Another interesting patent in which this infant formula company uses a human
milk component, human .beta.-casein, to inactivate RSV dated in 1994 (although
a portion of the term of this patent subsequent to 2014 is disclaimed).  It
is called the "Inhibition of infection of mammalian cells by respiratory
snyncytial virus" with the inventors being Mukerji et al. and Abbott is the
assignee.  This patent is for use in infant formula or for use in an enteral nutrition
product for the prevention and treatment of RSV.  Or as a throat spray or
nasal drop or spray.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html
patent # 5538952

"The present invention relates generally to inhibiting the infection of
mammalian cells by Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and more specifically to the use of
native or recombinant human .beta.-casein and hydrolysates thereof for
inhibiting the infection of mammalian cells by Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the single most frequent cause of acute
respiratory tract infection in infants and children. Infants less than six
months of age are most frequently and seriously affected. In most immunologically
normal subjects, infection with RSV is limited to the respiratory mucosa, and
is associated with the development of bronchiolitis, pneumonia and reactive
airway disease. RSV infection in immunocompromised subjects has until recently
been associated with increased mortality in infants and increased morbidity in
other age groups. It has recently been reported in PEDIATRIC NOTES, Vol. 18,
No. 4, Jan. 27, 1994, that periods of high incidence of acute respiratory
disease and numbers of deaths in elderly people were followed within 2-3 weeks by
reports of high numbers of RSV or influenza virus isolates. The analyses
indicate that RSV is as important as influenza viruses in causing morbidity and
deaths among the elderly.

It has been reported that some respiratory disease may be prevented by breast
feeding, and that "bronchiolitis of infants due to respiratory syncytial
virus is less frequent in breast fed than in artificially fed infants". While
human breast milk can contain antibodies to RSV, it has been found that milk also
has antiviral activity that is not due to antibodies. It has been theorized
that this effect "may be produced by certain polysaccharides which are found on
a number of different molecular constituents of milk." Tyrrell, "BREAST
FEEDING AND VIRUS INFECTIONS", THE IMMUNOLOGY OF INFANT FEEDING, edited by A. W.
Wilkinson, Plenum Press, New York, N.Y. pages 55-62 (1981).

Okamato, et al., "Antiviral Factors in Human Milk: Implications in
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection", ACTA PAEDIATRICA SCANDANAVICA SUPPLEMENT,
351:137-143 (1989) disclose that while the mechanisms of protective immunity to RSV
had not been clearly defined, immunity acquired transplacentally or via breast
feeding has been suggested to reduce the risk of lower respiratory tract
disease. However, this publication focuses upon the role of antibodies transmitted
in breast milk or the possible role of breast milk in modulating an infant's
RSV immune response.

Laegreid et al., "Neutralizing Activity in Human Milk-Fractions against
Respiratory Syncytial Virus", ACTA PAEDIATRICA SCANDANAVICA, 75:696-701 (1986)
reports a study which confirms that human milk may contain RSV-neutralizing
activity of a non-immunoglobulin nature as well as RSV-specific antibody. However,
the identity and mechanism of the non-immunoglobulin anti-RSV component of
human milk is not identified. It is important though to note that Laegreid et al.
disclose that RSV-neutralizing components from breast milk may reach an
infant's respiratory tract directly as a result of regurgitation and inhalation of
milk during and after feeding. The mucosa of the respiratory tract may gain
direct protection in this way.

WO 91/06308 filed by Andersson et al. for "ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOSITION", and a
published article by the same authors (Aniansson et al., "Anti-adhesive
activity of human casein against Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus
influenzae", MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS, 8:315-323 (1990) disclose the use of a milk fraction
having a molecular weight of at least 5,000 daltons for "therapeutic
prophylactic, and/or diagnostic use in infections caused by S. pneumonae and/or H.
influenzae", but it is suggested in these publications that the beneficial effect
is provided by kappa-casein. However, the present invention relates to the
use of native or recombinant human .beta.-casein and hydrolysates of both to
inhibit RSV infections."




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