PS-targeting biological inhibits tumor growth and virus infection
Invention Summary: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is restricted to the inner plasma membrane in healthy cells but is externalized in apoptotic or stressed cells abundantly present in tumor microenvironment or in sites of virus infection. PS is also present on the surface of enveloped viruses such as influenza, corona and hepatitis B viruses, facilitating virus entry into the cells and immune evasion. Rutgers scientists have developed unique multifunctional PS-targeting immunobiological that blocks PS-mediated immunosuppression and also deliver an immune-stimulating payload of the interferon (IFN) type I/III-fusion protein. Although type I and III IFNs are mainly appreciated for their antiviral activities, they are pleotropic cytokines that also suppress tumor growth by activating host immune responses. PS-binding domain of Gas6 was used to generate Gas6-IFN-β-IFN-λ fusion protein. The protein has been demonstrated to possess potent anti-tumor activities in breast cancer and melanoma in vivo models and antiviral activities in a mouse model of respiratory influenza A virus infection.
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Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending.