Ba-ISTAb
Ba-ISTAb is an engineered antibody for treatment of infections caused by Bacillus anthracis. The strategy is based on a novel technology that uses Infection Site Targeted neutralizing anti-toxin Antibodies (ISTAb). ISTAbs are directed to the site of infection through specific phage-derived cell wall targeting (CWT) domains that bind specific bacterial species.
ISTABs unique properties:
- Accumulate at the site of infection through binding to the bacteria,
- Capturing and sequester the toxins as they are released, thereby immediately neutralizing their immune suppressive and tissue destructive effects and prevent toxemia.
- As the Fc receptor binding sites in the ISTAbs remain intact, ISTAbs mediate opsonophagocytic killing, thus providing a means for concurrent toxin neutralization and bacterial clearance.
Ba-ISTAb is a fusion of a B. anthracis specific CWT with a potent monoclonal antibody that neutralize Anthrax toxin (PA).
Selected References:
- Schuch et al., A bacteriolytic agent that detects and kills Bacillus anthracis, Nature, 2002
- Mo et al., Endolysins of Bacillus anthracis bacteriophages, J Am Chem Soc, 2012
- Kikkawa et al., Identification of the amino acid residues critical for specific binding of the bacteriolytic enzyme of gamma-phage, PlyG, to Bacillus anthracis, Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2007