Method for removal of viruses from blood by lectin affinity hemodialysis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for using lectins that bind to pathogens having high mannose surface glycoproteins or fragments thereof which contain high mannose glycoproteins, to remove them from infected blood or plasma in an extracorporeal setting. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for reducing viral load in an individual comprising the steps of obtaining blood or plasma from the individual, passing the blood or plasma through a porous hollow fiber membrane wherein lectin molecules are immobilized within the porous exterior portion of the membrane, collecting pass-through blood or plasma and reinfusing the pass-through blood or plasma into the individual.

1 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method of depleting high mannose glycoproteins from a sample, comprising:
 a) obtaining a sample comprising high mannose glycoproteins;   b) passing the sample through a porous hollow fiber membrane, wherein a lectin is immobilized within a porous exterior portion of the porous hollow fiber membrane, and wherein the lectin binds to high mannose glycoproteins; and   c) collecting the sample after (b).   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the sample is blood or plasma. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the blood or plasma is obtained from an individual, and further comprising reinfusing the pass-through blood or plasma into the individual. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the lectin is selected from the group consisting of  Galanthus nivalis  agglutinin (GNA),  Narcissus pseudonarcissus  agglutinin (NPA), cyanovirin, and Conconavalin A and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the lectin is GNA. 
     
     
         74 . A method of isolating high mannose glycoproteins from a sample, comprising:
 passing a sample comprising high mannose glycoproteins through a porous hollow fiber membrane, which comprises a lectin immobilized within a porous exterior portion of the porous hollow fiber membrane, wherein the lectin binds to the high mannose glycoproteins thereby isolating high mannose glycoproteins within the porous hollow fiber membrane.   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the sample is blood or plasma. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the lectin is selected from the group consisting of  Galanthus nivalis  agglutinin (GNA),  Narcissus pseudonarcissus  agglutinin (NPA), cyanovirin, and Conconavalin A and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the lectin is GNA. 
     
     
         78 . A method of quantifying an amount of high mannose glycoproteins in a sample, comprising:
 a) passing a sample, which comprises an amount of high mannose glycoproteins, through a porous hollow fiber membrane, which comprises a lectin immobilized within a porous exterior portion of the porous hollow fiber membrane, wherein the lectin binds to the high mannose glycoproteins in the sample; and   b) quantifying an amount of high mannose glycoproteins in the sample after (a).   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the sample is blood or plasma. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the lectin is selected from the group consisting of  Galanthus nivalis  agglutinin (GNA),  Narcissus pseudonarcissus  agglutinin (NPA), cyanovirin, and Conconavalin A and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the lectin is GNA.