Targeted Prevention of Vertical Transmission of Infection between Mother and Foetus
PATENT STATUS
PCT application disclosing this invention was filed in May 2018.
OVERVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY ON OFFER
Methods of preventing FcRN-mediated transmission of infections such as Zika virus (ZIKV) from mother to foetus during pregnancy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
ZIKV, a recently emerged flaviviral pathogen, has been linked to microcephaly in neonates. ZIKV can be detected in the human foetal brain after maternal infection, yet it is not understood why some foetuses develop severe microcephaly due to maternal ZIKV infection while others do not. Thus, there are also no effective treatment options to prevent foetal ZIKV infection.
Dr. Ashley St. John at Duke-NUS Medical School has identified that by blocking Fc neonatal receptor (FcRN) activity with an isolated reagent, vertical transmission of virus infection from a mother to a developing foetus can be prevented. Using a mouse model where maternal infection occurs at time points of mouse foetal development corresponding to the first trimester of pregnancy in humans (because it has been noted that the risk of microcephaly is higher when exposed to ZIKV during first trimester of pregnancy), she has shown that maternal antibodies enhance trans-placental infection of mouse foetuses which leads to exacerbated microcephaly. By using an antibody targeted against FcRN receptor, she has successfully demonstrated that therapeutic targeting of FcRN prevents or reduces severity of microcephaly. Notably, other infections where the virus passes from mother to foetus, could also be treated with this therapeutic strategy.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
Therapy for pregnant mothers at risk of transmitting viral infections to developing foetus.
PUBLICATIONS
Rathore, A.P.S., Saron, W.A.A., Lim, T., Jahan, N. and St. John, A.L. (2019) Maternal immunity and antibodies to dengue promote infection and Zika virus-induced microcephaly in fetuses. Science Advances. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aav3208
INVENTOR BIO
Ashley Lauren St. John
CONTACT
Please email us for further enquiries: cted@duke-nus.edu.sg