US 11,774,441 B2
Method for determining the fertility of spermatozoa comprising detection of vimentin variant 3
Melanie von Brandenstein, Lindlar (DE); and Ali Tok, Hürth (DE)
Assigned to Universität zu Köln, Cologne (DE)
Appl. No. 16/603,118
Filed by Universität zu Köln, Cologne (DE)
PCT Filed Apr. 6, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/058923
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 4, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/185322, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 11, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 17165191 (EP), filed on Apr. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0110076 A1, Apr. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 33/50 (2006.01); C07K 16/18 (2006.01); G01N 33/563 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/5091 (2013.01) [C07K 16/18 (2013.01); G01N 33/563 (2013.01); G01N 2800/367 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
 
1. A method of treating a human or non-human male-female reproductive pair in which the male has low fertility comprising:
subjecting a female human or non-human animal in said human or non-human male-female reproductive pair to artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization; and/or
subjecting a male human or non-human animal in said human or non-human male-female reproductive pair to an effective treatment to increase fertility,
wherein the male was determined to have low fertility comprising a method of detecting total content of Vimentin variant 3 (Vim3) per spermatozoon or spatial localization of Vim3 within spermatozoa in a sperm sample S obtained from the male, wherein one or more of the following conditions are met:
total content of Vim3 per spermatozoon was decreased compared to a fertile control;
total content of Vim3 per spermatozoon was not higher than that of an infertile control;
Vim3 accumulation in the mid pieces of the spermatozoa was decreased compared to a fertile control; or
Vim3 accumulation in the mid piece of the spermatozoa was not higher than an infertile control.