Amylase in Localised Infection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the presence, activity and concentration of amylase enzyme around infected wounds
IRAS ID
141279
Contact name
Iain Whitaker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Abertawe Bro Morgannwyg University Local Health Board
Research summary
Infection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Increasing incidence of multiple drug resistant organisms, have necessitated the use of older and more toxic antibiotics. We proposed a new theoretical paradigm that macro-molecules, such as amylase, significantly accumulate around infection. We recently provided proof of principle small series of infected skin wounds (n=6). Clinical proof of concept is currently limited to burn injury which may not behave in the same fashion to other pathological processes. Investigating the partitioning of amylase in patients with a variety of infections would help to establish this paradigm.
Novel classes of medicines which are activated by amylase have been described in the literature. The carbohydrate would shield the body from any potential side effects during circulation in the body. At the site of infection, amylase would degrade the carbohydrate to release the active payload.
However, proof that the sequestration of amylase (the target enzyme) occurs commonly, around the area of interest, is surprisingly lacking. Without these experiments, translation of such technology into actual clinical practice is bound to remain limited.
Therefore, establishing that the selective partitioning of amylase is widespread in infection will enable the potential benefits of this technology to be validated. Benefits will include establishing amylase as a new, biochemical marker of localised infection, and is application to in controlled release and activation of medicines. This project aims to be the first step in this direction.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1082
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion