Patent Grant
9434771
Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, idiopathic and clinically heterogeneous intestinal disorders collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). At present, a combination of clinical, endoscopic and radiological criteria is used to differentiate CD from US. Because the symptoms of Crohn's disease are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to diagnose. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the top layer of the lining of the large intestine. In Crohn's disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and normal healthy bowel can be found between sections of diseased bowel. Complications of Crohn's disease include intestinal blockages, which may require surgery, as well as fistulas and fissues. To avoid such complications, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis early in the course of the illness to ensure that appropriate therapies are selected. Current diagnostic methods for inflammatory bowel disease are invasive and patients typically find these tests unpleasant. To improve patient compliance, diagnostic accuracy, and early and appropriate treatment selection, new methods for distinguishing among inflammatory bowel diseases are required.
As described below, the present invention features biomarkers capable of diagnosing a subject as having inflammatory bowel disease and methods of using such biomarkers to diagnose, monitor and select appropriate treatments for said subject.
In one aspect, the invention provides a microchip containing at least about 85, 90, 95 or 100% of the E. coli proteome.
In another aspect, the invention features a microchip containing a set of biomarkers for characterizing an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a subject, where the set is selected from any one or more of E. coli polypeptides delineated herein, pairs and sets of polypeptides features in Tables 2-5, 7, and
In another aspect, the invention features a microchip containing a set of biomarkers for characterizing Chrohn's disease in a subject, where the set is any one or more of E. coli polypeptides rpsK, rpsL, sixA, ycfF, yhdN, yjhA, (gntU), (phnE), (rcsC), (thiS), (ycfA), (yfjV), 221#15, 267#6, 304#1, 319#17, 336#6, 348#4, 405#2, 411#4, 416#1, 430#8, 445#15, 448#2, 633#5, aceB, agaZ, aidA, argB, argC, aroF, aroK, aspA, atpB, baiF, basS, cedA, citB, citG, clpX, cysD, cysJ, cysM, cysW, dgxA, dicC, dinD, ecnB, eno, fadB, fba, fdhE, fecB, fecR, fimB, fimC, fliA, fliS, flxA, folP, frvX, ftn, fumB, gabD, galR, gcpE, glvB, grxA, grxC, gst, hemX, hflX, hisS, hofH, hoxK, hsdM, hycA, hycF, hypC, ibpB, infC, ivbL, lasT, LDR-ABC, LDR-D, lldR, mcrD, metB, metJ, mltB, mviN, narY, nuoE, phbA, phnB, phnG, phnM, ppdB, ptpS, ptsN, purM, radC, rbfA, rbsB, recN, rffD, rpiB, rplP, rplQ, rplT, rpmJ, rpsG, rpsR, selD, slyA, slyD, ssi6, sugE, tdcB, thiF, torA, timD, ubiG, umuD, vacJ, wcaA, ybbA, ybbQ, ycbF, ycdB, yceD, ycgN, ydfA, ydfD, ydfR, ydhL, ydiL, yedF, yehR, yejG, yejO, yfeC, yfhD, yfiC, yfiD, yfjI, yfjQ, ygbA, ygbD, ygbO, ygcQ, ygeW, ygfY, yhaA, yhaC, yhaN, yhcI, yhcJ, yhfR, yhfV, yhgH, yhgI, yicC, yieF, yieJ, yigK, yihA, yihD, yihK, yiiF, yijD, yijF, yjaI, yjbI, yjbL, yjbQ, yjbR, yjcS, yjeB, yjeJ, yjgF, yjhC, yjhE, yjhF, yjhO, yjiA, yliG, ymfE, yohL, yphC, yrbB, (yhcP), (yhhT), (yhiW), 16-3B0, 214#3, 233#6, 273#6, 280#1, 316#4, 321#3, 323#1, 331#2, 356#7, 406#7, 409#5, 411#1, 420#7, 452#13, 610#6.1, aceF, allP, ansP, aqpZ, atoE, brnQ, celD, cobU, codB, cybB, cydB, cydC, dgt, dnaQ, ebgA, emrB, emrD, exuR, fabH, fabZ, fadA, fepD, flhD, glnQ, glpF, gppA, greA, hemY, JW0438, JW1949, lipA, lpxC, malX, malZ, menG, mrdB, murG, mutT, narU, nfrB, nrfE, ompC, oppC, oppF, pbuX, pheP, phsE, pnuC, potC, pssR, ptsH, putP, queA, rfaL, rffG, rocE, rplO, sdhD, secB, sfsA, slyX, sucB, sucD, tauB, thiL, trkH, udk, uidB, virK, yaaH, yabK, yadQ, yaeG, yagG, yagM, yaiV, yajR, ybaN, ybdS, ybfB, ybfC, ybgE, ybhA, ybhL, ybhM, ybhN, ybhR, ycaD, yccY, ycdG, yciQ, yciR, yciS, ydcD, yddH, ydeF, ydeZ, ydfO, ydjS, ydjZ, yeaS, yehK, yehY, yejF, yfjY, ygeD, ygfF, yggH, yghK, yghT, ygjQ, yhaH, yhaO, yhbX, yhcO, yhdM, yhdT, yheG, yheU, yhfU, yhhL, yhhS, yhiP, yhiQ, yhjX, yiaL, yiaQ, yibL, yibQ, yicO, yidY, yifE, yigF, yihG, yjeM, yjfF, yjfP, yjfY, yjhB, ymdD, ynaJ, yneC, yneG, ynjC, yoaA, yohG, yphA, yphG, yqcE, and/or yzgL, or fragments thereof.
In one embodiment of the above aspect, the set is any one or more of E. coli polypeptides rpsK, rpsL, sixA, ycfF, yhdN, yjhA, (gntU), (phnE), (rcsC), (thiS), (ycfA), (yfjV), 221#15, 267#6, 304#1, 319#17, 336#6, 348#4, 405#2, 411#4, 416#1, 430#8, 445#15, 448#2, 633#5, aceB, agaZ, aidA, argB, argC, aroF, aroK, aspA, atpB, baiF, basS, cedA, citB, citG, clpX, cysD, cysJ, cysM, cysW, dgxA, dicC, dinD, ecnB, eno, fadB, fba, fdhE, fecB, fecR, fimB, fimC, fliA, fliS, flxA, folP, frvX, ftn, fumB, gabD, galR, gcpE, glvB, grxA, grxC, gst, hemX, hflX, hisS, hofH, hoxK, hsdM, hycA, hycF, hypC, ibpB, infC, ivbL, lasT, LDR-ABC, LDR-D, lldR, mcrD, metB, metJ, mltB, mviN, narY, nuoE, phbA, phnB, phnG, phnM, ppdB, ptpS, ptsN, purM, radC, rbfA, rbsB, recN, rffD, rpiB, rplP, rplQ, rplT, rpmJ, rpsG, rpsR, selD, slyA, slyD, ssi6, sugE, tdcB, thiF, torA, trmD, ubiG, umuD, vacJ, wcaA, ybbA, ybbQ, ycbF, ycdB, yceD, ycgN, ydfA, ydfD, ydfR, ydhL, ydiL, yedF, yehR, yejG, yejO, yfeC, yfhD, yfiC, yfiD, yfjI, yfjQ, ygbA, ygbD, ygbO, ygcQ, ygeW, ygfY, yhaA, yhaC, yhaN, yhcI, yhcJ, yhfR, yhfV, yhgH, yhgI, yicC, yieF, yieJ, yigK, yihA, yihD, yihK, yiiF, yijD, yijF, yjaI, yjbI, yjbL, yjbQ, yjbR, yjcS, yjeB, yjeJ, yjgF, yjhC, yjhE, yjhF, yjhO, yjiA, yliG, ymfE, yohL, yphC, and yrbB, or fragments thereof.
In another aspect, the invention features a microchip containing a set of biomarkers for distinguishing Crohn's Disease from ulcerative colitis, the set containing E. coli polypeptides era, ybaN, yhgN, focA, ga bT and ycdG, or fragments thereof.
In another aspect, the invention features a microchip containing a set of biomarkers for diagnosing ulcerative colitis, where the set is any one or more of E. coli polypeptides (rtn), cadA, lueO, mesJ, mhpF, modC, murA, nrfF, prpE, purK, tpiA, yciD, yejA, ygcE, ygfQ, yhjC, yjfH, yjiJ, (yeeF), 211#11, 23-12A0, 279#6, 427#1, dgkA, dinI, emrY, focA, folK, fsr, ginD, kch, maoC, msbA, nac, nagE, narI, ppx, prtC, rfaB, secF, secY/prlA, trkG, yafJ, yaiM, ybbC, ycbM, ydaA, ydbD, ydhV, yefI, yeiO, ygjR, yhiN, yjgT, yojI, yphD, (yhcP), (yhhT), (yhiW), 16-3B0, 214#3, 233#6, 273#6, 280#1, 316#4, 321#3, 323#1, 331#2, 356#7, 406#7, 409#5, 411#1, 420#7, 452#13, 610#6.1, aceF, allP, ansP, aqpZ, atoE, brnQ, celD, cobU, codB, cybB, cydB, cydC, dgt, dnaQ, ebgA, emrB, emrD, exuR, fabH, fabZ, fadA, fepD, flhD, glnQ, glpF, gppA, greA, hemY, JW0438, JW1949, lipA, lpxC, malX, malZ, menG, mrdB, murG, mutT, narU, nfrB, nrfE, ompC, oppC, oppF, pbuX, pheP, phsE, pnuC, potC, pssR, ptsH, putP, queA, rfaL, rffG, rocE, rplO, sdhD, secB, sfsA, slyX, sucB, sucD, tauB, thiL, trkH, udk, uidB, virK, yaaH, yabK, yadQ, yaeG, yagG, yagM, yaiV, yajR, ybaN, ybdS, ybfB, ybfC, ybgE, ybhA, ybhL, ybhM, ybhN, ybhR, ycaD, yccY, ycdG, yciQ, yciR, yciS, ydcD, yddH, ydeF, ydeZ, ydfO, ydjS, ydjZ, yeaS, yehK, yehY, yejF, yfjY, ygeD, ygfF, yggH, yghK, yghT, ygjQ, yhaH, yhaO, yhbX, yhcO, yhdM, yhdT, yheG, yheU, yhfU, yhhL, yhhS, yhiP, yhiQ, yhjX, yiaL, yiaQ, yibL, yibQ, yicO, yidY, yifE, yigF, yihG, yjeM, yjfF, yjfP, yjfY, yjhB, ymdD, ynaJ, yneC, yneG, ynjC, yoaA, yohG, yphA, yphG, yqcE, and yzgL, or fragments thereof. In one embodiment, the set of biomarkers is any one or more of (rtn), cadA, lueO, mesJ, mhpF, modC, murA, nrfF, prpE, purK, tpiA, yciD, yejA, ygcE, ygfQ, yhjC, yjfH, yjiJ, (yeeF), 211#11, 23-12A0, 279#6, 427#1, dgkA, dinI, emrY, focA, folK, fsr, glnD, kch, maoC, msbA, nac, nagE, narI, ppx, prtC, rfaB, secF, secY/prlA, trkG, yafJ, yaiM, ybbC, ycbM, ydaA, ydbD, ydhV, yefI, yeiO, ygjR, yhiN, yjgT, yojI, and yphD, or fragments thereof.
In yet another aspect, the invention features a microchip containing a set of biomarkers for distinguishing Chrohn's disease from ulcerative colitis, the chip containing a set of biomarkers that is any one or more of rpsK, rpsL, sixA, ycfF, yhdN, yjhA, (gntU), (phnE), (rcsC), (thiS), (ycfA), (yfjV), 221#15, 267#6, 304#1, 319#17, 336#6, 348#4, 405#2, 411#4, 416#1, 430#8, 445#15, 448#2, 633#5, aceB, agaZ, aidA, argB, argC, aroF, aroK, aspA, atpB, baiF, basS, cedA, citB, citG, clpX, cysD, cysJ, cysM, cysW, dgxA, dicC, dinD, ecnB, eno, fadB, fba, fdhE, fecB, fecR, fimB, fimC, fliA, fliS, flxA, folP, frvX, ftn, fumB, gabD, galR, gcpE, glvB, grxA, grxC, gst, hemX, hflX, hisS, hofH, hoxK, hsdM, hycA, hycF, hypC, ibpB, infC, ivbL, lasT, LDR-ABC, LDR-D, lldR, mcrD, metB, metJ, mltB, mviN, narY, nuoE, phbA, phnB, phnG, phnM, ppdB, ptpS, ptsN, purM, radC, rbfA, rbsB, recN, rffD, rpiB, rplP, rplQ, rplT, rpmJ, rpsG, rpsR, selD, slyA, slyD, ssi6, sugE, tdcB, thiF, torA, trmD, ubiG, umuD, vacJ, wcaA, ybbA, ybbQ, ycbF, ycdB, yceD, ycgN, ydfA, ydfD, ydfR, ydhL, ydiL, yedF, yehR, yejG, yejO, yfeC, yfhD, yfiC, yfiD, yfjI, yfjQ, ygbA, ygbD, ygbO, ygcQ, ygeW, ygfY, yhaA, yhaC, yhaN, yhcI, yhcJ, yhfR, yhfV, yhgH, yhgI, yicC, yieF, yieJ, yigK, yihA, yihD, yihK, yiiF, yijD, yijF, yjaI, yjbI, yjbL, yjbQ, yjbR, yjcS, yjeB, yjeJ, yjgF, yjhC, yjhE, yjhF, yjhO, yjiA, yliG, ymfE, yohL, yphC, yrbB, (rtn), cadA, lueO, mesJ, mhpF, modC, murA, nrfF, prpE, purK, tpiA, yciD, yejA, ygcE, ygfQ, yhjC, yjfH, yjiJ, (yeeF), 211#11, 23-12A0, 279#6, 427#1, dgkA, dinI, emrY, focA, folK, fsr, ginD, kch, maoC, msbA, nac, nagE, narI, ppx, prtC, rfaB, secF, secY/prlA, trkG, yafJ, yaiM, ybbC, ycbM, ydaA, ydbD, ydhV, yefI, yeiO, ygjR, yhiN, yjgT, yojI, and yphD, or fragments thereof.
In various embodiments of the above aspects, the microarrays further contain one or more biomarkers any one or more of antibodies that specifically bind chitobioside IgA (ACCA), laminaribioside IgG (ALCA), manobioside IgG (AMCA), Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan3), Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan4) pANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, yeast oligomanna, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ASCA, bacterial outer membrane porin C (OmpC), Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial sequence I2, and bacterial flagellin (Cbir).
In one embodiment of the above aspects, the E. coli polypeptide induces an immune response when injected into a subject.
In still another aspect, the invention features a microchip containing a polypeptide, polypeptide set, or polypeptide pair delineated in any of Tables 2-5, 7, or
In another aspect, the invention features a method for characterizing a condition associated with a dysregulated immune response to a polypeptide in a subject (e.g., human), the method involving contacting a microarray containing a set of polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting differential antibody binding to a polypeptide on the microarray in the subject sera relative to a control, where detection of differential antibody binding identifies the subject as having a condition associated with a dysregulated immune response [to a].
In another aspect, the invention features a method for diagnosing a subject as having or having a propensity to develop inflammatory bowel disease, the method involving contacting an array containing a set of E. coli polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting differential antibody binding to the polypeptide on the array in the subject sera relative to a healthy control, thereby characterizing inflammatory bowel disease in the subject. In one embodiment, antibodies that bind an E. coli polypeptide are any one or more of (yhcP), (yhhT), (yhiW), 16-3B0, 214#3, 233#6, 273#6, 280#1, 316#4, 321#3, 323#1, 331#2, 356#7, 406#7, 409#5, 411#1, 420#7, 452#13, 610#6.1, aceF, allP, ansP, aqpZ, atoE, brnQ, celD, cobU, codB, cybB, cydB, cydC, dgt, dnaQ, ebgA, emrB, emrD, exuR, fabH, fabZ, fadA, fepD, flhD, ginQ, glpF, gppA, greA, hemY, JW0438, JW1949, lipA, lpxC, malX, malZ, menG, mrdB, murG, mutT, narU, nfrB, nrfE, ompC, oppC, oppF, pbuX, pheP, phsE, pnuC, potC, pssR, ptsH, putP, queA, rfaL, rffG, rocE, rplO, sdhD, secB, sfsA, slyX, sucB, sucD, tauB, thiL, trkH, udk, uidB, virK, yaaH, yabK, yadQ, yaeG, yagG, yagM, yaiV, yajR, ybaN, ybdS, ybfB, ybfC, ybgE, ybhA, ybhL, ybhM, ybhN, ybhR, ycaD, yccY, ycdG, yciQ, yciR, yciS, ydcD, yddH, ydeF, ydeZ, ydfO, ydjS, ydjZ, yeaS, yehK, yehY, yejF, yfjY, ygeD, ygfF, yggH, yghK, yghT, ygjQ, yhaH, yhaO, yhbX, yhcO, yhdM, yhdT, yheG, yheU, yhfU, yhhL, yhhS, yhiP, yhiQ, yhjX, yiaL, yiaQ, yibL, yibQ, yicO, yidY, yifE, yigF, yihG, yjeM, yjfF, yjfP, yjfY, yjhB, ymdD, ynaJ, yneC, yneG, ynjC, yoaA, yohG, yphA, yphG, yqcE, and yzgL. In another embodiment, antibodies that bind an E. coli polypeptide are any one or more of rpsK, rpsL, sixA, ycfF, yhdN, yjhA, (gntU), (phnE), (rcsC), (thiS), (ycfA), (yfjV), 221#15, 267#6, 304#1, 319#17, 336#6, 348#4, 405#2, 411#4, 416#1, 430#8, 445#15, 448#2, 633#5, aceB, agaZ, aidA, argB, argC, aroF, aroK, aspA, atpB, baiF, basS, cedA, citB, citG, clpX, cysD, cysJ, cysM, cysW, dgxA, dicC, dinD, ecnB, eno, fadB, fba, fdhE, fecB, fecR, fimB, fimC, fliA, fliS, flxA, folP, frvX, ftn, fumB, gabD, galR, gcpE, glvB, grxA, grxC, gst, hemX, hflX, hisS, hofH, hoxK, hsdM, hycA, hycF, hypC, ibpB, infC, ivbL, lasT, LDR-ABC, LDR-D, lldR, mcrD, metB, metJ, mltB, mviN, narY, nuoE, phbA, phnB, phnG, phnM, ppdB, ptpS, ptsN, purM, radC, rbfA, rbsB, recN, rffD, rpiB, rplP, rplQ, rplT, rpmJ, rpsG, rpsR, selD, slyA, slyD, ssi6, sugE, tdcB, thiF, torA, trmD, ubiG, umuD, vacJ, wcaA, ybbA, ybbQ, ycbF, ycdB, yceD, ycgN, ydfA, ydfD, ydfR, ydhL, ydiL, yedF, yehR, yejG, yejO, yfeC, yfhD, yfiC, yfiD, yfjI, yfjQ, ygbA, ygbD, ygbO, ygcQ, ygeW, ygfY, yhaA, yhaC, yhaN, yhcI, yhcJ, yhfR, yhfV, yhgH, yhgI, yicC, yieF, yieJ, yigK, yihA, yihD, yihK, yiiF, yijD, yijF, yjaI, yjbI, yjbL, yjbQ, yjbR, yjcS, yjeB, yjeJ, yjgF, yjhC, yjhE, yjhF, yjhO, yjiA, yliG, ymfE, yohL, yphC, and yrbB. In yet another embodiment, antibodies that bind an E. coli polypeptide are any one or more of (rtn), cadA, lueO, mesJ, mhpF, modC, murA, nrfF, prpE, purK, tpiA, yciD, yejA, ygcE, ygfQ, yhjC, yjfH, yjiJ, (yeeF), 211#11, 23-12A0, 279#6, 427#1, dgkA, dinI, emrY, focA, folK, fsr, ginD, kch, maoC, msbA, nac, nagE, narI, ppx, prtC, rfaB, secF, secY/prlA, trkG, yafJ, yaiM, ybbC, ycbM, ydaA, ydbD, ydhV, yefI, yeiO, ygjR, yhiN, yjgT, yojI, and yphD. In one embodiment, an increase in levels of antibodies that specifically bind one or more E. coli polypeptides any one or more of rpsK, rpsL, sixA, ycfF, yhdN, yjhA, (gntU), (phnE), (rcsC), (thiS), (ycfA), (yfjV), 221#15, 267#6, 304#1, 319#17, 336#6, 348#4, 405#2, 411#4, 416#1, 430#8, 445#15, 448#2, 633#5, aceB, agaZ, aidA, argB, argC, aroF, aroK, aspA, atpB, baiF, basS, cedA, citB, citG, clpX, cysD, cysJ, cysM, cysW, dgxA, dicC, dinD, ecnB, eno, fadB, fba, fdhE, fecB, fecR, fimB, fimC, fliA, fliS, flxA, folP, frvX, ftn, fumB, gabD, galR, gcpE, glvB, grxA, grxC, gst, hemX, hflX, hisS, hofH, hoxK, hsdM, hycA, hycF, hypC, ibpB, infC, ivbL, lasT, LDR-ABC, LDR-D, lldR, mcrD, metB, metJ, mltB, mviN, narY, nuoE, phbA, phnB, phnG, phnM, ppdB, ptpS, ptsN, purM, radC, rbfA, rbsB, recN, rffD, rpiB, rplP, rplQ, rplT, rpmJ, rpsG, rpsR, selD, slyA, slyD, ssi6, sugE, tdcB, thiF, torA, trmD, ubiG, umuD, vacJ, wcaA, ybbA, ybbQ, ycbF, ycdB, yceD, ycgN, ydfA, ydfD, ydfR, ydhL, ydiL, yedF, yehR, yejG, yejO, yfeC, yfhD, yfiC, yfiD, yfjI, yfjQ, ygbA, ygbD, ygbO, ygcQ, ygeW, ygfY, yhaA, yhaC, yhaN, yhcI, yhcJ, yhfR, yhfV, yhgH, yhgI, yicC, yieF, yieJ, yigK, yihA, yihD, yihK, yiiF, yijD, yijF, yjaI, yjbI, yjbL, yjbQ, yjbR, yjcS, yjeB, yjeJ, yjgF, yjhC, yjhE, yjhF, yjhO, yjiA, yliG, ymfE, yohL, yphC, and yrbB identifies the subject as having Crohn's disease.
In various embodiments of the above aspects, an increase in levels of antibodies that specifically bind one or more E. coli polypeptides any one or more of (rtn), cadA, lueO, mesJ, mhpF, modC, murA, nrfF, prpE, purK, tpiA, yciD, yejA, ygcE, ygfQ, yhjC, yjfH, yjiJ, (yeeF), 211#11, 23-12A0, 279#6, 427#1, dgkA, dinI, emrY, focA, folK, fsr, glnD, kch, maoC, msbA, nac, nagE, narI, ppx, prtC, rfaB, secF, secY/prlA, trkG, yafJ, yaiM, ybbC, ycbM, ydaA, ydbD, ydhV, yell, yeiO, ygjR, yhiN, yjgT, yojI, and yphD identifies the subject as having ulcerative colitis. In other embodiments, an increase in levels of antibodies that specifically bind one or more E. coli polypeptides any one or more of (yhcP), (yhhT), (yhiW), 16-3B0, 214#3, 233#6, 273#6, 280#1, 316#4, 321#3, 323#1, 331#2, 356#7, 406#7, 409#5, 411#1, 420#7, 452#13, 610#6.1, aceF, allP, ansP, aqpZ, atoE, brnQ, celD, cobU, codB, cybB, cydB, cydC, dgt, dnaQ, ebgA, emrB, emrD, exuR, fabH, fabZ, fadA, fepD, flhD, glnQ, glpF, gppA, greA, hemY, JW0438, JW1949, lipA, lpxC, malX, malZ, menG, mrdB, murG, mutT, narU, nfrB, nrfE, ompC, oppC, oppF, pbuX, pheP, phsE, pnuC, potC, pssR, ptsH, putP, queA, rfaL, rffG, rocE, rplO, sdhD, secB, sfsA, slyX, sucB, sucD, tauB, thiL, trkH, udk, uidB, virK, yaaH, yabK, yadQ, yaeG, yagG, yagM, yaiV, yajR, ybaN, ybdS, ybfB, ybfC, ybgE, ybhA, ybhL, ybhM, ybhN, ybhR, ycaD, yccY, ycdG, yciQ, yciR, yciS, ydcD, yddH, ydeF, ydeZ, ydfO, ydjS, ydjZ, yeaS, yehK, yehY, yejF, yfjY, ygeD, ygfF, yggH, yghK, yghT, ygjQ, yhaH, yhaO, yhbX, yhcO, yhdM, yhdT, yheG, yheU, yhfU, yhhL, yhhS, yhiP, yhiQ, yhjX, yiaL, yiaQ, yibL, yibQ, yicO, yidY, yifE, yigF, yihG, yjeM, yjfF, yjfF, yjfY, yjhB, ymdD, ynaJ, yneC, yneG, ynjC, yoaA, yohG, yphA, yphG, yqcE, and yzgL identifies the subject as a healthy control.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for diagnosing Crohn's disease, the method involving contacting an array containing a set of E. coli polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting in said subject's sera greater immunogenic reactivity to era than to ybaN, greater immunogenic reactivity to yhgN than to focA, and/or greater immunogenic reactivity to gabT than to ycdG, thereby identifying the subject as having Crohn's Disease.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for diagnosing ulcerative colitis in a subject, the method involving contacting an array containing a set of E. coli polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting in said subject's sera greater immunogenic reactivity to relE>cysE/wcaB, pyrI>yjgK, Int>ybiO, ftsE>pssR, yhgN>yhfG, yafN>dsbB, yihI>yabK, 421#15>yhdN, hisP>rplO, cml>nuoM, yieC>nuoI, thereby identifying the subject as having ulcerative colitis.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for diagnosing ulcerative colitis, the method involving contacting an array involving a set of E. coli polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting in said subject's sera greater immunogenic reactivity to frvX than to yidX identifies a subject as having ulcerative colitis.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for selecting an appropriate treatment for a subject, the method involving contacting a microarray delineated herein with subject sera and detecting binding to a polypeptide that identifies the subject as having inflammatory bowel disease, thereby indicating that inflammatory bowel disease therapy is appropriate for said subject. In one embodiment, the subject is identified as having Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for selecting surgery for a subject, the method involving contacting a microarray of any of claims 1-11 with subject sera and detecting binding to a polypeptide that identifies the subject as having inflammatory bowel disease, thereby indicating that surgery is appropriate for said subject. In one embodiment, the method detects greater immunogenic reactivity to era than to ybaN, greater immunogenic reactivity to yhgN than to focA, and/or greater immunogenic reactivity to gabT than to ycdG. In another embodiment, the method detects relE>cysE/wcaB, pyrI>yjgK, Int>ybiO, ftsE>pssR, yhgN>yhfG, yafN>dsbB, yihI>yabK, 421#15>yhdN, hisP>rplO, cml>nuoM, and/or yieC>nuoI.
In embodiments of the previous aspects, the method further involves detecting an antibody that specifically binds any one or more of chitobioside IgA (ACCA), laminaribioside IgG (ALCA), manobioside IgG (AMCA), Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan3), Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan4) pANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, yeast oligomanna, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ASCA, bacterial outer membrane porin C (OmpC), Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial sequence I2, and bacterial flagellin.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for selecting an appropriate treatment method for a subject, the method involving contacting a microarray delineated herein with subject sera and detecting binding to a polypeptide that identifies the subject as not having inflammatory bowel disease, thereby indicating that inflammatory bowel disease therapy is not appropriate for said subject.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for monitoring the condition of a subject having Crohn's disease, the method involving contacting an array containing a set of E. coli polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting in said subject's sera immunogenic reactivity to era relative to ybaN, immunogenic reactivity to yhgN relative to focA, and immunogenic reactivity to gabT relative to ycdG, where a reduction in said immunogenic reactivity identifies an improvement in the subject's condition, and an increase in said immunogenic reactivity identifies a worsening in the subject's condition.
In yet another aspect, the invention features a method for monitoring the condition of a subject having ulcerative colitis, the method involving contacting an array containing a set of E. coli polypeptides with sera derived from the subject, and detecting in said subject's sera immunogenic reactivity to frvX relative to yidX, where a reduction in said immunogenic reactivity identifies an improvement in the subject's condition, and an increase in said immunogenic reactivity identifies a worsening in the subject's condition.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for determining whether a therapy is efficacious for a subject, the method involving contacting a microarray of any previous aspect with subject sera collected at a first time and detecting binding to a polypeptide that identifies the subject as having inflammatory bowel disease, and contacting a microarray of any previous aspect with subject sera collected at a second time and detecting binding to a polypeptide that identifies the subject as having inflammatory bowel disease, where detection of a reduction in binding at the second time relative to the first indicates that said therapy is efficacious and a failure to detect a reduction in binding indicates that said therapy is not efficacious.
In another aspect, the invention features a kit containing a microarray of any previous aspect, and instructions for use of the array in diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.
In various embodiments of the above aspect, or any other method delineated herein, binding is detected in an immunoassay (e.g., ELISA). In other embodiments of the above aspects, the control is a healthy subject, a subject with Crohn's disease, or a subject with ulcerative colitis. In other embodiments of the above aspects, the detecting is of differential binding of a pair of antibodies to a pair of polypeptides on the array (i.e., comparing binding of one antibody to one polypeptide relative to the binding of the other antibody to the other polypeptide). In other embodiments of the above aspects, the array comprises cell wall polypeptides, intracellular polypeptides, and macromolecular complex polypeptides. In other embodiments, an increase in subject antibody binding to a polypeptide relative to healthy control antibody binding identifies the polypeptide as immunogenic in subjects having a dysregulated immune response to the polypeptide. In still other embodiments, the condition is any one or more of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis. In various embodiments of the above aspects, the array comprises at least about 85, 90, 95, or 100% of the E. coli proteome. In still other embodiments, the polypeptides are differentially immunogenic in healthy controls, Crohn's disease, and/or ulcerative colitis. In still other embodiments, the method further involves detecting an antibody that specifically binds any one or more of chitobioside IgA (ACCA), laminaribioside IgG (ALCA), manobioside IgG (AMCA), Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan3), Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan4) pANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, yeast oligomanna, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ASCA, bacterial outer membrane porin C (OmpC), Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial sequence I2, and bacterial flagellin. In still other embodiments, the methods further involve stool sample analysis, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, barium x-ray, computerized axial tomography, and/or capsule endoscopy. In still other embodiments, the method identifies the subject as a healthy control or as not having Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. In other embodiments of the above aspects, the invention features a microchip containing a polypeptide, polypeptide set, or polypeptide pair delineated in any of Tables 2-5, 7, or
The invention provides compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases, including distinguishing Crohn's disease from healthy controls and ulcerative colitis. Compositions and articles defined by the invention were isolated or otherwise manufactured in connection with the examples provided below. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description, and from the claims.
By “inflammatory bowel disease” is meant a disease characterized by inflammation of the small and/or large intestines.
By “Crohn's disease” is meant an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
By “ulcerative colitis” is meant an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation of the rectum and/or large intestine.
By “agent” is meant any small molecule chemical compound, antibody, nucleic acid molecule, or polypeptide, or fragments thereof.
By “ameliorate” is meant decrease, suppress, attenuate, diminish, arrest, or stabilize the development or progression of a disease.
By “alteration” is meant a change (increase or decrease) in the expression levels or activity of a gene or polypeptide as detected by standard art known methods such as those described herein. As used herein, an alteration includes a 10%-100% change in expression levels (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100%) change in expression levels.
By “derived from” is meant isolated from or having the sequence of a naturally-occurring sequence (e.g., a cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic, or combination thereof).
By “microarray” is meant an organized collection of at least two proteins or polypeptides affixed to a solid support. In some embodiments, a polypeptide microarray contains at least a polypeptide or fragment thereof (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, or 100 amino acids) listed in any of
By “biomarker” is meant a polypeptide, polynucleotide, or other molecule that is altered in level or activity in a disease state relative to the level or activity present in a healthy control, or from one disease type (such as Crohn's) from another (such as UC). In one embodiment, a biomarker is a polypeptide that is differentially immunogenic, i.e., that induces an immune response that differs between healthy control subjects and subjects having a disease or disorder.
In another embodiment, a biomarker is a serum antibody that binds to a polypeptide where the serum antibody is differentially present in a subject having a disease or disorder relative to a healthy control subject or a subject not having the disease or disorder.
In this disclosure, “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing” and “having” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like; “consisting essentially of” or “consists essentially” likewise has the meaning ascribed in U.S. Patent law and the term is open-ended, allowing for the presence of more than that which is recited so long as basic or novel characteristics of that which is recited is not changed by the presence of more than that which is recited, but excludes prior art embodiments.
“Detect” refers to identifying the presence, absence or amount of an analyte to be detected.
By “detectable label” is meant a composition that when linked to a molecule of interest renders the latter detectable, via spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, or chemical means. For example, useful labels include radioactive isotopes, magnetic beads, metallic beads, colloidal particles, fluorescent dyes, electron-dense reagents, enzymes (for example, as commonly used in an ELISA), biotin, digoxigenin, or haptens.
“Diagnostic” means identifying the presence or nature of a pathologic condition. While a particular diagnostic method may not provide a definitive diagnosis of a condition, it suffices if the method provides a positive indication that aids in diagnosis.
By “differentially immunogenic” is meant that a polypeptide induces an altered immune response in a subject having a disease relative to the immune response that the polypeptide induces in a healthy control or a subject not having the disease, or a subject having one type of disease (such as CD) relative to a subject having another disease (such as UC) or vice versa. This difference may be either an increase or a decrease in immune response when compared to control conditions. Preferably, the increase or decrease is at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or even 100%.
By “disease” is meant any condition or disorder that damages or interferes with the normal function of a cell, tissue, or organ.
The invention provides a number of targets that are useful for the development of highly specific drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease characterized by the methods delineated herein. In addition, the methods of the invention provide a facile means to identify therapies that are safe for use in eukaryotic host organisms. In addition, the methods of the invention provide a route for analyzing virtually any number of compounds for effects on a disease described herein with high-volume throughput, high sensitivity, and low complexity.
By “dysregulated immune response to a pathogen” is meant an excessive or undesirable immune response that causes cell, tissue or organ damage.
By “E. coli polypeptide” is meant a protein that naturally occurs in E. coli. Such polypeptides are available in Genbank or in the E. coli genome and proteome database.
By “fragment” is meant a portion of a polypeptide. This portion contains, preferably, at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the entire length of the reference polypeptide. A fragment may contain 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, or 1000 amino acids.
By “function” is meant any biological activity of a polypeptide or polynucleotide. In one embodiment, a polypeptide is an antibody. In another embodiment, a biological activity is immunogenicity.
As used herein, the terms “gene” and “recombinant gene” refer to nucleic acid molecules comprising an open reading frame encoding a marker protein.
By “immunological assay” is meant an assay that relies on an immunological reaction, for example, antibody binding to an antigen. Examples of immunological assays include ELISAs, Western blots, immunoprecipitations, and other assays known to the skilled artisan.
By “polypeptide” is meant any chain of amino acids, regardless of length or post-translational modification (for example, glycosylation or phosphorylation). In one example, an antibody is a polypeptide.
By an “isolated polypeptide” is meant a polypeptide of the invention that has been separated from components that naturally accompany it. Typically, the polypeptide is isolated when it is at least 60%, by weight, free from the proteins and naturally occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Preferably, the preparation is at least 75%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by weight, a polypeptide of the invention. An isolated polypeptide of the invention may be obtained, for example, by extraction from a natural source, by expression of a recombinant nucleic acid encoding such a polypeptide; or by chemically synthesizing the protein. Purity can be measured by any appropriate method, for example, column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or by HPLC analysis.
By “microarray” is meant an organized collection of at least two polypeptides, polynucleotides, or fragments thereof affixed to a solid support. A polypeptide microarray contains one or more polypeptides (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, or 100 amino acids) delineated herein. A microarray contains at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 polypeptide or nucleic acid molecules delineated herein.
“Monitoring” refers to recording changes in a varying parameter (e.g. monitoring progression of a disease).
As used herein, “obtaining” as in “obtaining an agent” includes synthesizing, purchasing, or otherwise acquiring the agent.
By “pathogen” is meant a bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi (including yeast), virus, or other microbe associated with disease. Exemplary pathogen's include various E. coli strains, C. difficle, B. fragilis, E. coli LF-82 and H. hepaticus, all of which have been demonstrated to be pathogenic to IBD. In certain embodiments, the term pathogen is applied to microbes that are not typically associated with disease in healthy individuals, but that are associated with disease in individuals having a dysregulated immune response (e.g., E. coli K-12 in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
By “portion” is meant a fragment of a protein or nucleic acid that is substantially identical to a reference protein or nucleic acid. In some embodiments the portion retains at least 50% 75%, or 80%, or more preferably 90%, 95%, or even 99% of the biological activity of the reference protein or nucleic acid described herein.
By “reduces” is meant a negative alteration of at least 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%.
By “reference” is meant a standard or control condition.
As used herein, “sample” or “biological sample” refers to anything, which may contain an analyte (e.g., polypeptide, polynucleotide, or fragment thereof) for which an analyte assay is desired. The sample may be a biological sample, such as a biological fluid or a biological tissue. Examples of biological fluids include urine, blood, plasma, serum, saliva, semen, stool, sputum, cerebral spinal fluid, tears, mucus, amniotic fluid or the like. In one embodiment, a biological sample is blood, plasma or serum.
By “a set” is meant a group having more than one member. The set may be composed of 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, or 300 polypeptide, nucleic acid molecule, or chemical compound members.
As used herein, the term “sensitivity” is the percentage of marker-detected subjects with a particular disease.
By “specifically binds” is meant an agent (e.g., antibody) which recognizes and binds a polypeptide of the invention, but that does not substantially recognize and bind other molecules.
As used herein, the term “specificity” is the percentage of subjects correctly identified as having a particular disease. For example, the specificity is calculated as the number of subjects with a particular disease as compared to normal healthy subjects.
By “subject” is meant a mammal, including, but not limited to, a human or non-human mammal, such as a bovine, equine, canine, ovine, rodent, or feline.
By “specifically binds” is meant a compound or antibody that recognizes and binds a polypeptide of the invention, but which does not substantially recognize and bind other molecules in a sample, for example, a biological sample, which naturally includes a polypeptide of the invention.
As used herein, “obtaining” as in “obtaining an agent” includes synthesizing, purchasing, or otherwise acquiring the agent.
Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50.
As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treating,” “treatment,” and the like refer to reducing or ameliorating a disorder and/or symptoms associated therewith. It will be appreciated that, although not precluded, treating a disorder or condition does not require that the disorder, condition or symptoms associated therewith be completely eliminated.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “or” is understood to be inclusive. Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” are understood to be singular or plural.
Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. About can be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term about.
The recitation of a listing of chemical groups in any definition of a variable herein includes definitions of that variable as any single group or combination of listed groups. The recitation of an embodiment for a variable or aspect herein includes that embodiment as any single embodiment or in combination with any other embodiments or portions thereof.
Any compositions or methods provided herein can be combined with one or more of any of the other compositions and methods provided herein.
The present invention provides biomarkers for use in serological testing for inflammatory bowel disease, and methods of using such markers to distinguish among intestinal disorders and selected effective therapies.
The invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of new serological markers using a whole E. coli proteome microarray as a novel high-throughput proteomic approach to screening and identifying IBD markers. Each protein array, which contains 4,256 E. coli K12 proteins, was screened using individual serum from healthy controls (n=39) and clinically well-characterized patients with IBD [66 Crohn's disease (CD) and 29 ulcerative colitis (UC)]. Proteins that could be recognized by serum antibodies were visualized and quantified using Cy3-labeled goat anti-human antibodies. Surprisingly, SAM (significant analysis of microarray) analysis identified a total of 417 E. coli proteins that were differentially recognized by serum antibodies between healthy controls and Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis. Among those, 169 proteins were identified as highly immunogenic in healthy controls, 186 proteins are highly immunogenic in Crohn's Disease, only 19 in ulcerative colitis. Using a supervised learning algorithm (k-Top Scoring Pairs), two sets of serum antibodies were identified that were novel biomarkers for specifically distinguishing Crohn's Disease from healthy controls (accuracy: 86±4%; p<0.01), and Crohn's Disease from ulcerative colitis (accuracy: 80±2%; p<0.01), respectively. The Set 1 antibodies recognized three pairs of E. coli proteins: era vs ybaN, yhgN vs focA, and gabT vs ycdG and the Set 2 antibodies recognized yidX vs frvX. The specificity and sensitivity of Set 1 antibodies were 81±5% and 89±3%, respectively, while those of set 2 antibodies were 84±1% and 70±6%, respectively. Serum antibodies identified for distinguishing healthy controls vs ulcerative colitis were only marginal, since their accuracy, specificity and sensitivity were 66±5%, 69±5%, and 61±7%, respectively (p<0.04). Taken together, novel sets of serological biomarkers have been identified for diagnosis of Crohn's disease vs healthy control and Crohn's disease vs ulcerative colitis.
The use of biomarkers is particularly important because Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis share many symptoms, both clinically and histologically. This makes the diagnosis of these two diseases difficult. The differences between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis exist at many levels. Crohn's disease may occur anywhere along the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus (although in most cases distal ileum and colon are affected). In ulcerative colitis, the large intestine (colon) is typically the only site that is affected. Second, the pattern of inflammation may be different. Ulcerative colitis tends to be continuous throughout the inflamed area, while Crohn's disease exhibits skipped lessions or ranulomas (intermittent patterns between inflamed and healthy-looking tissues. Third, there can be difference in the degree of tissue penetration. In ulcerative colitis, the colonic mucosal lining is ulcerated, but this does not extend beyond the mucosal lining. In Crohn's, such ulceration is typically deeper and may extend to virtually any layers of colon wall. Finally, the complications associated with the disease may differ. In Crohn's disease patients may experience complications, such as fistulizing and structuring. These complications are much less frequent in ulcerative colitis. In up to 15% Crohn's patients, extra-intestinal manifestations of disease can also occur. These may include inflammation in tissues or organs outside the gastrointestinal tract. Interesting general, smoking is bad and of a risk factor for Crohn's disease but protective or therapeutic for UC.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Serological testing is a non-invasive method for diagnosing IBD, and differentiating ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease (Li et al., (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124; Peyrin-Biroulet et al. (2007) Inflamm. Bowel. Dis. 13, 1561-1566; Vermeire et al. (2008) Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. 37, 429-438). Several serological IBD biomarkers have been identified in the past decade, and some have been used in the clinics of IBD (Li et al., (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124; Peyrin-Biroulet et al. (2007) Inflamm. Bowel. Dis. 13, 1561-1566; Vermeire et al. (2008) Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. 37, 429-438). Many of these antibodies are produced on intestinal exposure to normal commensal bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals. Although it is not known whether these antibodies are pathogenic or not, they are specific to patients with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and may reflect a dysregulated immune inflammatory response to intestinal bacterial antigens (Xavier (2007) Nature 448, 427-434, Strober (2002) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 20, 495-549; Blumberg (1999) Curr. Opin. Immunol. 11, 648-656; Papp et al., (2007) Inflamm. Bowel. Dis. 13, 984-992). Work on several experimental animal models of IBD have led to the suggestion that the pathogenesis of IBD may be the result of an aberrant immune response to normal commensal bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals. In fact, most of the major serological biomarkers being used in IBD clinics are antibodies to microbial antigens, including yeast oligomanna (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ASCA), bacterial outer membrane porin C (OmpC), Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial sequence I2 (anti-I2), and most recently bacterial flagellin (CBir 1) ((Li et al., (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124; Peyrin-Biroulet et al. (2007) Inflamm. Bowel. Dis. 13, 1561-1566; Vermeire et al. (2008) Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. 37, 429-438)). All of these anti-microbial antibodies show preponderance in patients with Crohn's Disease. However, ASCA has been identified in up to 5% of patients with ulcerative colitis.
In comparison, IBD-specific pANCA or antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody with perinuclear highlighting was first described in 1990. Although generally considered an autoantibody, the specific antigenic stimulation for pANCA production remains unclear. This auto-antibody is present in up to 70% of patients with ulcerative colitis, and in up to 20% of patients with CD. Recently, a panel of five new anti-glycan antibodies have been identified, including anti-chitobioside IgA (ACCA), anti-laminaribioside IgG (ALCA), anti-manobioside IgG (AMCA), and antibodies against chemically synthesized (Σ) two major oligomannose epitopes, Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan3) and Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan4) (Li (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124, 13, 15). If desired, these conventional biomarkers may be used in combination with the new serological biomarkers delineated herein (e.g.,
Collectively, these antibodies are not generally present in either children or adults with non-IBD disease, and may represent serological markers of intestinal inflammation specific to ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Though encouraging, none of the current commercially available biomarker tests/assays, including all of those mentioned above, can be used as stand-alone tools in clinics, and therefore they are currently only recommended as an adjunct to endoscopy in diagnosis and prognosis of the disease (Li (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124; 16, 17). Therefore, additional specific and sensitive IBD biomarkers are needed.
Proteomic technologies, such as 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, various variations of mass spectrometry and protein chip (array) technology are now proving to be powerful tools in biomarker discovery and are beginning to be utilized in IBD biomarker discovery (Li (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124; 18). These technologies enable robust, and/or large-scale and high-throughput identification and analysis of differential protein expression when comparing disease to control. Blood-based (serum or plasma-based) proteomics hold particular promises for biomarker discovery of various human diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancers (Goldknopf (2008) Expert Rev. Proteomics. 5, 1-8; Maurya et al., (2007) Anticancer Res. 27, 1247-1255; Veenstra et al. (2005) 4, 409-418.-21). Antigen microarrays are also powerful tools that allow high-throughput serum analysis of aberrant immune responses in autoimmune diseases, as well as efficient discovery of biomarkers for infectious pathogens. The present invention provides methods of using an E coli proteome microarray to characterize differential immune responses (serum anti-E. coli antibodies) among patients clinically classified as having Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and healthy controls. In addition, the invention provides novel IBD-specific anti microbial antibodies, particularly anti-E. coli antibodies, which are present in IBD patients and were identified by screening the sera with E. coli protein arrays.
Serum Antibody Biomarkers
The present invention provides serum antibody biomarkers that are differentially present in subjects having an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. These serum antibody biomarkers specifically bind to particular E. coli polypeptides, which are delineated in
Serum antibody biomarkers that are differentially present in samples of subjects having a inflammatory bowel disease and healthy control subjects find application in methods and kits for diagnosing an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, or distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease from healthy control. Accordingly, methods are provided for identifying inflammatory bowel disease in a subject, which involve detecting a differential presence of a serum antibody biomarker in subjects with a inflammatory bowel disease in a biological sample (e.g., blood, sera, plasma) obtained from the subject. The amount of one or more serum antibody biomarkers found in a test sample compared to a control, or the presence or absence of one or more serum antibody biomarkers in the test sample provides useful information regarding the inflammatory bowel disease status of the patient.
The serum antibody biomarkers can be measured in different types of biological samples. Preferably, the sample is a blood sample.
Detection Methods
The invention provides methods of detecting one or more serum antibody biomarkers associated with a inflammatory bowel disease or control markers in a blood sample obtained from a subject. The invention specifically describes the use of immunoassays to detect serum antibody biomarkers that specifically bind certain polypeptides or that measure the relative immune reaction against certain polypeptides. For example, the invention provides for the detection of greater immunogenic reactivity to era than to ybaN, greater immunogenic reactivity to yhgN than to focA, and greater immunogenic reactivity to gabT than ycdG. When each of these differential immunogenic reactivities is present then the subject is identified as having Crohn's Disease. In another example, the detection of greater immunogenic reactivity to frvX than to yidX identifies a subject as having ulcerative colitis.
In other embodiments, the invention provides at Table 7 methods for distinguishing Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and healthy controls. In particular, microarrays comprising E. coli polypeptides delineated herein are useful for measuring immunogenic reactivity present in subject sera. Measurements can be relative to the immunogenic reactivity of another E. coli polypeptide. In one embodiment, the method provides that the following pairs can be used to measure relative levels of immunogenic reactivity.
For example, era>ybaN=Crohn's disease (CD)
The sequence of E. coli polypeptides are known in the art and can be identified in public databases by searching on the gene or polypeptide name. For example, the E. coli era polypeptide is NCBI Reference Sequence: AAA03242.1. The amino acid sequence of an exemplary era polypeptide is provided below.
The sequence of an exemplary E. coli ybaN polypeptide (NCBI Reference Sequence: AP_001117.1) is provided below:
In another example, yhgN>focA=CD. The sequence of an exemplary E. coli yhgN (NCBI Reference Sequence: AP_004357) is provided below:
The sequence of an exemplary E. coli focA (NCBI Reference Sequence: AP_001534) is provided below:
For example, gabT>ycdG=CD The sequence of an exemplary E. coli gabT (NCBI Reference Sequence: AP_003235.1) is provided below
The sequence of an exemplary E. coli ycdG (NCBI Reference Sequence: AP_001637.1) is provided below.
In other examples yidX (NCBI AP_004097)>frvX=UC; relE (NCBI ABD51640.1)>cysE/wcaB (NCBI CAQ33933.1)=UC; lnt (NCBI AP_001306.1)>ybiO (NCBI AP_001439.1)=UC; ftsE (NCBI AP_004329.1)>pssR(NCBI F65179)=UC; yhgN(NCBI AP_004357.1)>yhfG (NCBI AP_004427.1)=UC; yafN(NCBI AP_000885.1)>dsbB (NCBI AP_001810.1)=UC; yihI (NCBI AP_003942.1)>yabK (NCBI AAC73178.1)=UC 421#15>yhdN(NCBI AAC76318.1)=UC; hisP (NCBI AAC75366.1)>rp10 (NCBI AAC76326.1)=UC; cml (NCBI P12056.1)>nuoM (NCBI AP_002875.1)=UC; yieC(NCBI AAC76743.1)>nuoI (NCBI AP_002879.1)=UC.
One of skill in the art will recognize that any suitable method can be used to detect the serum antibody biomarkers described herein. Successful practice of the invention can be achieved with one or a combination of methods that can detect and/or quantify the markers. Such methods include, without limitation, hybridization-based methods including those employed in microarrays, mass spectrometry (e.g., laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry), fluorescence (e.g. sandwich immunoassay), surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Methods may further include, one or more of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ESI-MS/MS, ESI-MS/(MS)n, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS), desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APC)-MS), atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry (APPI-MS), quadrupole mass spectrometry, fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS), and ion trap mass spectrometry. In one preferred embodiment, detection methods employ a microchip array comprising immunogenic pathogen (e.g., E. coli) polypeptides.
Microarrays
As described herein, collections of immunogenic E. coli polypeptides may be used to identify serum antibody biomarker profiles that are associated with inflammatory bowel disease. These collections preferably include polypeptides that are differentially immunogenic (e.g., polypeptides that induce serum antibody biomarkers in healthy controls, but not in inflammatory bowel disease, or polypeptides that induce serum antibody biomarkers in inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, but not in healthy controls). Such polypeptides of the invention are useful as hybridizable array elements in a microarray. Polypeptides useful in arrays of the invention include, but are not limited to, those polypeptides delineated in
Serum antibody biomarkers associated with inflammatory bowel disease may be analyzed using protein microarrays comprising the entire E. coli proteome, or comprising as few as one, two, three, four, five, or six E. coli proteins. Typically, protein microarrays feature a protein, or fragment thereof, bound to a solid support. Suitable solid supports include membranes (e.g., membranes composed of nitrocellulose, paper, or other material), polymer-based films (e.g., polystyrene), beads, or glass slides. For some applications, proteins are spotted on a substrate using any convenient method known to the skilled artisan (e.g., by hand or by inkjet printer). Preferably, such methods retain the biological activity or function of the protein bound to the substrate (Ge et al., supra; Zhu et al., supra).
The protein microarray is hybridized with blood, serum, or plasma derived from a subject. The sample comprises antibodies that specifically bind an E. coli polypeptide, thereby acting as probes. Probes can also include antibodies, candidate peptides, nucleic acids, or small molecule compounds derived from a peptide, nucleic acid, or chemical library. Hybridization conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, protein concentration, and ionic strength) are optimized to promote specific interactions. Such conditions are known to the skilled artisan and are described, for example, in Harlow, E. and Lane, D., Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual. 1998, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. After removal of non-specific probes, specifically bound probes are detected, for example, by fluorescence, enzyme activity (e.g., an enzyme-linked calorimetric assay), direct immunoassay, radiometric assay, or any other suitable detectable method known to the skilled artisan.
The biochip surfaces may, for example, be ionic, anionic, hydrophobic; comprised of immobilized nickel or copper ions, comprised of a mixture of positive and negative ions; and/or comprised of one or more antibodies, single or double stranded nucleic acids, proteins, peptides or fragments thereof, amino acid probes, or phage display libraries. Many protein biochips are described in the art. These include, for example, protein biochips produced by Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, Calif.), Packard BioScience Company (Meriden Conn.), Zyomyx (Hayward, Calif.) and Phylos (Lexington, Mass.). Examples of such protein biochips are described in the following patents or patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,047 (Hutchens and Yip, “Use of retentate chromatography to generate difference maps,” May 1, 2001); International publication WO 99/51773 (Kuimelis and Wagner, “Addressable protein arrays,” Oct. 14, 1999); U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,209 (Wagner et al., “Arrays of protein-capture agents and methods of use thereof,” Dec. 11, 2001) and International publication WO 00/56934 (Englert et al., “Continuous porous matrix arrays,” Sep. 28, 2000).
Serum antibody biomarkers may be captured with capture reagents (e.g., target polypeptides) immobilized to a solid support, such as a biochip, a multiwell microtiter plate, a resin, or nitrocellulose membranes that are subsequently probed for the presence of proteins. Capture can be on a chromatographic surface or a biospecific surface. For example, a serological sample containing the serum antibody biomarkers may be contacted with the active surface of a biochip for a sufficient time to allow binding. Then, unbound molecules are washed from the surface using a suitable eluant, such as phosphate buffered saline. In general, the more stringent the eluant, the more tightly the proteins must be bound to be retained after the wash.
Upon capture on a biochip, analytes can be detected by a variety of detection methods selected from, for example, a gas phase ion spectrometry method, an optical method, an electrochemical method, atomic force microscopy and a radio frequency method. Gas phase ion spectrometry methods are described herein. Of particular interest is the use of mass spectrometry, and in particular, SELDI. Optical methods include, for example, detection of fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, reflectance, transmittance, birefringence or refractive index (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, a resonant mirror method, a grating coupler waveguide method or interferometry). Optical methods include microscopy (both confocal and non-confocal), imaging methods and non-imaging methods. Immunoassays in various formats (e.g., ELISA) are popular methods for detection of analytes captured on a solid phase. Electrochemical methods include voltametry and amperometry methods. Radio frequency methods include multipolar resonance spectroscopy.
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a well-known tool for analyzing chemical compounds. Thus, in one embodiment, the methods of the present invention comprise performing quantitative MS to measure serum antibody biomarkers present in a serological sample. The method may be performed in an automated (Villanueva, et al., Nature Protocols (2006) 1(2):880-891) or semi-automated format. This can be accomplished, for example with MS operably linked to a liquid chromatography device (LC-MS/MS or LC-MS) or gas chromatography device (GC-MS or GC-MS/MS). Methods for performing MS are known in the field and have been disclosed, for example, in US Patent Application Publication Nos: 20050023454; 20050035286; U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,979 and references disclosed therein.
The protein fragments, whether they are peptides derived from the main chain of the protein or are residues of a side-chain, are collected on the collection layer. They may then be analyzed by a spectroscopic method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) or electrospray ionization (ESI). The preferred procedure is MALDI with time of flight (TOF) analysis, known as MALDI-TOF MS. This involves forming a matrix on the membrane, e.g. as described in the literature, with an agent which absorbs the incident light strongly at the particular wavelength employed. The sample is excited by UV, or IR laser light into the vapour phase in the MALDI mass spectrometer. Ions are generated by the vaporization and form an ion plume. The ions are accelerated in an electric field and separated according to their time of travel along a given distance, giving a mass/charge (m/z) reading which is very accurate and sensitive. MALDI spectrometers are commercially available from PerSeptive Biosystems, Inc. (Frazingham, Mass., USA) and are described in the literature, e.g. M. Kussmann and P. Roepstorff, cited above.
Diagnostics
Levels of particular serum antibody biomarkers have been correlated with a particular inflammatory bowel disease state, and thus are useful in diagnosis. In one embodiment, a patient having a inflammatory bowel disease will show an alteration in the expression of one or more serum antibody biomarkers delineated herein. In another embodiment, a patient having a inflammatory bowel disease will have a particular expression profile that includes significantly altered expression of two or more serum antibody biomarkers. Alterations in serum antibody biomarkers levels are detected using methods known to the skilled artisan and described herein. If desired, biomarkers delineated herein are used alone or in combination with convention biomarkers, which include anti-glycan antibodies (e.g., anti-chitobioside IgA (ACCA), anti-laminaribioside IgG (ALCA), anti-manobioside IgG (AMCA)), antibodies against chemically synthesized (Σ) two major oligomannose epitopes, Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan3) and Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan4) (Li (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14, 5115-5124; 13, 15), IBD-specific pANCA or antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, antibodies to microbial antigens (e.g., yeast oligomanna (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ASCA), bacterial outer membrane porin C (OmpC), Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial sequence I2 (anti-I2), and antibodies against bacterial flagellin).
In one embodiment, E. coli polypeptides or fragments derived from these polypeptides may be used as targets in a microarray. The microarray is used to assay the level of large numbers of serum antibody biomarkers simultaneously and to identify alterations in the overall or relative levels of expression. Such information can be used to diagnose a inflammatory bowel disease or a subject having a propensity to develop such a condition.
In one embodiment, an increased level of a serum antibody biomarker that specifically binds frvX relative to the level of serum antibody biomarker that binds yidX identifies a subject as having ulcerative colitis. In another embodiment an increased level of serum antibody biomarker binding to era relative to ybaN, increased serum antibody biomarker binding to yhgN relative to focA, and/or increased serum antibody biomarker binding to gabT relative to ycdG identifies a subject as having Crohn's Disease. A variety of protocols for measuring an alteration in the expression of such polypeptides are known, including immunological methods (such as ELISAs and RIAs), and provide a basis for diagnosing an inflammatory bowel disease.
In additional embodiment of the methods of the present invention, multiple markers are measured. The use of multiple markers increases the predictive value of the test and provides greater utility in diagnosis, treatment selection, patient stratification and patient monitoring. The process detects serum antibody biomarker profiles formed by the analysis of multiple markers. Such analysis may improve the sensitivity and specificity of tests delineated herein. Subtle variations in data from clinical samples indicate that certain patterns of serum antibody biomarker expression can predict phenotypes such as the presence or absence of a certain disease, a particular stage of disease progression, or a positive or adverse response to drug treatments.
Data generated by detection of serum antibody biomarkers can be analyzed using any suitable means. In one embodiment, data is analyzed with the use of a programmable digital computer. The computer program generally contains a readable medium that stores data. This data can indicate the number of serum antibody biomarkers detected, including the strength of the signal generated by each marker. Data analysis can include the steps of determining signal strength of a marker detected. When the sample is measured and data is generated, the data is then analyzed by a computer software program
As indicated above, the invention provides methods for aiding a human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis using one or more serum antibody biomarkers, as specified herein. These markers can be used alone, in combination with other markers in any set, or with entirely different markers in aiding human inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. The serum antibody biomarkers are differentially present in samples of a subject having or having a propensity to develop a inflammatory bowel disease and a healthy control subject in whom inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable. For example, some of the serum antibody biomarkers are expressed at an elevated level and/or are present at a higher frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects, while some of the serum antibody biomarkers are expressed at a decreased level and/or are present at a lower frequency in human inflammatory bowel disease subjects than in normal subjects. Therefore, detection of one or more of these markers in a person would provide useful information regarding the probability that the person may have an inflammatory bowel disease.
The detection of a marker is then correlated with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. In some embodiments, the detection of the mere presence or absence of a marker, without quantifying the amount thereof, is useful and can be correlated with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. The measurement of markers may also involve quantifying the markers to correlate the detection of markers with a probable diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, if the amount of the markers detected in a subject being tested is different compared to a control amount (i.e., higher or lower than the control, depending on the marker), then the subject being tested has a higher probability of having inflammatory bowel disease.
The correlation may take into account the amount of the serum antibody biomarkers in the sample compared to a control amount of the serum antibody biomarkers (up or down regulation of the marker or markers) in normal subjects or in subjects where inflammatory bowel disease is undetectable. A control can be, e.g., the average or median amount of marker present in comparable samples of normal subjects. The control amount is measured under the same or substantially similar experimental conditions as in measuring the test amount. As a result, the control can be employed as a reference standard, where the normal phenotype is known, and each result can be compared to that standard, rather than re-running a control.
Accordingly, a serum antibody biomarkers profile may be obtained from a subject sample and compared to a reference marker profile obtained from a reference population, so that it is possible to classify the subject as belonging to or not belonging to the reference population. The correlation may take into account the presence or absence of the markers in a test sample and the frequency of detection of the same markers in a control. The correlation may take into account both of such factors to facilitate determination inflammatory bowel disease status.
Any marker, individually, is useful in aiding in the determination of inflammatory bowel disease status. First, the selected serum antibody biomarkers is detected in a subject sample using the methods described herein (e.g. microarray analysis). Then, the result is compared with a control that distinguishes inflammatory bowel disease status from non-inflammatory bowel disease status. As is well understood in the art, the techniques can be adjusted to increase sensitivity or specificity of the diagnostic assay depending on the preference of the diagnostician.
While individual serum antibody biomarkers are useful diagnostic markers, in some instances, a combination of markers provides greater predictive value than single markers alone. The detection of a plurality of markers (or absence thereof, as the case may be) in a sample can increase the percentage of true positive and true negative diagnoses and decrease the percentage of false positive or false negative diagnoses. Thus, one method of the present invention provides for the measurement of more than one marker.
Optionally, methods described herein may be combined with any conventional method for the diagnosis of IBD (e.g., stool sample analysis, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, barium x-ray, computerized axial tomography, and or capsule endoscopy).
Monitoring
Methods of characterizing inflammatory bowel disease in a subject are also useful in managing subject treatment based on the subject's status. The invention provides for such methods where the serum antibody biomarkers (or specific combinations of markers) are measured before and again after subject management. In these cases, the methods are used to monitor the status of the inflammatory bowel disease, e.g., response to inflammatory bowel disease treatment, amelioration of the disease or progression of the disease.
For example, markers of the invention (e.g., antibodies that bind an E. coli polypeptide listed in
Kits
In one aspect, the invention provides kits for monitoring and diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease, wherein the kits can be used to detect the markers described herein. For example, the kits can be used to detect any one or more of the markers differentially present in samples of inflammatory bowel disease subjects vs. normal subjects. If desired a kit of the invention includes any one or more of the E. coli polypeptides listed in
The kits of the invention have many applications. For example, the kits can be used to distinguish between inflammatory bowel disease and control, to determine if a subject has a Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis, or to determine that the subject does not have inflammatory bowel disease, thus aiding in inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis. The kits can also be used to identify compounds that modulate expression of one or more of the serum antibody biomarkers in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease.
The kits of the invention may include instructions for the assay, reagents, testing equipment (test tubes, reaction vessels, needles, syringes, etc.), standards for calibrating the assay, and/or equipment provided or used to conduct the assay. Reagents may include acids, bases, oxidizing agents, marker species. The instructions provided in a kit according to the invention may be directed to suitable operational parameters in the form of a label or a separate insert.
The kits may also include an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent retains one or more markers selected from one or more of the markers described herein, and written instructions for use of the kit for detection of an inflammatory bowel disease. Such a kit could, for example, comprise: (a) a substrate comprising an adsorbent thereon, wherein the adsorbent is suitable for binding a serum antibody biomarkers, and (b) instructions to detect the serum antibody biomarkers by contacting a sample with the adsorbent and detecting the serum antibody biomarkers retained by the adsorbent. Accordingly, the kit could further comprise a detection reagent.
Optionally, the kit may further comprise a standard or control information so that the test sample can be compared with the control information standard to determine if the test amount of a marker detected in a sample is a diagnostic amount consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.
Selection of a Treatment Method
After a subject is diagnosed as having inflammatory bowel disease a method of treatment is selected. Because inflammatory bowel disease typically involves an excessive or undesirable immune response, therapies often involve treatment with immunosuppressive agents. Such therapies would not be appropriate for a subject that has irritable bowel syndrome. Thus, the invention provides methods for selecting an appropriate therapy for a subject, the method involving identifying a subject as having inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and administering to the subject a therapeutic treatment appropriate for that disease. Exemplary treatments for IBD include but are not limited to aminosalicylates, immunomodulators, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, and/or antibiotics.
Biomarkers identified herein are useful for identifying subjects in need of surgery. In particular embodiments, pairs and sets of biomarkers delineated in Tables 2-5, 7, and
E. coli Polypeptides and Analogs
Also included in the invention are E. coli polypeptides or fragments thereof that are modified in ways that enhance or do not inhibit their ability to bind a serum antibody. In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for optimizing an E. coli amino acid sequence or nucleic acid sequence by producing an alteration. Such changes may include certain mutations, deletions, insertions, or post-translational modifications. In one preferred embodiment, the E. coli amino acid sequence is modified to enhance protease resistance. Accordingly, the invention further includes polypeptides of other yeast or bacteria having at least 85%, 90%, 95% or greater sequence identity to an E. coli polypeptide delineated herein. In other embodiments, the invention includes analogs of any naturally-occurring polypeptide of the invention. Analogs can differ from the naturally-occurring the polypeptide of the invention by amino acid sequence differences, by post-translational modifications, or by both. Analogs of the invention will generally exhibit at least 85%, more preferably 90%, and most preferably 95% or even 99% identity with all or part of a naturally-occurring amino, acid sequence of the invention. The length of sequence comparison is at least 10, 13, 15 amino acid residues, preferably at least 25 amino acid residues, and more preferably more than 35 amino acid residues. Again, in an exemplary approach to determining the degree of identity, a BLAST program may be used, with a probability score between e−3 and e−100 indicating a closely related sequence. Modifications include in vivo and in vitro chemical derivatization of polypeptides, e.g., acetylation, carboxylation, phosphorylation, or glycosylation; such modifications may occur during polypeptide synthesis or processing or following treatment with isolated modifying enzymes. Analogs can also differ from the naturally-occurring polypeptides of the invention by alterations in primary sequence. These include genetic variants, both natural and induced (for example, resulting from random mutagenesis by irradiation or exposure to ethanemethylsulfate or by site-specific mutagenesis as described in Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed.), CSH Press, 1989, or Ausubel et al., supra). Also included are cyclized peptides, molecules, and analogs which contain residues other than L-amino acids, e.g., D-amino acids or non-naturally occurring or synthetic amino acids, e.g., .beta. or .gamma. amino acids.
In addition to full-length polypeptides, the invention also includes fragments of any one of the polypeptides of the invention. As used herein, the term “a fragment” means at least 5, 10, 13, or 15 amino acids in length. In other embodiments a fragment is at least 20 contiguous amino acids, at least 30 contiguous amino acids, or at least 50 contiguous amino acids, and in other embodiments at least 60 to 80 or more contiguous amino acids. Fragments of the invention can be generated by methods known to those skilled in the art or may result from normal protein processing (e.g., removal of amino acids from the nascent polypeptide that are not required for biological activity or removal of amino acids by alternative mRNA splicing or alternative protein processing events).
Screening Assays
Methods of the invention are useful for the high-throughput low-cost screening of candidate agents that bind an E. coli polypeptide described herein. A candidate agent that specifically binds to a E. coli is then isolated and tested for activity in an in vitro assay or in vivo assay. If desired, the candidate agent comprises a detectable label. In one embodiment, such polypeptides are subsequently screened for an effect on bacterial proliferation or as agents that block antibody binding to a E. coli polypeptide listed herein. One skilled in the art appreciates that the effects of a candidate agent on a cell is typically compared to a corresponding control cell not contacted with the candidate agent. Thus, the screening methods include comparing the effect of a candidate agent with an untreated control cell.
In one embodiment, candidate compounds may be identified by first assaying those that specifically bind to an E. coli polypeptide of the invention. Such an interaction can be readily assayed using any number of standard binding techniques and functional assays (e.g., those described in Ausubel et al., supra). For example, a candidate compound may be tested in vitro for interaction and binding with a polypeptide of the invention and its ability to modulate bacterial proliferation may be assayed by any standard assays (e.g., those described herein)
In one particular example, a candidate compound that binds to an E. coli polypeptide may be identified using a chromatography-based technique. For example, a recombinant E. coli polypeptide of the invention may be purified by standard techniques from cells engineered to express the polypeptide, or may be chemically synthesized, once purified the peptide is immobilized on a column. A solution of candidate agents is then passed through the column, and an agent that specifically binds the polypeptide or a fragment thereof is identified on the basis of its ability to bind to polypeptide and to be immobilized on the column. To isolate the agent, the column is washed to remove non-specifically bound molecules, and the agent of interest is then released from the column and collected. Agents isolated by this method (or any other appropriate method) may, if desired, be further purified (e.g., by high performance liquid chromatography). In addition, these candidate agents may be tested for their ability to reduce bacterial proliferation or block serum antibody binding to an E. coli polypeptide. Agents isolated by this approach may also be used, for example, as therapeutics to treat or prevent inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's, ulcerative colitis). Compounds that are identified as binding to a an E. coli polypeptide with an affinity constant less than or equal to 1 nM, 5 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, 1 mM or 10 mM are considered particularly useful in the invention.
Such agents may be used, for example, as a therapeutic to combat the pathogenicity of an bacterial pathogen. Optionally, agents identified in any of the above-described assays may be confirmed as useful in conferring protection against the development of a pathogen infection in any standard animal model and, if successful, may be used as anti-pathogen therapeutics.
Each of the protein sequences provided herein may also be used in the discovery and development of antipathogenic compounds (e.g., antibiotics). The E. coli protein, upon expression, can be used as a target for the screening of drugs to treat or prevent IBD.
Test Compounds and Extracts
In general, candidate agents are identified from large libraries of natural product or synthetic (or semi-synthetic) extracts or chemical libraries or from polypeptide or nucleic acid libraries, according to methods known in the art. Those skilled in the field of drug discovery and development will understand that the precise source of test extracts or compounds is not critical to the screening procedure(s) of the invention. Agents used in screens may include known those known as therapeutics for the treatment of pathogen infections. Alternatively, virtually any number of unknown chemical extracts or compounds can be screened using the methods described herein. Examples of such extracts or compounds include, but are not limited to, plant-, fungal-, prokaryotic- or animal-based extracts, fermentation broths, and synthetic compounds, as well as the modification of existing polypeptides.
Libraries of natural polypeptides in the form of bacterial, fungal, plant, and animal extracts are commercially available from a number of sources, including Biotics (Sussex, UK), Xenova (Slough, UK), Harbor Branch Oceangraphics Institute (Ft. Pierce, Fla.), and PharmaMar, U.S.A. (Cambridge, Mass.). Such polypeptides can be modified to include a protein transduction domain using methods known in the art and described herein. In addition, natural and synthetically produced libraries are produced, if desired, according to methods known in the art, e.g., by standard extraction and fractionation methods. Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries can be found in the art, for example in: DeWitt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:6909, 1993; Erb et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11422, 1994; Zuckermann et al., J. Med. Chem. 37:2678, 1994; Cho et al., Science 261:1303, 1993; Carrell et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33:2059, 1994; Carell et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33:2061, 1994; and Gallop et al., J. Med. Chem. 37:1233, 1994. Furthermore, if desired, any library or compound is readily modified using standard chemical, physical, or biochemical methods.
Numerous methods are also available for generating random or directed synthesis (e.g., semi-synthesis or total synthesis) of any number of polypeptides, chemical compounds, including, but not limited to, saccharide-, lipid-, peptide-, and nucleic acid-based compounds. Synthetic compound libraries are commercially available from Brandon Associates (Merrimack, N.H.) and Aldrich Chemical (Milwaukee, Wis.). Alternatively, chemical compounds to be used as candidate compounds can be synthesized from readily available starting materials using standard synthetic techniques and methodologies known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds identified by the methods described herein are known in the art and include, for example, those such as described in R. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers (1989); T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2nd ed., John Wiley and Sons (1991); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and L. Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995), and subsequent editions thereof.
Libraries of compounds may be presented in solution (e.g., Houghten, Biotechniques 13:412-421, 1992), or on beads (Lam, Nature 354:82-84, 1991), chips (Fodor, Nature 364:555-556, 1993), bacteria (Ladner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), spores (Ladner U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), plasmids (Cull et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89:1865-1869, 1992) or on phage (Scott and Smith, Science 249:386-390, 1990; Devlin, Science 249:404-406, 1990; Cwirla et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 87:6378-6382, 1990; Felici, J. Mol. Biol. 222:301-310, 1991; Ladner supra.).
In addition, those skilled in the art of drug discovery and development readily understand that methods for dereplication (e.g., taxonomic dereplication, biological dereplication, and chemical dereplication, or any combination thereof) or the elimination of replicates or repeats of materials already known for their activity should be employed whenever possible.
When a crude extract is found to have E. coli polypeptide binding activity further fractionation of the positive lead extract is necessary to isolate molecular constituents responsible for the observed effect. Thus, the goal of the extraction, fractionation, and purification process is the careful characterization and identification of a chemical entity within the crude extract that treats or prevents IBD or acts as an antibiotic. Methods of fractionation and purification of such heterogenous extracts are known in the art. If desired, compounds shown to be useful as therapeutics are chemically modified according to methods known in the art.
The present invention provides methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease and/or disorders or symptoms thereof which comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the formulae herein to a subject (e.g., a mammal such as a human). Thus, one embodiment is a method of treating a subject suffering from or susceptible to a inflammatory bowel disease or disorder or symptom thereof. The method includes the step of administering to the mammal a therapeutic amount of an amount of a compound herein sufficient to treat the disease or disorder or symptom thereof, under conditions such that the disease or disorder is treated.
The methods herein include administering to the subject (including a subject identified as in need of such treatment) an effective amount of a compound described herein, or a composition described herein to produce such effect. Identifying a subject in need of such treatment can be in the judgment of a subject or a health care professional and can be subjective (e.g. opinion) or objective (e.g. measurable by a test or diagnostic method). As used herein, the terms “treat,” treating,” “treatment,” and the like refer to reducing or ameliorating a disorder and/or symptoms associated therewith. It will be appreciated that, although not precluded, treating a disorder or condition does not require that the disorder, condition or symptoms associated therewith be completely eliminated. As used herein, the terms “prevent,” “preventing,” “prevention,” “prophylactic treatment” and the like refer to reducing the probability of developing a disorder or condition in a subject, who does not have, but is at risk of or susceptible to developing a disorder or condition.
The therapeutic methods of the invention (which include prophylactic treatment) in general comprise administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the compounds herein, such as a compound of the formulae herein to a subject (e.g., animal, human) in need thereof, including a mammal, particularly a human. Such treatment will be suitably administered to subjects, particularly humans, suffering from, having, susceptible to, or at risk for a disease, disorder, or symptom thereof. Determination of those subjects “at risk” can be made by any objective or subjective determination by a diagnostic test or opinion of a subject or health care provider (e.g., genetic test, enzyme or protein marker, Marker (as defined herein), family history, and the like). The compounds herein may be also used in the treatment of any other disorders in which inflammation of the intestine may be implicated.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of monitoring treatment progress. The method includes the step of determining a level of diagnostic marker (Marker) (e.g., any target delineated herein) or diagnostic measurement (e.g., screen, assay) in a subject suffering from or susceptible to a inflammatory bowel disease, or disorder or symptoms thereof associated with intestinal inflammation. The level of Marker determined in the method can be compared to known levels of Marker in either healthy normal controls or in other afflicted patients to establish the subject's disease status. In preferred embodiments, a second level of Marker in the subject is determined at a time point later than the determination of the first level, and the two levels are compared to monitor the course of disease or the efficacy of the therapy. In certain preferred embodiments, a pre-treatment level of Marker in the subject is determined prior to beginning treatment according to this invention; this pre-treatment level of Marker can then be compared to the level of Marker in the subject after the treatment commences, to determine the efficacy of the treatment.
The practice of the present invention employs, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of molecular biology (including recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology, which are well within the purview of the skilled artisan. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature, such as, “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”, second edition (Sambrook, 1989); “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” (Gait, 1984); “Animal Cell Culture” (Freshney, 1987); “Methods in Enzymology” “Handbook of Experimental Immunology” (Weir, 1996); “Gene Transfer Vectors for Mammalian Cells” (Miller and Calos, 1987); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” (Ausubel, 1987); “PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction”, (Mullis, 1994); “Current Protocols in Immunology” (Coligan, 1991). These techniques are applicable to the production of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention, and, as such, may be considered in making and practicing the invention. Particularly useful techniques for particular embodiments will be discussed in the sections that follow.
The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the assay, screening, and therapeutic methods of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention.
Sera was collected from 134 individuals (29 healthy control, 66 CD and 39 ulcerative colitis) from the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes (Table 1).
To identify potential biomarkers for IBD diagnosis, the antibody repertoire of the IBD patients was profiled using the E. coli proteome chips that each contained more than 4,200 individual proteins (see schematic illustration of our strategy in (
Sera samples from healthy control subjects (n=39), patients with Crohn's Disease (n=66), and patients with ulcerative colitis (n=29) (Table 1) were used to compare differences between healthy control and IBD immunogenic profiles. To investigate the differential global changes in immunogenic response to E. coli proteins among healthy control vs Crohn's Disease vs ulcerative colitis, SAM was employed as described herein above for the immunogenic profiles. For convenience, the E. coli proteins that were differentially recognized by serum antibodies from healthy control, Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis are referred to as “differentially-expressed immunogenic proteins” throughout. Heat maps shown in
As shown in the Venn diagram in
This demonstrates that ulcerative colitis and healthy control subjects share more common immunogenic profiles than Crohn's Disease and healthy control. In general, these results indicate that much of the global immunogenic profiles of sera samples were systematically correlated with either healthy controls or IBD phenotypes and that sample class can be distinguished based on the sample's immunogenic profile.
To delineate the immunogenic signatures of the healthy controls and IBD subtypes the differentially immunogenic proteins were assigned to functional groups based on classification by Gene Ontology. Functional grouping of the 417 proteins were assigned by querying EcoCyc and KEGG databases, as well as cross-checked with Affymetrix E. coli Genome Array annotation file. 338 of these 417 proteins were assigned to at least one gene ontology (GO) term, and 78 hypothetical proteins have unknown annotations. The enrichment analysis was focussed on five GO cellular component terms (membrane, cell wall, intracellular, macromolecular complex, periplasmic space and cell projection). To assess whether the selected differentially immunogenic proteins were enriched in one of the GO terms, the hypergeometric statistical test was used to compute the probability of the number of proteins in each cellular component appearing by chance within the proteins highly immunogenic in healthy control (169), Crohn's Disease (185) and ulcerative colitis (18).
Next, optimal classifiers were constructed from the immunogenic response profiles to differentiate healthy control from the IBD subtypes (Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis), as well as to differentiate Crohn's Disease from ulcerative colitis. Upon successful construction of these classifiers, the classification rules may result in the discovery of new robust biomarkers. k-TSP, a novel machine learning method was employed to discover simple decision rules classifiers from the immunogenic response profiles. The three top scoring pairs were identified as classifiers to differentiate healthy control samples from Crohn's Disease samples as follows:
1. If a subject sample shows greater immunogenic reactivity to era than to ybaN then the subject is identified as likely having Crohn's Disease, or else as UC.
2. If a subject sample shows greater immunogenic reactivity to yhgN than to focA then the subject is identified as likely having Crohn's Disease or as a healthy control; and
3. If a subject sample shows greater immunogenic reactivity to gabT than ycdG then the subject is identified as likely having Crohn's Disease (see representative examples of actual images of immuno-reactive protein spots in
The performance of k-TSP was also compared with SVM and kNN, two other commonly used learning algorithms, for each of the classification problems based on five runs of ten-fold crossvalidation. Table 6 displays the results of ten-fold cross-validation for each of the three classifiers.
As demonstrated in Table 6, based on cross-validation, k-TSP performance meets or exceeds the performance of kNN and SVM for these classification problems. Because the cross-validation structure allowed each classifier to test the same subsets of data as described in the methods section, the performance of the three classifiers can be directly compared and tested for statistical significance by a simple student's t-test. The healthy control vs. CD k-TSP classifier outperformed the other methods in total classification performance (p<0.001). For the remaining two classification problems, the k-TSP classifiers achieved nominally better, but not statistically significant in classification accuracy when compared to SVM and kNN classifiers. From this study, k-TSP was found to perform much better than SVM and kNN in separating healthy control from Crohn's Disease. In addition, the ordering of the expression values within profiles were utilized in the k-TSP decision rules, therefore, the classifier is invariant to data pre-processing (28).
To determine that class imbalance did not greatly affect the classification results, an additional analysis was performed where samples were randomly discarded from a class with greater total number of samples in order to equalize the class sizes. 10-fold cross validation was performed as described. The process was then repeated by discarding a different random set of samples.
Table 7 (below) shows the performance of each classifier given class balance in the training set.
These results demonstrate that k-TSP outperforms SVM and kNN in most instances whether or not the class size is balanced, further supporting the data presented in Table 5.
Next, to determine the significance of each classifier, a permutation test was performed by randomly shuffling the class labels while maintaining the same number of samples in each class. 10-fold cross validation is carried out to yield a classification rate for the permutation set. 100 permutations were performed in order to get a null distribution of expected classification rates by chance. The classification rate from the un-permuted data is then compared to the null distribution to determine significance. Table 7 shows the permutation test results for all the classification problems. For the k-TSP classifiers trained to differentiate between healthy control and Crohn's Disease samples as well as Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis samples, no permuted set achieved classification rates equal or superior to the original data out of 100 permutations. Thus, these classifiers were estimated to be significant at the p<0.01 level. The k-TSP classifier built to differentiate healthy control and ulcerative colitis had 4/100 permutations achieve rates that matched or exceeded the original classifier, thus this classifier is near the typical significance threshold at p<0.05.
Finally, to gauge the robustness of the classification rules discovered by the k-TSP method, the surrogate classifiers created during the ten-fold cross validation procedure were inspected. Every loop of cross validation creates a separate classifier used to predict the left out sample classes, these are called surrogate classifiers. Thus, for each problem of interest that was performed ten fold cross-validation in Table 7, there were 50 classifiers to inspect (10 for each of the 5 runs). The percentage of the time that the rule from the final k-TSP classifier showed up in the 50 surrogate classifiers was an indicator of the robustness of that rule. Table 7 shows that the pairs that show up in the healthy control vs. Crohn's Disease classifier as well as the ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's Disease classifier are fairly robust while the pairs in the healthy control vs. ulcerative colitis classifier are not. Along with the permutation testing, this indicates that the healthy control vs. Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's Disease classifier should perform well in independent testing while the healthy control vs. ulcerative colitis classifier may not.
Certain antibody-based serological biomarkers (such as pANCA and ASCA) have shown promise in risk stratifying patients prior to instituting medical therapy or embarking on surgery. As an example, the presence of pANCA has been associated with the development of acute and chronic pouchitis after colectomy with ileal pouchanal anastamosis. Similarly, the presence of high titers of ASCA has been found to predict the occurrence of pouch complications and a more complicated disease course in Crohn's disease. To evaluate whether the new biomarkers identified can be used to stratify Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis subtypes or risk for surgery, the Vienna classification was used to subtype patients with Crohn's Disease into the following behavior subtypes (Table 1): penetrating/fistulizing, stricturing, penetrating/structuring and non-penetrating non-stricturing. Patients with ulcerative colitis were divided into those with left sided disease (inflammation extending no further than the splenic flexure). Pancolitis was considered to be continuous inflammation from the rectum extending beyond the splenic flexure. Due to the small sample sizes for each disease type, k-TSP analysis using the newly identified biomarkers was unable to stratify subtypes of Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis, or risk for surgery. When larger sample sizes are available, it is expected that at least those biomarkers listed herein will be useful for identifying subjects in need of surgery. In particular, pairs and sets of biomarkers delineated in Tables 2-5, 7, and
Although anti-OmpC and anti-Cbir (fliC) have been recently considered two new IBD serological biomarkers, these markers were not identified in our screening of the E. coli K12 proteome. Scatter plot (
Protein microarrays have been demonstrated to be a powerful tool to identify biomarkers. The results reported herein provide the first study to identify serological biomarkers in human autoimmune diseases using a protein chip of whole prokaryotic proteome. The significance of this study is three-fold: First, it presents here the first proof of principle for the feasibility of application of high density protein microarray/chip technology in the discovery of novel serological IBD biomarkers. This study can serve as an example of similar proteomic approaches for hunting serological biomarkers for other immune-related diseases, such as autoimmune disorders. Second, this is the first examination of human immune responses to the entire proteome of a microbial species under normal or any disease condition. It is surprising to learn that human circulating antibodies can recognize more than 400 E. coli proteins (
An intriguing observation in this study is the difference in the immunogenicity of surface/membrane vs intracellular proteins in healthy control vs CD patients. Approximately 85% of the highly immunogenic proteins were either cell wall proteins or membrane proteins in healthy control, compared to only ˜37% of the top immunogenic proteins in Crohn's Disease patients (
This may dramatically alter the previously adapted immune system that is only used to the luminally exposed E. coli, resulting in an overwhelming production of antibodies against these intracellular E. coli proteins. The consequences of these immune responses include recruitment of various inflammatory immune cells such as neutrophils, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes to lamina propria or between colonic epithelial cells, leading to dysregulated mucosal inflammation. This may also explain why there are only 6 overlapping proteins among 354 top immunogenic proteins recognized by healthy control and Crohn's Disease patients (
None of the serum antibody biomarkers that are identified here for discriminating Crohn's Disease from healthy control or ulcerative colitis have been previously described. Although most of the antigens (E. coli proteins) responsible for generation of these marker antibodies have not been well characterized, their identity and function can be predicted based on their sequence information. Among the proteins in the k-TSP classifier—era, ybaN, yhgN, focA, gabT and ycdG (
Like all previously identified serological (antibody) biomarkers, including p-ANCA, ASCA, anti-OmpC, and anti-I2 and anti-Cbir, the pathological or functional consequences of having these newly identified circulating antibodies is unclear.
The newly identified biomarkers by k-TSP analysis have a particular impressive ˜86% accuracy in differentiating CD from healthy control, with a specificity of ˜81% and a sensitivity of ˜89% (Table 6). In addition, k-TSP analysis yields an accuracy of ˜80% in differentiating CD and ulcerative colitis, with a sensitivity of ˜84% and specificity of ˜70% (Table 6). These demonstrate that the sensitivity and specificity of these novel serological markers are comparable to those of combination of the multiple best-characterized IBD biomarkers (ASCA, pANCA, anti-OmpC, and anti-Cbir) (41, 42). More importantly, an identical performance can be achieved by using only the top 3 pairs of E. coli proteins for discriminating healthy controls vs CD, and one top pair of proteins for differentiating CD vs ulcerative colitis (
These data provide a critical feasibility for 1) validation study using additional larger cohorts of IBD patients and controls and 2) future development of novel assay kits for diagnosis of CD and ulcerative colitis. However, it is necessary to point out that our current approach screening E. coli protein array is not suitable for identifying serological biomarkers in differentiating ulcerative colitis from healthy control (only ˜66% accuracy) (Tables 5 and 6). Importantly, OmpC, an E. coli antigen for one of the widely studied current serological biomarker (anti-OmpC), was not picked up in our screen (
The results reported above were obtained using the following methods and materials.
Patients and Serum Acquisition
Serum was obtained from 134 subjects in accordance with the policy of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Institutional Review Board. Sixty six patients had the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD), 29 patients were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 39 subjects were non-IBD healthy controls (HC). The healthy controls and IBD patients were similar in age and sex distribution. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients are summarized in Table 1. Clinical information was abstracted from the written and electronic medical records. The diagnosis of CD and ulcerative colitis was established by standard clinical, radiographic, endoscopic and histological criteria. Patients were classified as having CD based on the typical findings of skip lesions, deep linear or serpiginous ulcerations, cobblestoning, multiple noncaseating granulomas, transmural inflammation, small bowel involvement, structuring disease or presence of fistulilizing disease. The diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was considered if the colonic inflammation involved the rectum with or without proximal extension. The inflammation had to be continuous and be limited to the mucosa. There were no patients with proctitis enrolled in this study. The healthy controls consisted of individual undergone colon cancer screening or other non-IBD GI diseases or any other immune diseases. The serum samples were obtained at the time of initial outpatient encounter, at the time of an endoscopy or during hospitalization. The blood was collected into a serum separator tube (Red top tube, BD Vacutainer) and spun down within 60 minutes of collection. Serum was removed, aliquoted, and stored in multiple at −80° C. until assayed.
Fabrication of E. coli Proteome Chips.
To facilitate the analysis of protein function in the bacterial proteomes, we have constructed a protein chip that essentially covers the entire proteome of the E. coli K 12 strain (Chen (2008) Nat. Methods 5, 69-74). Briefly, 4,256 E. coli proteins were first purified using an ORF collection kindly provided by Dr. Mori and colleagues (26). E. coli cells first were grown overnight at 37 C in 2×LB media containing 30 μg/ml chloramphenicol in a 96-well format and allowed to grow for overnight. The overnight cultures were diluted to a final OD600 of ˜0.1. After the cells were grown for ˜3 hrs at 37 C, and protein expression were induced with 1 mM isopropyl β-thiogalactoside (IPTG) for ˜3.5 hrs. The liquid cultures were then harvested by centrifuge of 3500 rpm for 5 min at 4° C. The pellets were stored at −80° C. for future protein purification.
To purify the fusion proteins, the frozen cell pellets were re-suspended in phosphate lysis buffer, containing 300 mM NaCl, 20 mM imidazole, CelLytic B, Lysozyme (1 mg/mL), Benzonase (50 units/ml), proteinase inhibitor cocktail, and PMSF (1 mM). Along with Ni-NTA beads, the mixtures were incubated for 1.5 h at 4° C. After mixing, the resin-protein complexes were washed 3 times with Wash buffer I (50 mM NaH2PO4 with 300 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 20 mM imidazole, 0.01% Triton X-100, at pH 8) and 3 times with Wash buffer II (50 mM NaH2PO4 with 150 mM NaCl, 25% glycerol, 20 mM imidazole, 0.01% Triton X-100, at pH 8). Finally, the fusion protein was eluted with elution buffer (50 mM NaH2PO4/150 mM NaC1/25% glycerol/250 mM imidazole/0.01% Triton X-100, pH 7.5). All purified proteins were printed in duplicate onto FullMoon slides using a ChipWriter Pro (Bio-Rad) in a humidity-controlled chamber in a cold room (25).
Screen of E. coli Proteome Chip for Anti-E. coli Antibodies.
The entire screening process, except for the washing steps as specified, was done at room temperature. E. coli protein chips stored at −80 C were thawed at room temperature (22 C) and blocked in Superblock Blocking Buffer (Pierce) for one hour. The patient's serum was diluted (1:1000) with blocking buffer in a total volume of 3 ml. The diluted serum was then applied to the chip entirely covering the surface. After 1 hour incubation with gentle shaking on a rocker, the chip was rinsed once with 4 ml of Tris-buffered saline (TBS) with 0.05% Tween 20 (TBS-T). The chip was then soaked in 4 ml TBS-T, placed in a water bath and washed for 10 min at 50 C with gentle horizontal agitation. This washing step was repeated twice. The chip was then cooled to room temperature. After removal of TBS-T, the chip was incubated for 1 h with the secondary antibody, a Cy3-labeled donkey anti-human IgA, G, and M (Jackson ImmunoLab) diluted at 1:400 in 3 mL Superblock Blocking Buffer. The chip was then washed at 50 C in the same fashion as previously stated. After the final wash, the chip was rinsed in sterile water briefly, and quickly spun at 2000 rpm until dry prior to scanning. The chips were scanned with a GenePix array scanner (GenePix Pro 6.0 or GenePix 4200AL, Molecular Devices, PA) at wavelength of 536 nm. To achieve the best signal-to-noise ratio, many washing conditions with different stringencies had been tested, including increase of salt (0.5 or 1 M NaCl), addition of SDS (0.05 or 0.1%), change of washing temperature (22, 37, 40, or 50 C), and/or various combination of conditions described above. The washing condition described here gave best results among all conditions tested.
Protein Array Data Preprocessing.
Each quantified sample array image was exported from Genepix (Molecular Devices, CA) as a text file for preprocessing. The goal of preprocessing is to yield a feature of interest from each protein spot in the array that minimizes technical variability and maximizes the signal of interest. The ratio of the mean signal over the mean background signal for each protein spot was determined to be the best method of preprocessing. This method has the advantage that all features are normalized to their background signals. Thus, if a protein spot signal is artificially high due to an artifact on the slide the ratio will account for it. Furthermore this preprocessing method also normalizes the features across all arrays, as the ratio is a standardized metric. The ratio represents the fold change of the signal above background and can be interpreted as the degree of host serum reactivity to each spotted protein.
Univariate Significance Testing.
Significance Analysis for Microarrays (SAM) (27) was used to determine proteins to which healthy control, CD, and ulcerative colitis groups of samples show a statistically significant immunogenic response. We used stringent criteria in the SAM analysis and only called a protein as significant with at least 1.5 fold change differences between two phenotypes at 0% False Discovery Rate in 500 permutations.
Supervised Learning Algorithms.
To construct the classifier in this study, we employed three supervised learning methods. The algorithms implemented were k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) (27), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and the k-Top Scoring Pairs Algorithm (k-TSP) (28). The k-TSP was implemented using a publicly available executable program developed at the Institute for Computational Medicine of Johns Hopkins University (Tan (2005) Bioinformatics. 21, 3896-3904). SVM and kNN were implemented using the R statistical programming language, packages: e1071 and class for SVM and kNN, respectively.
Feature Selection.
For kNN and SVM learning methods, SAM was applied to the training set for feature selection before the classifiers were trained on that data. The features selected in SAM were those that were found to be significant with a false discovery rate of zero. The k-TSP algorithm does not require feature reduction as it intrinsically selects the top scoring features. Parameters such as the number of nearest neighbors for kNN and the number of top scoring pairs for k-TSP were selected based on leave one out cross-validation performance on the training set. A script was written in Matlab to perform the cross-validation scheme and call executables for the learning algorithms.
Statistical Analyses.
We used the open source statistical software R to perform the statistical analyses in this study. P-value<0.05 was regarded as significant.
From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made to the invention described herein to adopt it to various usages and conditions. Such embodiments are also within the scope of the following claims.
The recitation of a listing of elements in any definition of a variable herein includes definitions of that variable as any single element or combination (or subcombination) of listed elements. The recitation of an embodiment herein includes that embodiment as any single embodiment or in combination with any other embodiments or portions thereof.
All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each independent patent and publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
This application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 U.S. national entry of International Application PCT/US2009/006647 (WO 2010/077323) having an International filing date of Dec. 17, 2009 which claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/138,309, filed Dec. 17, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Nov. 12, 2013, is named 85315(71699)_SL.txt and is 15,906 bytes in size.
This work was supported by the following grants from the National Institutes of Health, Grant No: NIH 1R21DK077064. The government has certain rights in the invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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| PCT/US2009/006647 | 12/17/2009 | WO | 00 | 6/17/2011 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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| WO2010/077323 | 7/8/2010 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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| 20100004213 | Abbas et al. | Jan 2010 | A1 |
| 20110111458 | Masuda et al. | May 2011 | A1 |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110251100 A1 | Oct 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61138309 | Dec 2008 | US |
