Abstract:
The invention is directed to separation of amylase from body fluid by contacting said body fluid with starch under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch, separating between the starch-amylase bound complexes and the free components, thereby removing the bound amylase, and collecting the non-bound components.

Description:
This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/IL2008/000587 filed 1 May 2008, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to U.S. Application Nos. 60/915,204, filed 1 May 2007 and 61/016,787, filed 26 Dec. 2007, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to removal and/or collection of amylase from body fluids, in particular from oral fluids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Lately there is an increased interest in finding disease bio-markers in human body fluids such as blood plasma, urine, CSF and also oral fluids. Oral fluids can be easily and non-invasively collected with low collection, storage and shipment costs, and thus allow vast epidemiologic screening. One main drawback in oral fluid protein identification is the very high relative amount of α-Amylase protein (comprising up to 60% of saliva proteins, the major component of oral fluids) which masks the presence of other protein components. 
     The α-amylases (EC 3.2.1.1, CAS#9014-71-5, alternate names: 1,4-α-D-glucan glucanohydrolase; glycogenase) are calcium metalloenzymes, completely unable to function in the absence of calcium. By acting at random locations along the starch chain, α-amylase breaks down long-chain carbohydrates, ultimately yielding maltotriose and maltoe from amylose, or maltose, glucose and “limit dextrin” from amylopectin. Because it can act anywhere on the substrate, α-amylase tends to be faster acting than β-amylase. In animals, it is a major digestive enzyme. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,181 to Torrens et al., is aimed at reducing the amount of amylase by using monoclonal antibodies against salivary amylase for the purpose of detecting remaining pancreatic amylase activity. However, this method is of low practical utility since antibodies are expensive and difficult to store in a stable manner for long periods of time; consequently, this method has not gained wide acceptance. 
     Therefore there is a need for cost effective means for removing amylase from body fluids, in particular, oral fluids. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an assay, kit, device and method, for efficiently removing amylase from body fluids. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide methods and devices for minimizing, or preventing, screening effects caused by α-amylases protein in the laboratory assay of oral fluids. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an assay, kit, device and method, for collecting amylase from oral fluids. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventors hereof developed a device that removes amylase from oral fluids, as well as from other body fluids, such as sweat, lacrimal fluid, gastro-intestinal fluid, pancreatic fluids, serum and urine, by means of a filtering device loaded with starch, which is the amylase substrate. By means of this technology, the fluid containing the amylase is passed through the filter containing amylase substrate, a vast amount of the amylase is bound to its substrate and the resulting filtrate has a correspondingly decreased amount of enzyme. 
     The advantages of the present invention, inter alia, are its low cost, higher durability, ease of use, higher sample volume, broader spectrum of amylase removal, and its ability to remove fluid debris (eliminating the need for pre-separation treatment such as centrifugation). 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for removing amylase from a body fluid, said method comprising:
         contacting said body fluid with starch under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch;   separating between the starch-amylase bound complexes and the free components thereby, removing the bound amylase; and   collecting the non-bound components.       

     The term “removing” may refer to complete removal, as well as to partial reduction in the amylase concentration/activity as compared with untreated body fluid. 
     The term “amylase”, refers to alpha, beta and gamma amylase; preferably this term refers to α-amylase. 
     The term “body fluid” may refer to oral fluids such as saliva as well as sweat, lacrimal fluid, gastro-intestinal fluid, pancreatic fluid, serum and urine. 
     The term “starch” is used herein in general to include any substrate of the amylase whether isolated from a natural source or synthetically produced. Chemically, natural starch consists of two types of molecules, amylose (normally 20-30%) and amylopectin (normally 70-80%). Both consist of polymers of α-D-glucose units in the 4C1 conformation. In amylose these units are linked -(1 4)-, with the ring oxygen atoms all on the same side, whereas in amylopectin about one residue in every twenty or so is also linked -(1 6)- forming branch-points. The relative proportions of amylose to amylopectin and -(1 6)- branch-points both depend on the source of the starch, e.g. amylomaizes contain over 50% amylose whereas ‘waxy’ maize has almost none (˜3%). 
     In one option in accordance with the present invention, also referred to herein as the “immobilized starch embodiment” the starch is immobilized on a substrate. This may be achieved by any manner such as loading the starch on a filter paper, onto resins in a column, binding chemically the starch onto another substrate etc. Then the body fluid is allowed to come into contact with the immobilized starch under suitable conditions, for example by filtering the fluid through the starch loaded paper, by passing it through the starch loaded column, or by contacting it with the starch bound substrate. 
     In accordance with this aspect the present invention concerns a method for removing amylase from a body fluid, the method comprising:
         contacting the body fluid with an immobilized starch under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch, thereby immobilizing the amylase on the substrate; and   collecting the non-bound components.       

     In another embodiment, also referred to herein as the “free starch embodiment”, which is preferred according to the invention, the starch is “free” (i.e. present in the assay medium in a free state, unbound to any substrate) and the amylase-starch bound complex is separated from the remaining fluid by size separation such as through a filter with a predefined size cutoff. 
     In accordance with this aspect the present invention provides a method for removing amylase from a body fluid, the method comprising:
         contacting the body fluid with starch present in a liquid medium under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch;   separating between the starch-amylase complexes and the free components by filtration thereby removing the bound amylase; and   collecting the non-bound components.       

     In both cases the contacting of the body liquid with the starch should be done under conditions enabling binding including pH (e.g., of about pH=7), temperature (e.g., about 15-35 c), and rate of passage (e.g., about 0.5-2 ml/min). 
     Then the fluid/filtrate which is not bound to the starch (both in the “immobilized starch embodiment” and in the “free starch embodiment”) is collected thereby obtaining a fluid with reduced amylase concentrations, which can be used for subsequent purposes, such as for testing of additional agents, bio-markers, or hormones presence in the fluid. 
     The present invention also provides a device and cassette that may be used to implement the “immobilized starch embodiment”. 
     In accordance with this aspect of the present invention for removing amylase from a body fluid, the device comprises a receptacle for holding the body fluid, being in fluid communication with a substrate having starch immobilized thereon. 
     In one embodiment, the fluid is passed from the receptacle through the substrate with the immobilized starch, and is collected in a collecting element, due to the force of gravity, or other natural forces such as capillary forces. 
     In another embodiment, the device has an integral flow-facilitation means, such as a syringe attached to the fluid holding receptacle, or a vacuum source attached to the collecting element. 
     By yet another option the device is capable of connecting to flow facilitation means, such as having a suitable connector to a positive pressure element (such as syringe), attached to the body fluid receptacle, or capable of being attached to a vacuum source in the fluid collecting element. 
     The fluid collecting element may be an integral part of the device, or may be a separate element. 
     The substrate may be as defined above: filter (such as filter paper) loaded with starch, resin of a column loaded with starch, solid substrate having thereon immobilized starch etc. 
     The present invention also concerns a substrate with immobilized starch adapted for insertion into the above device such as a cassette of filter paper loaded with starch, a column comprising loaded starch, solid substrate with immobilized starch etc. 
     In accordance with the “free substrate embodiment” the present invention also provides a device for removing amylase from a body fluid, the device comprising: a receptacle for holding the body fluid and also for holding the starch, the receptacle being in fluid communication with a filter for separation of amylase-starch bound complexes from the body fluid. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the fluid is passed from the receptacle through the filter to a collecting element by means of gravity, or capillary, forces. 
     In another embodiment, the device has an integral flow-facilitation means, such as a syringe attached to the fluid holding receptacle, or a vacuum source attached to the collecting element. 
     In yet another embodiment, the device is capable of being connected to flow facilitation means, such as having a suitable connector to a positive pressure element (such as syringe) attached to the body fluid receptacle, or capable of being attached to a vacuum in the fluid collecting element. 
     The fluid collecting element may be an integral part of the device, or may be a separate element. 
     As the filter is intended to separate the amylase-starch complex from the remaining components, said filter should have a cut-off size of 0.45 to 50 micrometer. 
     Examples of suitable filters are Whatman FP 30/0.45 and Whatman GF/C. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the amylase removing device is composed of a plastic syringe (e.g., 1 ml for 0.5 ml oral fluids, 10 ml for 4 ml oral fluids) ending in an 0.45-50 μm filter (e.g., made of Whatman FP 30/0.45 or Whatman GF/C). The syringe is filled with an appropriate amount of amylase substrate (e.g., potato starch, Sigma S2630, 600 mg for 1 ml syringe, 2.3 gr. for 10 ml syringe). Water is first passed through the device using manual pressure in order to moisture the substrate. Then, the oral fluid sample is hand pressure filtered through the syringe. The filtrate thereby obtained is Substantially amylase free. 
     By another aspect the present invention concern a method for obtaining amylase from saliva or any body fluid. 
     The method is essentially as described above but in this case the material that is collected is the bound fraction containing the amylase. 
     In accordance with this aspect the present invention provides a method for obtaining amylase from a body fluid, the method comprising:
         contacting the body fluid with a substrate under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch;   separating between the starch-amylase bound complexes and the free component to obtain said complexes; and   separating the amylase from the starch.       

     The method may be used with immobilized starch and in such a case the invention concerns a method for obtaining amylase from a body fluid, the method comprising:
         contacting the body fluid with an immobilized starch under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch, thereby immobilizing the amylase on the substrate;   removing unbound components; and   separating the amylase from the substrate.       

     The method may be further used with “free starch” and in such a case the invention concerns a method for obtaining amylase from a body fluid, the method comprising:
         contacting the body fluid with starch present in a fluid under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch;   separating between the starch-amylase bound complexes and the free components by filtration thereby removing the non-bound components;   separating between the starch and the amylase.       

     The devices of the present invention disclosed hereinabove and described in more detail hereinbelow may also be used for obtaining the amylase, for example by obtaining the amylase-starch complex and separating the amylase from the starch. 
     Separation of the amylase from the starch can be achieved for example by soaking/passing the amylase-starch complex with/in acidulated water or by contact with SDS-Mercaptoethanol solution. 
     According to yet another aspect the invention is directed to an amylase-binding filter adapted for insertion into a device of the present invention, comprising a porous media (e.g., having pore of about 45-50μ) having at least one layer of starch applied over one of its sides, wherein said at least one layer of starch is capable of being used as a binder for removing amylase from a fluid passed therethrough. Optionally, the amylase filter may further comprise an additional porous media, such that the at least one layer of starch is sandwiched between the porous medias of said filter. 
     According to a further aspect the invention is directed to an amylase filter device comprising a hollow element having first and second openings connected by a passage and amylase collecting means comprising starch, said amylase collecting means is disposed inside said passage such that it occupies a cross-section of said passage, such that fluids passed through said hollow element are forced to pass through said amylase collecting means. The amylase collecting means may be implemented by any one of the amylase filters of the invention. The amylase filter device may further comprise a pressure source capable of being sealably connected to the hollow element for forcing fluids introduced thereinside to pass through the amylase collecting means. 
     Optionally, the hollow element is a column and the amylase collecting means is a resin packed therein, said resin comprising immobilized starch. 
     Preferably, the hollow element is a syringe barrel, and wherein a syringe plunger is utilized for passing fluids introduced into said syringe barrel through the amylase collecting means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which similar references consistently indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  schematically illustrate possible filter implementations loaded with starch; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an implementation of a resin column separation device; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  schematically illustrate examples of filtration devices employing filter implementations of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows amylase activity before and after separation obtained with a syringe based embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  respectively show proteomic analysis results of oral fluids protein extract before and after amylase removal (amylase area encycled); and 
         FIG. 6  shows SDS-PAGE separation of whole saliva, saliva depleted of amylase and captured amylase. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be now described with reference to the accompanying figures. The amylase removal/extraction implementations illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  exemplify preferred embodiments which may be varied and modified according to specific requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  schematically illustrate possible implementations wherein a porous media comprising starch is employed for filtering amylase from a body fluid. In the amylase filter  10   a  illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the layer of starch  12  loaded on a porous media  11  is used as a binder for removing amylase from an amylase containing fluid passed therethrough. Porous media  11  may be manufactured from a type of filter paper, for example, such as, but not limited to, Whatman FP 30/0.45 or Whatman GF/C. The layer of starch  12  may be prepared from a type of partially hydrophilic starch, and it may be applied over at least one side of porous media  11 , and it is preferably applied such that the surface area of at least one side of porous media  11  is more or less uniformly covered by it. 
     Another implementation of an amylase filter  10   b  is illustrated in  FIG. 1B , wherein a layer of starch  12  is sandwiched between two porous media sheets,  11   a  and  11   b . Porous media sheets  11   a  and  11   b  may be manufactured from similar materials as indicated above for amylase filter  10   a  shown in  FIG. 1A . 
     Amylase filters  10   a  and  10   b  may be provided in form of separate filter sheets, or as a continuous rolled strip provided in a form of a cassette. 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an implementation of a separation device  20  constructed in the form of a resin column. Separation device  20  is comprised of a vertical column comprising column inlet  21   a  and an outlet  21   b  having a passage in between, a cross-sectional portion of which is partially filled with a starch binder  22 . In use, an amylase comprising fluid (not shown) is introduced into device  20  via its inlet  21   a , and it is forced to pass through the starch binder  22  towards outlet  21   b , by force of gravitation, or by pressure/vacuum applying means (not shown). The fluid obtained at the outlet  21   b , from which significant amylase portions were removed by the starch binder  22 , may be collected into a receptacle (not shown). 
     Column  21  is preferably made from a type of plastic material, but other suitable materials may be equally used. The diameter of column  21  may generally be in the range of 3 to 10 mm, preferably about 5 mm, and its length is preferably about 4-10 cm. The thickness of the starch binder  22  inside column  21  may be about 0.5 to 3 cm, and it is preferably placed towards outlet  21   b  of column  21 . The lower section of column  20  may taper downwardly in order to funnel the fluids passing therethrough to outlet  21   b.    
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  schematically illustrate filtration devices in which amylase filters  10 , such as  10   a  or  10   b  respectively shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , of the invention are employed. The device shown in  FIG. 3A  comprises a funnel  32  a cross-sectional part of which is occupied by an amylase filter  10 , such that amylase containing fluid  33  introduced thereinto via funnel inlet  32   a  is forced to pass through amylase filter  10  towards the funnel outlet  32   b . The fluids obtained at funnel outlet  32   b  are collected by receptacle  34 , as indicated by numeral  35 . Funnel  32  may be manufactured from any suitable material, as used in the funnel manufacturing industry, and its geometrical dimensions may be similar to those of standard laboratory funnels. 
       FIG. 3B  shows an amylase filtration implementation  30  constructed in the form of a syringe comprising a syringe barrel  30   r  having an amylase filter  39  occupying a cross-sectional section thereof. Amylase filter may be implemented by amylase filter  10   a  or  10   b  described hereinabove, or alternatively, it may be implemented by a porous medium disposed inside barrel  30   r  and having a layer of starch disposed thereon. In use, a fluid comprising amylase  33  is introduced into syringe barrel  30   r  via opening  30   a , and the syringe plunger  36   a  is thereafter also inserted thereinto and advanced thereinside by means of plunger shaft  36   b , such that the amylase comprising fluid  33  is forced to pass through amylase filter  39 . The fluid passed through amylase filter  39  is obtained through the funneled outlet  30   b  of syringe barrel  30   r . It is noted that other pressure applying means may be used to force amylase comprising fluid to pass through amylase filter  39 B, such as, for example, a pressure source (not shown) connected to opening  30   a . Alternatively, vacuum may be applied via funneled outlet  30   b  of syringe barrel  30   r  (e.g., by fluid collecting receptacle sealably attached thereto). 
     Syringe implementation  30  shown in  FIG. 3B  may be manufactured from standard materials, and in standard sizes, as used in the syringe manufacture industry. However, the length of plunger shaft  36   b  is preferably adjusted in order to prevent excess advancement of plunger  36   a  pass the portion of the barrel comprising the amylase filter  39 . The diameter of syringe  30  may generally be in the range of 3 to 10 mm, preferably about 5 mm. Amylase filter may be implemented by a layer of porous material (e.g., having pores of about 45-50μ) circumferentially attached thereinside and having a layer (e.g., about 0.5-3 cm) of starch, preferably a type of partially hydrophilic starch, disposed thereon. 
     Example 1 
     Oral fluids were collected and filtered through a preferred device of the invention being a syringe filed with starch and ended with filter paper. Then the filtrated fluid was measured for amylase activity and subjected to proteomic analysis for protein spot identification. The results shown in  FIG. 4  show that amylase activity was reduced almost to below the level of detection.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  show proteomic analysis in which selective removal of protein spots corresponding to amylase protein is demonstrated. These results demonstrate that amylase protein can be removed from oral fluids. 
     Example 2 
     Obtaining Amylase from Saliva 
     The amylase removing device described above was also used to capture and obtain amylase from saliva (or any other body fluid). After filtrating the saliva as described above (resulting in the formation of amylase-starch complexes) amylase is extracted from the potato starch matrix by means of soaking the matrix in water for 30 min (25% recover and active), or by the addition of SDS-Mercaptoethanol solution or by passing acidulated water for 2 minutes (&gt;90% recovery). Alpha amylase identity was verified by MS, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     It should be noted that the embodiments exemplified in the Figures are not intended to be to scale and are in diagram form to facilitate ease of understanding and description. All of the abovementioned parameters are given by way of example only, and may be changed in accordance with the differing requirements of the various embodiments of the present invention. Thus, the abovementioned parameters should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. 
     The above examples and description have of course been provided only for the purpose of illustration; and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the invention can be carried out in a great variety of ways, employing more than one technique from those described above, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.