Immunomodulatory and antimicrobial materials, their preparation and use

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with immunomodulatory and antimicrobial peptide materials obtainable from the body fluid of invertebrates, especially insects.

1 . Composition, comprising a peptide or a peptide mixture, obtainable by a process, comprising the steps of collecting, centrifugating and chromatographically separating the body fluid of an invertebrate.  
     
     
         2 . Composition of  claim 1 , wherein the invertebrate is selected from the group consisting of: 
   Calliphora vicina, Musca domestics, Limnephilus stigma, Sialis lutaria, Isogenus nubecula, Palomena prasina, Podisus maculiventris, Pachyiulus flaviceps, Hemophisalis longicornis, Arenicola marina, Mitilus edulis, Mya arenaria, Asterias      rubens, Stychopus japonicus, Halocynthia roretzi and  Aurelia aurita.      
     
     
         3 . Composition of  claim 1 , wherein the body fluid of an invertebrate is the hemolymph of an insect.  
     
     
         4 . Composition of  claim 3 , wherein the insect is  Calliphora vicina  Robineau-Desvoidy.  
     
     
         5 . Composition of  claim 4 , wherein the body fluid is obtained from a septically injured  Calliphora vicina  larva.  
     
     
         6 . Pharmaceutical composition, comprising a composition of one of claims  1 - 5 .  
     
     
         7 . Use of a composition of one of claims  1 - 5  for the preparation of a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment or prevention of an immune deficient condition.  
     
     
         8 . Use of  claim 7 , wherein the immune deficient condition is an oncological disease, especially cancer.  
     
     
         9 . Use of a composition according to any of claims  1 - 5  for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a viral infection.  
     
     
         10 . Use of a composition of one of claims  1 - 5  for the preparation of an antibiotic pharmaceutical preparation.  
     
     
         11 . Use of (a) a composition of one of claims  1 - 5  and (b) bleomycin for the preparation of a pharmaceutical preparation for a combinative cancer immunochemotherapy.  
     
     
         12 . Kit comprising (a) a pharmaceutical composition of  claim 6  and (b) a pharmaceutical preparation comprising bleomycin for a combinative cancer immunochemotherapy.  
     
     
         13 . Process for preparing a composition as claimed in one of claims  1 - 5  comprising the steps of collecting, centrifugating and chromatographically separating the body fluid of an invertebrate and optionally further purifying and concentrating the material obtained in the separation step.