PROGRESS: Completed Project	PROJECT REF: CUHK/04/MED/168
PROJECT TITLE: Epididymis-specific Defensins-based Methods for Evaluating and Affecting Male Fertility
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The invention relates to male infertility, and in particular to assays for predicting fertility in humans. In some embodiments, semen samples are evaluated by measuring the amount of defensins of epididymal origin, and in particular by measuring the extent of binding of defensins to spermatozoa. The amount of defensins or their binding to spermatozoa may be assayed by several methods, including immunocytochemical measurement, ELISA, and flowcytometry. The invention further relates to the methods of neutralization or downregulation of defensins for male contraception and the methods to enhance defensins production or to directly apply defensins polypeptides to spermatozoa for treatment of infertility.
FOCUS AREA(S): Medical Diagnostics and Devices
KEYWORDS: antimicrobial AND peptide AND sperm; infertility AND epididymis; infertility AND defensin
MODE OF COLLABORATION: licence
STATUS PATENT: Patent Pending	PATENT NO: NA
ORGANIZATION: CUHK
CONTACT PERSON: Mr Billy Lam	EMAIL: billylam@cuhk.edu.hk
TEL: (852) 2609 8882	FAX: (852) 2603 5451
WEBSITE: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/rtao/patent/	DATE: