Carbohydrate binding module and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antibody mimetic of carbohydrate binding module (CBM) which specifically binds to an epitope on HIV glycoprotein. The present invention also relates to a method of detecting HIV glycoprotein.

1 . An antibody mimetic of carbohydrate binding module (CBM) which specifically binds to an epitope on HIV glycoprotein. 
     
     
         2 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 1 , wherein the CBM specifically binds to a glycan structure present in the epitope of the HIV glycoprotein. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 1 , wherein the CBM processes Immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domain similar to classical antibodies. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 1 , wherein the CBM is starch binding domain (SBD). 
     
     
         5 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 1 , wherein the SBD is a member selected from the group consisting of CBM families 20, 21, 25, 26, 34, 41, 45, 48 and 53. 
     
     
         6 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 5 , wherein the SBD is CBM family 20. 
     
     
         7 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 5 , wherein the SBD is CBM family 21. 
     
     
         8 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 5 , wherein the SBD is derived from  Rhizopus oryzae  glucoamylase (RoSBD). 
     
     
         9 . The antibody mimetic of  claim 5 , wherein the SBD is derived from  Aspergillus niger  glucoamylase (AnSBD). 
     
     
         10 . A method of detecting HIV glycoprotein comprising:
 (a) introducing into contact with a solid surface to which is bound a known quantity of carbohydrate binding module (CBM) capable of binding to HIV glycoprotein;   (b) incubating sample in contact with said surface to form CBM-HIV glycoprotein complexes; and   (c) incubating the complexes and subjecting same to a labelled HIV antigen conjugate which is capable of yielding a quantitatively measurable signal yielding a quantitatively measurable signal to score sample as positive or negative for HIV-infection.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said antibody of step (c) is labelled with an enzyme which is capable of producing the said signal when contacted with an enzyme substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the CBM is starch binding domain (SBD). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the SBD is derived from  Rhizopus oyzae  glucoamylase (RoSBD). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the SBD is derived from  Aspergillus niger  glucoamylase (AnSBD).