Method of inhibiting c5 cleavage

Abstract

The invention relates to complement inhibitors that inhibit both the classical and alternative complement pathways. In particular, the invention relates to complement inhibitors derived from the salivary glands of haematophagous arthropods that inhibit both the classical and alternative complement pathways. The invention also relates to the use of the complement inhibitors in the treatment and prevention of diseases.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method for producing a protein comprising culturing a host cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein under conditions whereby said protein is expressed, and recovering said protein thus produced, wherein the protein is a complement inhibitor molecule comprising:
 i) an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to amino acids 19 to 168 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or   ii) an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to amino acids 1 to 168 of SEQ ID NO: 2.   
     
     
         42 . The method of claim  1  wherein the complement inhibitor molecule comprises amino acids 19 to 168 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         43 . The method of claim  1  wherein the complement inhibitor molecule comprises amino acids 1 to 168 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         44 . The method of claim  1  wherein the complement inhibitor molecule consists of amino acids 19 to 168 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         45 . The method of claim  1  wherein the complement inhibitor molecule consists of amino acids 1 to 168 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         46 . The method of claim  1  wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the complement inhibitor is a sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to nucleotides 55 to 507 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         47 . The method of claim  1  wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the complement inhibitor is a sequence with at least 90% sequence identity to nucleotides 1 to 507 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         48 . The method of claim  1  wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the complement inhibitor is a sequence comprising nucleotides 55 to 507 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         49 . The method of claim  1  wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the complement inhibitor is a sequence comprising nucleotides 1 to 507 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         50 . The method of claim  1  wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the complement inhibitor is a sequence consisting of nucleotides 55 to 507 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         51 . The method of claim  1  wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding the complement inhibitor is a sequence consisting of nucleotides 1 to 507 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         52 . The method of claim  1  wherein the complement inhibitor is a fusion protein comprising a complement inhibitor molecule and another polypeptide. 
     
     
         53 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule encoding the complement inhibitor is present in a vector. 
     
     
         54 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell. 
     
     
         55 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the host cell is an  E. coli  cell. 
     
     
         56 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the host cell is a eukaryotic cell. 
     
     
         57 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the host cell is a yeast cell. 
     
     
         58 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the host cell is a mammalian cell. 
     
     
         59 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the host cell is an insect cell. 
     
     
         60 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is introduced into the host cell via transfection or transformation. 
     
     
         61 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is introduced to the host cell transiently. 
     
     
         62 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is introduced to the host cell permanently.