Method for Precise Identification, Targeting and Delivery of Directed Therapies to Domesticated Animals Using Bacteria to Bind and Destroy Cancerous Cells
This invention teaches systems and methods for identifying, targeting and destroying cancer cells domesticated organism such as a pet or zoo animal. As cells progress from a normal to a cancerous state their accelerated metabolic rates and adapted pathways generate a higher heat signature that serves as a targeting beacon for a specialized cell killing vector. Suitable vectors include modified or adapted viruses, modified or adapted intracellular bacteria and/or engineered liposomes. Especially preferred is the bacterial vector because of its ease of production. The bacterial vector is selectively targeted to recognize cells whose temperature is slightly elevated and ambient pH suppressed due to cancer related alterations to metabolism. An additional targeting feature, such as recognition of the MCT4 transmembrane protein exaggeratively expressed on the cancer cell outer membrane, may provide additional targeting specificity. Embodiments featuring facultative extracellular and intracellular growth capable bacteria have the preferred feature that culture conditions for producing the vector can be optimized solely for the one organism and need not be compromised to support or optimize host cell maintenance.
