Peptide Selection Method

Abstract

There is provided a method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide by selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or H molecule without further processing. There is also provided a peptide selected by such a method and its use in a pharmaceutical composition and a method to treat and/or prevent a disease.

1 . A method for selecting a tolerogenic peptide which comprises the step of selecting a peptide which is capable of binding to an MHC class I or II molecule without further processing. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is capable of binding to an MHC class II molecule without further processing. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is selected from a plurality of peptides each comprising a T cell epitope. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of peptides is eluted from the MHC class II molecules of an antigen presenting cell. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein each peptide in the plurality of peptides is capable of inducing a disease associated with the antigen in a subject when administered to the subject with adjuvant. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is selected from a nested set of truncated peptides. 
     
     
         7 . A method  claim 1 , wherein the peptide comprises a T cell epitope and presence of a T cell epitope is determined by:
 (i) treating:   a sample of cells from a subject having the disease, and   a sample of cells from a subject not having the disease with the peptide; and   (ii) comprising the T cell responses between the cell samples.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  which comprises the following steps:
 (i) treating an antigen processing independent presentation system (APIPS) with a peptide; and 
 (ii) analyzing binding of the peptide to MHC class I or II molecules within the APIPS. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein binding of the peptide to MHC class I or II molecules is analysed by adding T cells and measuring T cell activation. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the APIPS comprises:
 (i) fixed antigen presenting cells   (ii) lipid membranes comprising MHC class I or II molecules; or   (iii) plate-bound MHC class I or II molecules.   
     
     
         11 . A peptide selected by the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A peptide according to  claim 11 , which is selected from the following myelin basic protein peptides: 30-44, 80-94, 83-99, 81-95, 82-96, 83-97, 84-98, 110-124, 130-144, 131-145, 132-146 and 133-147. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of peptides according to  claim 11 , each peptide comprising a T cell epitope for the disease. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating and/or preventing a disease in a subject in need of same which comprises the step of administering a peptide according to  claim 11  to the subject. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , which comprises the following steps:
 (i) identifying an antigen for the disease   (ii) identifying an apitope for the antigen; and   (iii) administering the apitope to the subject.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein the peptide or apitope is administered in multiple doses. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the peptide or apitope is administered intranasally.