Epitopes Related to Coeliac Disease

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 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . An isolated peptide comprising at least one epitope that comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-1927, or an analogue thereof which is capable of being recognised by a T cell receptor that recognises the peptide and which is not more than 50 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         80 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide, or analogue thereof, according to  claim 79  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         81 . An isolated polynucleotide that comprises a coding sequence that encodes a peptide, or analogue thereof, according to  claim 79 . 
     
     
         82 . A polynucleotide according to  claim 81  that additionally comprises one or more regulatory sequences operably linked to the coding sequence. 
     
     
         83 . A vector comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 81 . 
     
     
         84 . An isolated cell comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 81 . 
     
     
         85 . A cell according to  claim 84  which is a prokaryotic cell or a mammalian cell. 
     
     
         86 . A cell according to  claim 84  which is a cell of a graminaceous monocotyledonous species. 
     
     
         87 . A cell according to  claim 86  which is a cell of wheat, maize, oats, rye, rice, barley, triticale, sorghum, or sugar cane. 
     
     
         88 . An isolated gluten protein comprising a mutation which prevents the modification by a transglutaminase to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-1927, or a fragment of such a gluten protein which comprises at least 7 amino acids and which comprises the mutation. 
     
     
         89 . An isolated polynucleotide that comprises a coding sequence that encodes a protein, or fragment thereof, according to  claim 88 . 
     
     
         90 . A polynucleotide according to  claim 89  that additionally comprises one or more regulatory sequences operably linked to the coding sequence. 
     
     
         91 . A vector comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 89 . 
     
     
         92 . An isolated cell comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 89 . 
     
     
         93 . A cell according to  claim 92  which is a prokaryotic cell or a mammalian cell. 
     
     
         94 . A method of preventing or treating coeliac disease comprising administering to an individual at least one agent selected from:
 a) a peptide comprising at least one epitope that comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-1927; and   b) an analogue of the peptide of a) which is capable of being recognised by a T cell receptor that recognises the peptide of a) and which is not more than 50 amino acids in length.   
     
     
         95 . A method of  claim 94  wherein the agent is HLA-DQ2-restricted. 
     
     
         96 . A method of  claim 94  wherein the agent is HLA-DQ 8-restricted. 
     
     
         97 . A method of  claim 94  wherein one agent is HLA-DQ2-restricted and a second agent is HLA-DQ8-restricted. 
     
     
         98 . A method of  claim 94  wherein the agent comprises a wheat epitope. 
     
     
         99 . A method of  claim 94  wherein the agent comprises an oat epitope. 
     
     
         100 . A method of  claim 94  wherein one agent comprises a wheat epitope and one agent comprises an oat epitope. 
     
     
         101 . A method of preventing or treating coeliac disease comprising administering to an individual a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide, or analogue thereof, according to  claim 79  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
         102 . A method of preventing or treating coeliac disease comprising:
 diagnosing coeliac disease in an individual by either:
 a) contacting a sample from the host with at least one agent selected from:
 i) a peptide comprising at least one epitope that comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NOS: 1-1927; and 
 ii) an analogue of i) which is capable of being recognised by a T cell receptor that recognises the analogue of i) and which is not more than 50 amino acids in length; and 
 
 determining in vitro whether T cells in the sample recognise the agent; 
 recognition by the T cells indicating that the individual has, or is susceptible to, coeliac disease; or 
 b) administering an agent according to claim  1  and determining in vivo whether T cells in the individual recognise the agent, recognition of the agent indicating that the individual has or is susceptible to coeliac disease; and 
   administering to an individual diagnosed as having, or being susceptible to, coeliac disease a therapeutic agent for preventing or treating coeliac disease.   
     
     
         103 - 120 . (canceled) 
     
     
         121 . A process for the production of a protein encoded by a coding sequence that encodes a peptide comprising at least one epitope that comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-1927, or analogue thereof, comprising:
 a) cultivating a cell comprising a polynucleotide encoding the peptide under conditions that allow the expression of the peptide; and optionally   b) recovering the expressed peptide.   
     
     
         122 - 133 . (canceled)