Peptides and binding partners therefor

Abstract

The invention provides a peptide obtainable from C. albicans as well as variants and fragments thereof, and labelled forms of these. The peptide is immunogenic and specific binding partners for the peptide and labelled forms of these specific binding partners form a further aspect of the invention. The peptide is a fragment of the ECE1 protein and has been found to be both immunogenic and act as a pore-forming toxin. A range of therapeutic and diagnostic applications for the peptide and the specific binding partners for it form further aspects of the invention. In addition, the peptide may be used in screens for identifying compounds having useful anti-fungal activity.

1 . A specific binding partner for a peptide comprising SIIGIIMGILGNIPQVIQIIMSIVKAFKGNKR (SEQ ID NO:1) or a labelled form thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The specific binding partner of  claim 1  which is an immunoglobulin. 
     
     
         3 . The specific binding partner of  claim 2  which is an antibody or a binding fragment thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The specific binding partner of  claim 3  which is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the specific binding partner of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         6 . A method for prophylaxis or treatment of an infection by  Candida  species, said method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the specific binding partner of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the infection is an oral or mucosal infection by  Candida albicans.    
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid that encodes the specific binding partner of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A recombinant cell that has been transformed with the nucleic acid of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing the specific binding partner encoded by the nucleic acid that transformed the recombinant cell of  claim 9 , which method comprises culturing the recombinant cell and recovering said specific binding partner. 
     
     
         11 . A method for diagnosis of an infection by  Candida albicans , said method comprising contacting a sample from an individual with the specific binding partner of  claim 1 , and detecting whether the sample contains moieties that interact with said specific binding partner at a sufficient level to indicate a pathogenic invasive infection. 
     
     
         12 . A kit for diagnosing an infection by  Candida albicans , said kit comprising the specific binding partner of  claim 1 , and means for detecting complexes formed with said specific binding partner. 
     
     
         13 . A kit for diagnosing an infection by  Candida albicans , said kit comprising a peptide comprising SIIGIIMGILGNIPQVIQIIMSIVKAFKGNKR (SEQ ID NO:1), and means for detecting complexes formed with said peptide 
     
     
         14 . A method for diagnosis of an infection by  Candida albicans , said method comprising contacting a sample from an individual with the peptide from the kit of  claim 13 , and detecting whether the sample contains moieties that interact with said peptide at a sufficient level to indicate a pathogenic invasive infection. 
     
     
         15 . A method for screening for compounds having anti-fungal activity, said method comprising determining whether a test compound will interact with a peptide comprising SIIGIIMGILGNIPQVIQIIMSIVKAFKGNKR (SEQ ID NO:1).