between the reaction zone () and the visualization zone () and prevents passage from the reaction zone () to the visualization zone () the components having a size greater than a threshold size. The reaction zone () comprises a reactant capable of reacting with the enzyme in order to generate a reaction product having a size less than a threshold size.

Enzyme detection

A binding assay product () for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample comprising a labelling module (), a label, a capture module () and a visualization module (). The labelling module () comprises a first binding component capable of binding the analyte. The label is connectable to the first binding component. The capture module () comprises a second binding component capable of binding the analyte. The visualization module () is for detecting the first binding component connected to the label and bound to the second binding component via the analyte. The labelling module and the capture module comprise a fluid conducting medium in which the binding components are embedded. The labelling module (), the capture module () and the visualization module () together define a flow path along which the sample is capable of flowing.

Binding assay

A method of detecting a protease in a sample. The method comprises providing an analyte degradable by the protease. The analyte is contacted with the sample. The degradation products of the analyte or the residual undegraded analyte is detected in a binding assay.

Protease detection

A skin dressing comprises a first dressing component () carrying oxidoreductase enzyme in dried condition; and a second dressing component () carrying a source of water, such that when the first and second dressing components are placed in fluid communication with each other, water migrates from the second component towards the first comportent and acts to hydrate enzyme carried by the first component, at least at the surface of the first component. The dressing components are kept separate before use, e.g. being sealed in separate sterile, water-impervious packages such as laminated aluminum foil pouches. In use of the dressing, the second dressing component is located on the skin of a human or animal, e.g. over a wound to be treated or on a region of skin to be treated for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes such as for treatment of acne or other skin conditions. The first dressing component is placed on top of the second component in fluid communication therewith. In embodiments comprising only first and second dressing components, the first dressing component is placed in direct contact with the second dressing component. Water from the second component migrates towards the first comportent and acts to hydrate enzyme carried by the first component, at least at points of contact at the interface between the first and second components. Once hydrated, the oxidoreductase enzyme can immediately begin functioning in known manner with beneficial effects.

Skin dressings containing oxidoreductase enzyme

Growing community of inventors

Felmersham, United Kingdom

Paul James Davis