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 . A method of redirecting an antibody to a hepatitis B virus (HBV) comprising: 
 providing a specificity exchanger comprising: 
 a specificity domain 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,  
 
 wherein said specificity domain is less than 50 amino acids in length, joined to an antigenic domain, which is between 3 and 40 amino acids in length, comprising an immunogenic peptide obtained from a pathogen or toxin; and  
   contacting said hepatitis B virus with said specificity exchanger in the presence of an antibody that binds to said antigenic domain, whereby such contact redirects said antibody to said hepatitis B virus.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein “X 1   n ” or “X 2   n ” is the antigenic domain.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein “X 1   n ” or “X 2   n ” is a peptide obtained from a herpes simplex virus protein, a hepatitis B virus protein, a TT virus protein, or a polio virus protein.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specificity domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5, 16, 17, 28, 29, and 44.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said specificity domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5, 16, 17, 28, 29, and 44.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said specificity domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5, 16, 17, 28, 29, and 44.  
     
     
         7 . A method of treating or preventing HBV infection comprising: 
 providing a subject with a specificity exchanger in amount sufficient to redirect antibodies present in said subject to said HBV, said specificity exchanger comprising: 
 a specificity domain 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,  
 
 wherein said specificity domain is less than 50 amino acids in length joined to an antigenic domain, which is between 3 and 40 amino acids in length, comprising an immunogenic peptide obtained from a pathogen or toxin.  
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein “X 1   n ” or “X 2   n ” is the antigenic domain.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein “X 1   n ” or “X 2   n ” is a peptide obtained from a herpes simplex virus protein, a hepatitis B virus protein, a TT virus protein, or a polio virus protein.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said specificity domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5, 16, 17, 28, 29, and 44.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said specificity domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5, 16, 17, 28, 29, and 44.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said specificity domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5, 16, 17, 28, 29, and 44.