Peptides and methods using same for diagnosing and treating amyloid-associated diseases

Abstract

A peptide comprising at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, the peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 as well as pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods for diagnosing and treating amyloid associated diseases.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A peptide comprising at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, the peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.  
     
     
         2 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, 12 and 13.  
     
     
         3 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13.  
     
     
         4 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12.  
     
     
         5 . The peptide of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two serine residues at a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         7 . A peptide comprising at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, the peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein the peptide is capable of forming self-aggregates under physiological conditions.  
     
     
         8 . The peptide of  claim 7 , further comprising at least two serine residues at a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The peptide of  claim 7 , wherein the peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         10 . A peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 8, 9, 10 and 11.  
     
     
         11 . The peptide of  claim 10 , wherein the peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The peptide of  claim 10 , wherein the peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         13 . A peptide having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13.  
     
     
         14 . The peptide of  claim 13 , further comprising at least two serine residues at a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The peptide of  claim 13 , wherein the peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         16 . A method of treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease in an individual, the method comprising providing to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, said peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO 7.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said peptide is an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition which also includes a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said peptide is expressed from a nucleic acid construct.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, 12 and 13.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 13.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         24 . A method of treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease in an individual, the method comprising providing to the individual therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, said peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13 and being capable of self aggregating under physiological conditions.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said peptide is an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition, which also includes a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said peptide is expressed from a nucleic acid construct.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         29 . A method of treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease in an individual, the method comprising providing to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 8, 9, 10 and 11, wherein said peptide is an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical compositions which also includes a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said peptide is an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition, which also includes a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said peptide is expressed from a nucleic acid construct.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         34 . A method of treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease in an individual, the method comprising providing to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13 wherein said peptide is an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical compositions which also includes a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said peptide is an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition, which also includes a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said peptide is expressed from a nucleic acid construct  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         38 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease comprising as an active ingredient a peptide having at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, said peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         39 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38 , wherein said amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, 12 and 13.  
     
     
         40 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38 , wherein said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13.  
     
     
         41 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38 , wherein said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12.  
     
     
         42 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         43 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38 , wherein said peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         44 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease comprising as an active ingredient a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 8, 9, 10 and 11 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         45 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 44 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 44 , wherein said linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         47 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing an amyloid-associated disease comprising as an active ingredient a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         48 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 47 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         49 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 47 , wherein said peptide is a linear or cyclic peptide.  
     
     
         50 . A nucleic acid construct comprising a polynucleotide segment encoding a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 8, 9, 10 and 11.  
     
     
         51 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 50  further comprising a promoter.  
     
     
         52 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 50 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         53 . A nucleic acid construct comprising a polynucleotide segment encoding a peptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO. 13.  
     
     
         54 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 53  further comprising a promoter.  
     
     
         55 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 53 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         56 . A nucleic acid construct comprising a polynucleotide segment encoding a peptide having at least 5 amino acid residues and less than 15 amino acid residues, said peptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7  
     
     
         57 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 56  further comprising a promoter.  
     
     
         58 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 56 , wherein said peptide further includes at least two serine residues attached to a C-terminus thereof.  
     
     
         59 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 56 , wherein said amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4, 12 and 13.  
     
     
         60 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 56 , wherein said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13.  
     
     
         61 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 56 , wherein said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12.