Use of gelsolin to treat infections

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of gelsolin to treat infections and to monitor the treatment of infections. The invention also provides methods up-regulating interleukin expression and methods for down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

1 . A method for treating a subject to reduce the risk of a gram-positive bacterium infection comprising:
 selecting a subject on the basis that the subject is known to have a below-normal level of gelsolin and   administering gelsolin to the subject in an amount effective to reduce the risk of the subject developing the gram-positive bacterium infection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is apparently healthy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gram-positive bacterium is a  Pasteurella  species,  Staphylococcus  species,  Streptococcus  species,  Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium  species,  Diphtheroids  species,  Listeria  species,  Erysipelothrix  species or  Clostridium  species. 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a subject to reduce the risk of a gram-negative bacterium infection comprising:
 selecting a subject on the basis that the subject is known to have a below-normal level of gelsolin and   administering gelsolin to the subject in an amount effective to reduce the risk of the subject developing the gram-negative bacterium infection.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is apparently healthy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gram-negative bacterium is a  Neisseria  species,  Branhamella  species,  Escherichia  species,  Enterobacter  species,  Proteus  species,  Pseudomonas  species,  Klebsiella  species,  Salmonella  species,  Shigella  species,  Serratia  species,  Acinetobacter  species,  Haemophilus  species,  Brucella  species,  Yersinia  species,  Francisella  species,  Pasturella  species,  Vibrio cholera  species,  Flavobacterium  species,  Pseudomonas  species,  Campylobacter  species,  Bacteroides  species,  Fusobacterium  species,  Calymmatobacterium  species,  Streptobacillus  species, or  Legionella  species. 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating a subject to reduce the risk of a virus, fungus, or parasite infection comprising:
 selecting a subject on the basis that the subject is known to have a below-normal level of gelsolin and   administering gelsolin to the subject in an amount effective to reduce the risk of the subject developing the infection.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject is apparently healthy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the virus infection is a Retro virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Cytomegalovirus, Picorna virus, Polio virus, hepatitis A virus, enterovirus, Coxsackie virus, rhinovirus, echovirus, Calcivirus, Toga virus, equine encephalitis virus, rubella virus, Flavivirus, dengue virus, encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus, coronavirus, Rhabdovirus, vesicular stomatitis virus, rabies virus, Filovirus, ebola virus, Paramyxo virus, parainfluenza virus, mumps virus, measles virus, respiratory syncytial virus, Orthomyxovirus, influenza virus, Hantaan virus, bunga virus, phlebovirus, Nairo virus, Arena virus, hemorrhagic fever virus, reovirus, orbivirus, rotavirus, Birnavirus, Hepadnavirus, Hepatitis B virus, parvovirus, Papovaviruses, papilloma virus, polyoma virus, Adenovirus, Herpes virus, varicella zoster virus, Pox viruses, variola virus, vaccinia virus, Iridovirus, African swine fever virus, delta hepatitis virus, non-A, non-B hepatitis virus, Hepatitis C, Norwalk virus, astrovirus, or an unclassified virus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fungus infection is a  Cryptococcus  species,  Histoplasma  species,  Coccidioides  species,  Paracoccidioides  species,  Blastomyces  species,  Chlamydia  species,  Candida  species,  Sporothrix  species,  Aspergillus  species or fungus of  mucormycosis.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the parasite infection is a  Plasmodium  species,  Toxoplasma  species,  Babesia  species,  Leishmania  species or  Trypanosoma  species. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating a subject to reduce the risk of a secondary infection comprising:
 selecting a subject on the basis that the subject is known to have a below-normal level of gelsolin and   administering gelsolin to the subject in an amount effective to reduce the risk of the subject developing the secondary infection.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN). 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the subject is known to have a primary infection. 
     
     
         22 . A method for treating a subject to reduce the risk of a more severe infection comprising:
 selecting a subject on the basis that the subject is known to have a below-normal level of gelsolin and   administering gelsolin to the subject in an amount effective to reduce the risk of the subject developing the more severe infection.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the subject is otherwise free of indications calling for treatment with gelsolin. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the gelsolin is plasma gelsolin (pGSN). 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the subject has an infection.