NewsRelease
PatentApplication DescribesNew Proteomic Methods to Monitor Protease Inhibitor Function DuringCovid-19 Infections
MONMOUTHJUNCTION, NJ, October 30, 2020 -- Biotech Support Group reports on apatent application relevanttohow membrane proteases coordinate cell entry of the SARS-CoV-2(Covid-19) virus. The patent disclosure describes new methods ofproteomic analysis that can monitor how the body’s proteaseinhibitors are pre-disposed (or not), to suppress this entrymechanism, with potential for biomarkers to clinically manage severedisease and guide therapeutic development.
TheUS provisional patent applicationisentitled“Methodsto Monitor Functional Subforms of Serine Protease Inhibitors fromBiofluids during Viral Infections”,filed on October 27, 2020.
Serineproteases are enzymes that irreversibly cleave proteins, and thusplay critical roles in many key biological processes includingdigestion, blood coagulation, and immunity. During stress orinflammation, many proteases are secreted into the generalcirculation, while others are cell membrane bound; thelargest group being the Type II Transmembrane Serine Proteases(TTSPs). TTSPsplay a criticalcooperativerole in viral infectivity of influenza and coronaviruses and mostespecially in the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19)pandemic.
Withsuch viral infections, there comes an increased level of serineprotease activity, due in part to both, an exuberant innate immuneresponse to counter the infectious insult, and the added TTSPactivity that derives from the viral load and propagation. Asa result, current clinical practice has no ability to predict andmonitor the protease storm triggered by SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) andsimilar infections, and with that, any possible severity, thrombosisand other complications.
Thepurpose and scope of this patent application is to:
>developclinically actionable blood (and other accessible biofluids)biomarkers for viral infections thathave a cell entry mechanism which utilize Type II TransmembraneSerine Proteases (TTSPs) as priming components,throughproteomic measurement of functional subforms of the major inhibitoryproteins that regulate protease storms - the Serpins, and
>utilizeone or more proteomic patterns from these Serpin subforms asbiomarkers for precision medicine to clinically manage viralinfections.
“Thisnew provisional patent amplifies the proteomic methods we havedeveloped to measure Serpin function by differentiating active vs.inactive Serpins from blood and other biofluids. While soluble serineproteases are released from systemic granulocytic cargo during theinnate immune response, some viruses and especially SARS-CoV-2,utilize membrane bound serine proteases to gain entry into host cellsand cause clinical pathology. Inthis context, a better understanding of the physiological relevanceof endogenous inhibitors, like Alpha-1-Antitrypsin(SerpinA1)and other Serpins in Covid-19, will be exceedingly important asbiomarkers to monitor the potential for severe disease, and in thedevelopment of new anti-Covid-19 therapeutic strategies. For thispurpose, our new patent application will present a more completepicture of the functional profile of Serpin activity, and we welcomeinquiries for its use.”, statesSwapan Roy, Ph.D., President and Founder of Biotech Support Group.
AboutBiotech Support Group LLC
Convergingwith cultural and technological disruptions forthcoming inhealthcare, Biotech Support Group develops methods for cost effectiveand efficient sample prep essential for these expanding markets.Following a tiered business strategy, the company continues itsgrowth in the consumable research products area supporting therapidly expanding installation of LC-MS instrument and computationalinfrastructure. For this market, key products include: AlbuVoid™and AlbuSorb™ for albumin depletion, Cleanascite™ for lipidadsorption, HemogloBind™ and HemoVoid™ for hemoglobin removal,and NuGel™ for functional proteomics. From these innovations, thecompany has acquired knowledgebase and biomarker intellectualproperty assets that support discoveries of protein markers fromblood, with special emphasis on personalized medical decisions forcancer and Covid-19 patients. For more information, go tohttp://www.biotechsupportgroup.com.
ForBusiness Development,contact:Matthew Kuruc 732-274-2866, [email protected]