Natural polypeptides for oral health care
View Patent ↗The present invention relates generally to dental diseases, caries and periodontal disease. More specifically, the invention relates to Lactoferrin and Statherin fusion proteins (STAT-LF) along with therapeutic, diagnostic and research uses for these polypeptides. The present invention also provides methods of treating dental diseases, caries and periodontal disease.
1. A fusion protein that inhibits bacterial growth in the oral cavity, said fusion protein comprising a lysine form of a Lactoferrin polypeptide and a Statherin polypeptide, wherein said fusion protein is encoded by a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 10; SEQ ID NO. 11; or SEQ ID NO. 13, or a nucleic acid having at least 95% identity thereto that encodes a fusion protein having the activity of inhibiting bacterial growth in the oral cavity.
2. A composition comprising a fusion protein that inhibits bacterial growth in the oral cavity, said fusion protein comprising:
i. a lysine form of a Lactoferrin polypeptide; and
ii. a Statherin polypeptide, wherein said fusion protein is encoded by a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:13 or a nucleic acid having at least 95% identity thereto that encodes a fusion protein having the activity of inhibiting bacterial growth in the oral cavity.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the fusion protein is substantially purified.
4. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, a surfactant or surfactant-like molecule, an antibacterial agent, an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent or combinations thereof.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate.
6. A method for inhibiting bacteria in the oral cavity comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a fusion protein that inhibits bacterial growth in said oral cavity, said fusion protein comprising:
i. a lysine form of a Lactoferrin polypeptide; and
ii. a Statherin polypeptide, wherein said fusion protein is encoded by a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:13 or a nucleic acid having at least 95% identity thereto that encodes a fusion protein having the activity of inhibiting bacterial growth in the oral cavity to a patient in need thereof.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fusion protein is substantially purified.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, a surfactant or surfactant-like molecule, an antibacterial agent, an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent or combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising administering an effective amount of the surfactant or surfactant-like molecule to allow the composition to penetrate biofilm.
10. A method for the treatment or prevention of an oral health condition comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a fusion protein that inhibits bacterial growth in said oral cavity, said fusion protein comprising:
i. a lysine form of a Lactoferrin polypeptide; and
ii. a Statherin polypeptide, wherein said fusion protein is encoded by a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:13 or a nucleic acid having at least 95% identity thereto that encodes a fusion protein having the activity of inhibiting bacterial growth in the oral cavity to a patient in need thereof.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the oral health condition is selected from dental caries, periodontal disease, dental plaque and inflammation of the oral cavity.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fusion protein is substantially purified.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, a surfactant or surfactant-like molecule, an antibacterial agent, an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent or combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising administering an effective amount of a surfactant or surfactant-like molecule to allow the composition to penetrate biofilm.