Method of using lectins for prevention and treatment of oral and alimentary tract disorders

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms resident in the alimentary tract of humans and animals can be prevented and treated by administering to the alimentary tract of the human or animal an effective amount of a composition containing at least one lectin capable of binding to an infective microorganism and diminishing its infective capability of the microorganism. The lectin is administered dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic vehicle. Peptic ulcer disease caused by infection with H. pylori can be treated by oral administration of lectins that bind to the pathogen. A beneficial ecology of H. pylori can be maintained in infected patients by chronic oral administration of lectins that bind to the pathogen.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of preventing and/or treating infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms resident in the alimentary tract or nasal cavity of humans and animals comprising administering to the alimentary tract or nasal cavity of a human or animal an amount of a composition containing at least one lectin capable of binding to an infective microorganism resident in said alimentary tract or nasal cavity, said lectin being effective to diminish the infective capability of said microorganism, said lectin being dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic vehicle.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said lectins is administered.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said microorganism is  Helicobacter pylori.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said microorganism is  Helicobacter pylori.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, MPA, ConA, LEA, Jacalin, VVA, VFA, WGA, CPA, WFA, LCA, GNA, NPA, TKA, STA, PSA, CSA, Lotus, MAA, LAA, SBA, BPA, and LBA.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, MPA, ConA, LEA, Jacalin, VVA, VFA, WGA, CPA, WFA, LCA, GNA, NPA, TKA, STA, PSA, CSA, Lotus, MAA, LAA, SBA, BPA, and LBA.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, MPA, ConA, LEA, Jacalin, VVA, VFA, WGA, CPA, WFA, LCA, GNA, NPA, TKA, STA, PSA, CSA, Lotus, MAA, LAA, SBA, BPA, and LBA.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, MPA, ConA, LEA, Jacalin, WA, VFA, WGA, CPA, WFA, LCA, GNA, NPA, TKA, STA, PSA, CSA, Lotus, MAA, LAA, SBA, BPA, and LBA.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said microorganism is  Cryptosporidium parvum.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said microorganism is  Cryptosporidium parvum.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Treponema denticola, Bacteroides forsythus, Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis,  and species of  Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Treponema denticola, Bacteroides forsythus, Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and species of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said microorganism is  Streptococcus pyogenes.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said microorganism is  Streptococcus pyogenes.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said lectin is capable of binding to the oral mucosa and is administered to the oral mucosa.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of DBA, LTA, RCA, SBA, UEA, and WGA.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treating  H. pylori  infection of the gastrointestinal tract comprising orally administering to a patient afflicted with  H. pylori  infection of the gastrointestinal tract a dose of a lectin capable of binding  H. pylori  effective to diminish the symptoms caused by the infection.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said lectin is capable of binding to sialic acid.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, WGA, SNA, PIG, MAA, LIP, LFA, HEL, GRT, CAA, BOO, BIL, and ACG.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA and WGA.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said lectin is WGA.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said lectin is capable of binding to N-acetylglucosamine.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, WGA, TICD, STA, SOM, SOA, SEI, SCL, SAA, QUR, PSV, PAD, OTL, LYE, LUA, LUA, HOV, GS-II, DAC, DAI, DSA, CMA, CYSE, CUP, CUM, CAA, BRS, and AAP.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA and WGA.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said lectin is WGA.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the amount of WGA administered is from about 0.1 milligrams to about 250 milligrams.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the amount of WGA administered is from about 0.7 milligrams to about 100 milligrams.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the amount of WGA administered is from about 1.0 milligrams to about 10 milligrams.  
     
     
         29 . A method of preparing a concentrated dosage form of WGA lectin comprising separating a wheat germ into fractions and selecting a fraction having an activity of WGA greater than that of said wheat germ prior to said separation.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said wheat germ is selected from the group consisting of raw wheat germ, heat-stabilized wheat germ, partially defatted wheat germ, and defatted wheat germ.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said separating is accomplished by a method selected from the group consisting of air classification, dry sieving, wet sieving, solvent extraction, dissolution and reprecipitation, dissolution and anion exchange chromatography, dissolution and affinity chromatography, centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said separating is preceded by milling said wheat germ.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said milling is accomplished by a milling procedure selected from the group consisting of pin milling, hammer milling, roller milling, Wiley milling, jet milling, colloid milling, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said separating is accomplished by a method selected from the group consisting of air classification, dry sieving, wet sieving, solvent extraction, dissolution and reprecipitation, dissolution and anion exchange chromatography, dissolution and affinity chromatography, centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         35 . A dosage form for oral administration of WGA lectin prepared by the method of  claim 29 .  
     
     
         36 . A method of maintaining a  H. pylori  ecology in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient afflicted with gastroesophogeal reflux disease comprising orally administering to said patient a dose of a lectin capable of binding  H. pylori  effective to maintain a population of  H. pylori  in said gastrointestinal tract at a level that minimizes the symptoms of gastroesophogeal reflux disease without allowing development of peptic ulcer disease.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA, WGA, TICD, STA, SOM, SOA, SEI, SCL, SAA, QUR, PSV, PAD, OTL, LYE, LUA, LUA, HOV, GS-II, DAC, DAI, DSA, CMA, CYSE, CUP, CUM, CAA, BRS, and AAP.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said lectin is selected from the group consisting of sWGA and WGA.  
     
     
         39 . An oral dosage form containing WGA comprising a fraction separated from a wheat germ, said fraction having a higher activity of WGA than said wheat germ prior to separation.  
     
     
         40 . The dosage form of  claim 39 , wherein said wheat germ is selected from the group consisting of raw wheat germ, heat-stabilized wheat germ, partially defatted wheat germ, and defatted wheat germ.  
     
     
         41 . The dosage form of  claim 39 , wherein said fraction is prepared by separating a wheat germ into fractions and selecting a fraction having a concentration of WGA greater than that of said wheat germ prior to said separation.  
     
     
         42 . The dosage form of  claim 39 , wherein said separating is accomplished by a method selected from the group consisting of air classification, dry sieving, wet sieving, solvent extraction, dissolution and reprecipitation, dissolution and anion exchange chromatography, dissolution and affinity chromatography, centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         43 . The dosage form of  claim 39 , wherein said separating is preceded by milling said wheat germ.  
     
     
         44 . The dosage form of  claim 43 , wherein said milling is accomplished by a milling procedure selected from the group consisting of pin milling, hammer milling, roller milling, Wiley milling, jet milling, colloid milling, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The dosage form of  claim 44 , wherein said separating is accomplished by a method selected from the group consisting of air classification, dry sieving, wet sieving, solvent extraction, dissolution and reprecipitation, dissolution and anion exchange chromatography, dissolution and affinity chromatography, centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, and combinations thereof.