Avidocin™ and Purocin™ Proteins
AvidBiotics’ antibacterial proteins represent a new class of highly targeted, narrow spectrum antibacterial agents that avoid problems associated with antibiotic use and abuse, and offer opportunities for both the prevention and treatment of bacterial diseases and other human health conditions associated with the human microbiota.
AvidBiotics’ antibacterial proteins also will have uses outside of the realm of human health such as food safety, animal health, and environmental management. AvidBiotics refers to human therapeutic versions of its antibacterial proteins as Avidocin™ proteins, and non-human uses as Purocin™ proteins.
Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins are engineered, retargeted versions of R-type bacteriocins – defensive proteins employed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa to kill other strains of bacteria by piercing their cell envelopes.
The specificity of Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins, especially as compared to antibiotics which often kill beneficial bacteria and disease-causing organisms alike, provides unique opportunities for manipulating microbial populations in a targeted fashion, avoiding unintended collateral damage.
Right: molecular model of Avidocin™ protein complex.
Advantages of Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins as anti-bacterial agents include:
- Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins can apparently be generated against any bacterial target of interest. To date, AvidBiotics has generated antibacterial proteins specific for such bacterial pathogens as E. coli O157:H7, uropathogenic E. coli, C. difficile, Salmonella, Yersinia pestis (plague), and others.
- Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins are extremely potent (e.g., less than 1 microgram can rescue mice infected with an antibiotic-resistant isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and exhibit single-hit kinetics – one Avidocin™ protein particle can kill one bacterium.
- Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins efficiently kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria and do not promote the spread of multi-drug resistance.
- Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins kill bacteria without endotoxin release.
- Avidocin™ and Purocin™ proteins are non-toxic to animals or non-targeted bacteria, and are biodegradable.