Antimicrobial protein

Abstract

The inventors provide a composition comprising an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising Blad or an active variant thereof for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy or prophylaxis, such as for use in a method of treating or preventing an infection in or on a subject by a microorganism. Also provided is the use of a composition comprising an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising Blad or an active variant thereof to kill, or inhibit the growth of, a microorganism that is pathogenic to a human or an animal at a site that is not on or in the human or animal body.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating a human or animal comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising the Blad sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4 or an active variant thereof, wherein said active variant has antimicrobial activity and comprises a sequence which has at least 60% amino acid identity to either SEQ ID NO:4 or a fragment of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  which is carried out to treat or prevent an infection in or on the subject by a microorganism. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the composition further comprises a chelating agent. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the subject has a compromised immune system or is critically ill. 
     
     
         23 . A method of killing, or inhibiting the growth of, a microorganism that is pathogenic to a human or an animal at a site that is not on or in the human or animal body, said method comprising administering to said site a composition comprising an effective amount of an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising the Blad sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4 or an active variant thereof, wherein said active variant has antimicrobial activity and comprises a sequence which has at least 60% amino acid identity to either SEQ ID NO:4 or a fragment of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein said composition is used to disinfect, with respect to a human or animal pathogenic microorganism, an article that is to be ingested by, or placed directly on or in, a human or animal, or a surface that is in need thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein said article is a foodstuff or a medical device or instrument. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein said surface is located within an environment where:
 (a) medical examination, diagnosis or treatment is to take place; 
 (b) a foodstuff is to be prepared or otherwise handled or stored; 
 (c) personal washing and/or sanitation is to take place; and/or 
 (d) a person at particular risk of 
 (i) acquiring an infection by a microorganism; and/or 
 (ii) being unable to clear a microbial infection without medical intervention;
 is situated. 
 
 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein said composition further comprises a chelating agent. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the microorganism is a bacterium or a fungus. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the bacterium is a pathogenic species from one of the following genera:  Pseudomonas, Listeria, Staphylococcus  and  Salmonella.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the fungus is a pathogenic species from one of the following genera:  Candida, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Fusarium, Cryptococcus  and  Trichosporon.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the fungus can cause invasive fungal infection, preferably  Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus  or  Alternaria alternata.    
     
     
         32 . A method of preventing or treating an infection by a microorganism comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising the Blad sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4 or an active variant thereof, wherein said active variant has antimicrobial activity and comprises a sequence which has at least 60% amino acid identity to either SEQ ID NO:4 or a fragment of SEQ ID NO:4.