ECIs Protector Proteins" May Combat Microbial Keratitis

Worcester, MA recently announced the receipt of a $100,000 grant from the National Eye Institute to study the use of ECI developed Protector Proteins" to combat microbial keratitis.

(PRWEB) June 13, 2004 -- ECI Biotech of Worcester, MA recently announced the receipt of a $100,000 grant from the National Eye Institute, a member agency of the National Institute of Health, to study the use of ECI developed Protector Proteins" to combat microbial keratitis.

Microbial Keratitis

Microbial keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, is a serious eye infection that can lead to permanent vision loss through corneal scarring or perforation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most frequently isolated bacterial organisms found in microbial keratitis, and is associated with 75% of the cases of infectious keratitis occurring in contact lens wearers, who are more prone to develop the infection. Currently, microbial keratitis is treated with antibiotics, but the recent emergence of resistant bacterial strains has heightened the need for alternative treatments, making the development of new therapies an important field of research.

The Role of Protector Proteins"

Although the exact sequence of events leading to microbial keratitis is not fully understood, the role of the host and microbial proteases in keratitis has been well documented. The National Eye Institute awarded ECI Biotech a grant to study the proposed use of a novel Protector Protein" mediated technology as an alternative regimen for combating keratitis through protease inhibition.

ECIs hypothesis is that ECI characterized Protector Proteins": alphaA-Crystallin, gammaD-Crystallin and the chimeric protein, pepstatin /leupeptin/alphaA-Crystallin, will inhibit the proteolytic enzymes secreted by the host and the pathogen, thus serving as a good therapeutic agent against the management of microbial keratitis. Based on this premise, Phase I of the grant, will involve significant in vitro biochemical analysis, leading the way to more telling in vivo animal model studies.

Applying Technology to Prevent Infection

ECI envisages that the attachment of Protector Proteins" onto extended wear soft contact lenses would significantly reduce the incidence of microbial keratitis associated with contact lens wear, creating a significant potential market for this application through the use of a novel Protector Protein" mediated technology as an alternative regimen for combating keratitis.

"ECI has a very competent team of scientists dedicated to making a major impact in pathogen detection and infection protection," notes Dr. Mitchell Sanders, president of ECI Biotech. The awarding of the National Eye Institute grant to ECI creates an exciting opportunity for our team to investigate the efficacy of ECIs Protector Proteins" in combating microbial keratitis."

Innovations and Applications

ECI Biotech maintains executive offices and research facilities located at 6 Park Avenue, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The company, founded in 1998, engages in breakthrough research on protein design and expression. ECI is developing and licensing its protein technologies for use in a wide range of industries with unmet needs, including food safety, medical diagnostics, industrial chemistry and consumer goods. ECI Biotech's product pipeline currently includes a diagnostic kit for detecting the pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, as well as advanced wound care systems designed to provide early warning of emergent infections and to promote healing. ECI presently also has 2 corporate partnerships with Fortune 100 companies in the medical device industry

For more information, visit www.ecibiotech.com or contact Dr. Mitchell Sanders at (508) 752-2209.