University of Massachusetts

Raffi Van Aroian

Gary R Ostroff

Yan Hu

Compositions and methods for treating or reducing the severity of occurrence of a parasitic worm or helminth infection in a subject are described. The methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising isolated native, bioactive nematicidal crystals formed from a single type of nematicidal crystal protein. The isolated native, bioactive nematicidal crystals are substantially free of any bacterial spores or host bacterial proteins, other than nematicidal crystal protein in the form of a crystal. Methods for making isolated native, bioactive nematicidal crystals are also described. The crystal proteins may be full length, truncated, variant, or sub-variant Cry proteins. Examples of crystal proteins include Cry5B, Cry21, Cry14A, Cry6A, and Cry13A.

Purified anthelmintic compositions and related methods

Compositions and methods for treating or reducing the severity or likelihood of occurrence of a parasitic worm or helminth infection in a subject are described. The methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a killed or inactivated recombinant bacterium expressing a crystal protein such as acrystal protein (Cry) in the cytosol of the bacterium. The crystal proteins may be full length, truncated, variant, or sub-variant Cry proteins. Examples of crystal proteins include Cry5B, Cry21, Cry14A, Cry6A, and Cry13A. The recombinant bacteria may be treated with an anti-microbial agent before or during administration to a subject.

Anthelmintic compositions and methods

Compositions and methods for treating or reducing the severity or likelihood of occurrence of a parasitic worm or helminth infection in a subject are described. The methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant bacterium expressing a crystal protein such as acrystal protein (Cry). The crystal proteins may be full length, truncated, variant, or sub-variant Cry proteins. Examples of crystal proteins include Cry5B, Cry21, Cry14A, Cry6A, and Cry13A. The recombinant bacterium may be, for example, aor other Gram-positive bacterium, for instance, a lactic acid fermenting bacterium such asor. Related compositions and recombinant microorganisms are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Worcester, MA, United States of America

Raffi Van Aroian