Therapeutic epitopes and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention herein disclosed is related to epitopes useful in methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing coeliac disease. Therapeutic compositions which comprise at least one epitope are provided.

1 .- 84 . (canceled) 
     
     
         85 . A method of treating coeliac disease in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of transglutaminase-deamidated FPQPQQPFP (SEQ ID NO: 19), wherein the peptide is 15 to 30 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         86 . The method according to  claim 85  wherein the peptide is 15 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         87 . The method according to  claim 85  wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of transglutaminase-deamidated QQPFPQPQQPFP (SEQ ID NO: 39). 
     
     
         88 . The method according to  claim 87  wherein the peptide is 15 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         89 . The method according to  claim 85  wherein the peptide is 15 amino acids in length and comprises a bioactive fragment of transglutaminase-deamidated 
       
         
           
                 
               
                   (SEQ ID NO: 50) 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   PQQPQQPQQPFPQPQQPFPWQP. 
                 
             
                
               
            
             
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         90 . The method according to  claim 89  wherein the peptide comprises a bioactive fragment of transglutaminase-deamidated PQQPQQPFPQPQQPFPWQP. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the peptide comprises a modification on the N and/or C terminus. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the modification is a natural post-translation modification.