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 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A complement inhibitor molecule that inhibits the classical complement pathway and the alternative complement pathway, wherein said complement inhibitor is:
 a) a protein comprising amino acids 19 to 168 or amino acids 1 to 168 of the amino acid sequence in  FIG. 4 ;   b) a homologue of a protein as defined in a) having at least 60% identity thereto; or   c) an active fragment of a protein as defined in a) above or of a homologue as defined in b) above.   
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A fusion protein comprising a complement inhibitor molecule or a functional equivalent thereof according to  claim 13  that is genetically or chemically fused to one or more peptides or polypeptides. 
     
     
         19 . A fusion protein according to  claim 18  wherein said complement inhibitor molecule or functional equivalent thereof is genetically or chemically fused to a marker domain. 
     
     
         20 . A fusion protein according to  claim 19  wherein said marker domain is a radiochemical tag. 
     
     
         21 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a complement inhibitor molecule or a functional equivalent thereof according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         22 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 21  comprising nucleotides 53 to 507 of the nucleotide sequence in  FIG. 4  or a functional equivalent thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 21  comprising nucleotides 1 to 507 of the nucleotide sequence in  FIG. 4  or a functional equivalent thereof. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 21 . 
     
     
         26 . A host cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 21 . 
     
     
         27 . A method for preparing a complement inhibitor molecule or a functional equivalent thereof comprising culturing a host cell according to  claim 26  under conditions whereby said protein is expressed and recovering said protein thus produced. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A composition comprising a complement inhibitor molecule according to  claim 13  in conjunction with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         30 . A composition according to  claim 29  further comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method of treating an animal suffering from a complement-mediated disease or disorder or preventing an animal developing a complement-mediated disease or disorder comprising administering to said animal a complement inhibitor molecule or a functional equivalent thereof according to  claim 13  in a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein said disease or disorder is Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, reperfusion injury, transplant rejection, sepsis, immune complex disorder or delayed-type hypersensitivity. 
     
     
         35 . A method of vaccinating an animal against a disease or disorder transmitted by a haematophagous arthropod comprising administering to said animal a complement inhibitor molecule or a functional equivalent thereof according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the haematophagous arthropod is  O. moubata.    
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein the disease or disorder is relapsing fever, African swine fever or West Nile fever. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method for inhibiting the classical and alternative complement pathways in a cell, tissue or non-human organism comprising administering to said cell, tissue or organism, a complement inhibitor according to  claim 13 .