A eukaryotic intein (Cne PRP8) from Cryptococcus neoformans and potential use as a molecular target for treatment of severe microbial infection

• Main Authors: POULTER, RUSSELL TONY MASKELL, GOODWIN, TIMOTHY JOHN DESBOROUGH, BUTLER, MARGARET ISOBEL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.01.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PEPTIDES; PHYSICS; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ORMEDICINAL PREPARATIONS; SPIRITS; TESTING; VINEGAR; WINE

Inteins are not known from any mammalian gene and as such they are potential molecular targets with regard to the treatment of severe microbial infections. Cryptococcus neoformans is one of the principal yeast pathogens in humans. It can cause incurable, frequently fatal infections and has become especially significant as a predominant secondary pathogen associated with pandemic HIV infection. The most common clinical manifestation is chronic meningitis, which may be accompanied by lesions on the skin and lungs. An isolated intein, Cne PRP, obtained from C.neoformans strain Cn3511 is described in addition to a method for screening an agent for antimicrobial activity against a microorganism comprising detecting inhibitors of the intein by monitoring intein function.