Home Reports Life Sciences Content

A Novel Strategy for Combating Aids-Related Fungal Infections

next article

08.10.2004

Research at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology has identified Dectin-1 as the beta-glucan receptor on immune cells. This finding may be of use in the prophylactic prevention of a variety of infections, especially in surgical patients, and in the treatment of cancer. The identification of Dectin-1 as the beta-glucan receptor may also provide a novel strategy for combating fungal infections.

b-Glucans are glucose polymers which possess immunomodulatory activities, although until our invention, it was unclear how these carbohydrates mediate their effects. We have identified Dectin-1 as the major cellular receptor involved in the recognition and response to beta-glucans. The receptor is expressed on a variety of immune cells, including macrophages and neutrophils, which play a central role in the immune and inflammatory responses and provide the first line of defence against infections. The recognition of beta-glucan by Dectin-1 leads to cellular activation a proinflammatory response, and essential requirement for controlling infection. This invention will allow research into using the properties of Dectin-1 for the prevention and control of disease, as described above.

This invention comprises the identification of Dectin-1 as the beta-glucan receptor. This invention will allow research into the therapeutic potential of targets to this receptor.

The technology is currently the subject of a UK patent application and Isis Innovation Ltd, the technology transfer company for the University of Oxford would be happy to discuss this with organisations interested in taking the technology forward.

Kim Bruty | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.isis-innovation.com

next article