The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 12, 2004
Marcus B. Jones, Rockville, MD (US);
Martin J. Blaser, New York, NY (US);
Thomas Wood, Tolland, CT (US);
Dacheng Ren, Ithaca, NY (US);
Marcus B. Jones, Rockville, MD (US);
Martin J. Blaser, New York, NY (US);
Thomas Wood, Tolland, CT (US);
Dacheng Ren, Ithaca, NY (US);
New York University, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention pertains to the discovery thatpossesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and thatsynthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutantbacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of, or for preventing or treatinginfection, by inhibiting the activity of theLuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of theto furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of, to inhibittoxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treatinfection. The invention also provides methods to preventinfection, or enhance an immune response toinfection, by administering a vaccine comprising acell in which the luxS gene is mutated.