Synthetic peptides that bind to the hepatitis B virus core and E antigens

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of virology. More particularly, the invention relates to the discovery that peptides, which bind to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core and e antigens, can be used to inhibit HBV infection. Embodiments concern “binding partners”, which include peptides, peptidomimetics, and chemicals that resemble these molecules that interact with HBV core and e antigens, biological complexes having HBV core and e antigens joined to said binding partners, methods of identifying such binding partners, pharmaceuticals having binding partners, and methods of treatments and prevention of HBV infection.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An improved specificity exchanger comprising a specificity domain joined to an antigenic domain, said antigenic domain being at least 5 and less than 35 amino acids in length and comprising an epitope of a protein of viral, bacterial or fungal origin, wherein the improvement comprises a specificity domain, which specifically binds HBcAg or HBeAg, wherein said specificity domain comprises a peptide of the formula:  
       X 1   n CZASX 2   n , wherein:  “X 1 ” is any amino acid    “C” is cysteine;    “Z” is lysine or arginine;    “A” is alanine;    “S” is serine;    “X 2 ” is any amino acid; and    “n” is an integer less than 50 amino acids in length.    
     
     
         2 . A method of redirecting an antibody to HBcAg or HBeAg comprising: 
 providing the improved specificity exchanger of  claim 1;  and    providing an antibody that specifically binds to the antigenic domain of said specificity exchanger, whereby said antibody is redirected to said HBcAg or HBeAg.    
     
     
         3 . A specificity exchanger comprising a specificity domain, which specifically binds HBcAg or HBeAg, wherein said specificity domain comprises a peptide of the formula:  
       X 1   n CZASX 2   n , wherein:  “X 1 ” is any amino acid    “C” is cysteine;    “Z” is lysine or arginine;    “A” is alanine;    “S” is serine;    “X 2 ”, is any amino acid; and    “n” is an integer less than 50 amino acids in length,    joined to an antigenic domain, which specifically binds an antibody, said antigenic domain being at least 5 and less than 35 amino acids in length and comprising an epitope of a protein of viral, bacterial or fungal origin.    
     
     
         4 . A method of redirecting an antibody to HBcAg or HBeAg comprising: 
 providing the specificity exchanger of  claim 3;  and    providing an antibody that specifically binds to the antigenic domain of said specificity exchanger, whereby said antibody is redirected to said HBcAg and/or HBeAg.