Therapeutic peptides

Abstract

The present invention provides a ligand isolated from Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane protein which binds to CEACAM receptors, said ligand comprising a receptor binding domain comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group disclosed, or a fragment, homologue, functional equivalent, derivative, degenerate or hydroxylation, sulphonation or glycosylation product or other secondary processing product thereof. The invention also provides medicaments and vaccines comprising said ligand, and their use in the treatment or prophylaxis of infection. Also provided is a screening method for the identification of novel therapeutic compounds.

1 . A ligand which is a part of the whole UspA1 molecule including the CEACAM receptor binding domain, said ligand comprising residues 427 to 623 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof required for CEACAM receptor binding. 
     
     
         2 . The ligand according to  claim 1 , wherein the ligand consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 463 to 863, 527 to 623, 527 to 668, 527 to 863, 427 to 623, 427 to 668 and 427 to 863 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         3 . A medicament comprising the ligand according to  claim 1  and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, vehicles, excipients, binders, carriers, or preservatives. 
     
     
         4 . A method for the treatment or prevention of infection in an individual in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of a ligand according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A method for the treatment or prevention of a disease in an individual in need thereof, in which CEACAM receptors are involved in the cellular targeting of the pathogen which causes the disease, comprising administering an effective amount of a ligand according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of infection, respiratory disease, neoplastic diseases and associated conditions of neoplastic diseases, and angiogenesis. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the infection is of, or has occurred via, a mucosal membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the infection is caused by  Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae  or  Moraxella catarrhalis.    
     
     
         9 . A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of otitis media in an individual in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of a ligand according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for the identification of blocking reagents for use as therapeutic agents comprising screening potential therapeutic agents for their ability to mimic, or for their homology to, the ligand according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A vaccine comprising the ligand according to  claim 1  and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, vehicles, excipients, binders, carriers, or preservatives. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the ligand consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 463 to 863, 527 to 623, 527 to 668, 527 to 863, 427 to 623, 427 to 668 and 427 to 863 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment or functional equivalent thereof which retains CEACAM binding ability. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of infection, respiratory disease, neoplastic disease and associated conditions of neoplastic disease, and angiogenesis. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pathogen infects, or enters via, a mucosal membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the pathogen infects, or enters via, a mucosal membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pathogen which causes the disease is selected from the group consisting of  Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae  and  Moraxella catarrhalis.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the disease is otitis media. 
     
     
         21 . The medicament according to  claim 3 , wherein the ligand consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 463 to 863, 527 to 623, 527 to 668, 527 to 863, 427 to 623, 427 to 668 and 427 to 863 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the ligand consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 463 to 863, 527 to 623, 527 to 668, 527 to 863, 427 to 623, 427 to 668 and 427 to 863 of SEQ ID NO: 2.