Center For Technology Commercialization

Indolamine 2,3-Deoxygenase (IDO) as a Therapeutic Target in Leishmaniasis and Tuberculosis

(CHMC Ref. Id: 2007-1006)

Overview:

Leishmania major is a protozoan pathogen responsible for the disease leishmaniasis. It is spread through sandflies and it currently affects 12 million people in 88 countries, including an ongoing epidemic in India, Sudan and Brazil, with the brunt of the burden of morbidity and mortality falling largely on children. Pentavalent antimonial compounds are the traditional treatments for leishmaniasis, but the current therapy requires prolonged use of the compounds and resistance to the antimonials is prevalent in some parts of the world.

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's have discovered that inhibition of indolamine 2,3-deoxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that catabolizes tryptophan and plays an important counter-regulatory in the immune system, with a compound such as 1-methyl tryptophan (1-MT), throughout the course of infection leads to significantly better control of parasite burden and ameliorated disease.

Applications:

• Treatment for leishmaniasis
• Treatment for other acute and chronic infections, such as tuberculosis

Advantages:

• The use of adjunctive IDO inhibition may allow for shorter, more successful courses of antibiotic treatment
• IDO inhibition may also lead to an inability to control other acute and chronic infections, such as tuberculosis

Patent Information:

• Patent Applications Pending

Cincinnati Children's Lead Inventor:

Christopher Karp, M.D.