Inventors:
Patricia Ryan - New York NY, US
Vijay Pancholi - Forest Hills NY, US
Vincent Fischetti - West Hempstead NY, US
International Classification:
A61K 39/40, A61K 39/02, G01N 33/554, G01N 33/569, C07K 14/315
US Classification:
424165100, 514054000, 435007320, 514044000, 424190100, 530350000
Abstract:
The present invention comprises methods of inhibiting the interaction between group A streptococci or M protein and mucin or mucin producing cells by interfering with binding of M protein to sialic acid moieties of mucin, as well as methods of identifying modulators (e.g., inhibitors) of the interaction and novel M-protein binding receptors and mucin binding receptors. Also provided are methods of treating a group A streptococcal infection by inhibiting the interaction as well as pharmaceutical compositions which may be useful for this purpose.