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.

1 . A peptide joined to a carbohydrate, wherein said peptide comprises a domain of the formula: 
 X 1   n CZASX 2   n , wherein: 
 “X 1 ” is any amino acid or absent  
 “C” is cysteine;  
 “Z” is lysine or arginine;  
 “A” is alanine;  
 “S” is serine;  
 “X 2 ” is any amino acid or absent; and  
 “n” is an integer, and  
   wherein said peptide is less than 50 amino acids in length.    
     
     
         2 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein “Z” is lysine.  
     
     
         3 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said “Z” is arginine.  
     
     
         4 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said carbohydrate is an oligosaccaride.  
     
     
         5 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos.: 5, 6, 17, 28, 29, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78.  
     
     
         6 . A method of making the peptide of  claim 1  comprising: 
 providing a peptide comprising a domain of the formula:    X 1   n CZASX 2   n , wherein: 
 “X 1 ” is any amino acid or absent  
 “C” is cysteine;  
 “Z” is lysine or arginine;  
 “A” is alanine;  
 “S” is serine;  
 “X 2 ” is any amino acid or absent; and  
 “n” is an integer,  
 wherein said peptide is less than 50 amino acids in length;  
   providing a carbohydrate;    joining said carbohydrate to said peptide so as to make the peptide of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein “Z” is lysine.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said “Z” is arginine.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said carbohydrate is an oligosaccaride.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos.: 5, 6, 17, 28, 29, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78.  
     
     
         11 . A method of using the peptide of  claim 1  to redirect antibodies present in a subject to hepatitis B virus comprising: 
 identifying a subject that has antibodies specific for the carbohydrate that is joined to the preptide of  claim 1;  and    providing to said subject the peptide of  claim 1 .    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein “Z” is lysine.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said “Z” is arginine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said carbohydrate is an oligosaccaride.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos.: 5, 6, 17, 28, 29, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78.