IN VITRO TESTING OF COMPANY'S PROPRIETARY COMPOUND (SMECTA) IN C. DIFFICILE ASSAYS

• Sponsoring Institution: Cooperating Schools of Veterinary Medicine
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0225414
• Project Start Date: Jun 17, 2010
• Project End Date: Jul 31, 2012
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
200 WESTBORO ROAD
N. GRAFTON,MA 01536

Performing Department
Infectious Disease and Global Health

Non Technical Summary
Clostridium difficile is a pathogen causing pseudomembranous colitis, which accounts for a quarter of all cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has increased significantly in both North America and Europe, causing lengthy hospitalization, substantial morbidity and mortality.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
722	4010	1150	100%

Knowledge Area
722 - Zoonotic Diseases and Parasites Affecting Humans;

Subject Of Investigation
4010 - Bacteria;

Field Of Science
1150 - Toxicology;

Keywords

clostridium difficile

c. difficile

tcda

tcdb

in vitro testing

diosmectite

smecta

metronidazole

vancomycin

Goals / Objectives
The purpose of this study is to conduct in vitro testing of the drug Diosmectite in C. difficile assays. The specific aims are to: 1) Determine the toxin-binding activities. 2) Determine the binding affinity. 3) Determine the neutralizing / blocking effects. 4) Determine the effects on antibiotics.

Project Methods
Ad 1): use culture supernatants from laboratory and epidemic strains. ELISA to measure toxins. Neutralizing assay to measure biological activities (turnaround time 8-11 days). Ad 2): use purified TcdA and TcdB (turnaround time 3-5 days). Ad 3): on polarized monolayers using transwell system (turnaround time 21-25 days). Ad 4: metronidazole and vancomycin (turnaround time 8-11 days).