Technology ID
TAB-4065
Novel Anti-HIV Proteins from Coral Reefs
E-Numbers
E-295-2012-0
Lead Inventor
O'Keefe, Barry (NCI)
Co-Inventors
McMahon, James (NCI)
Ramessar, Koreen (NCI)
Xiong, Chang-yun (NCI)
Applications
Therapeutics
Therapeutic Areas
Infectious Disease
Development Stages
Pre-clinical (in vivo)
Lead IC
NCI
ICs
NCI
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute's Molecular Targets Laboratory have discovered that Cnidarins as a novel class of highly potent proteins capable of blocking the HIV virus from penetrating T-cells. Cnidarins were found in a soft coral collected in waters off Australia's northern coast. Cnidarins can block virus fusion/entry but do not block viral attachment. In addition, Cnidarins do not have lectin-like activity and therefore possibly a unique mechanism of action. Thus, Cnidarins may represent important new leads for HIV microbicides or for systemic therapeutics for HIV.
Competitive Advantages:
- High potency against HIV
- Novel Chemical composition
- Family of related proteins
- Unique mechanism of action
Commercial Applications:
Microbicide, Therapeutic, Research tool
Licensing Contact: