Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.

Ayelet Barenholz

Herve Bercovier

Jonathan M Gershoni

The present invention is based on the discovery that biological peptide-based mimotopes of mannose-containing cell-wall compounds of, specifically, ManLAM, have an anti-inflammatory effect and immunoregulator effect in animal models of inflammation. Such models include animal models of allergic peritonitis, allergic asthma and septic shock model (mice injected with LPS) and in Crohn's disease model (TNBS-induced colitis). Thus, the present invention concerns the use a molecule, particularly, an amino acid based molecule for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of an inflammatory condition, the amino acid comprising one or more peptides characterized in that it can bind to ManLAM binding antibodies; and/or it can elicit an immune response in a subject inoculated therewith, giving rise to production of ManLAM-binding antibodies. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions for treating inflammatory conditions and comprising the amino acid-based molecule, as well as to methods of treatment of such conditions by administering to a subject an amount of the amino-acid based molecules.

Use of mycobacterial mannosylated lipoglycans peptide mimotopes for treating inflammation

The present invention relates to the identification of antigenic and immunogenic peptide-based mimicry of mannose-containing cell-wall compounds characterizing mycobacterial infectious agents, such as Amino acid molecules which are mimotopes of mannosylated lipoglycans, such as lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM), including at least one of the following characteristics: (a) being capable of binding to ManLAM binding antibodies; (b) being capable of eliciting production of ManLAM binding antibodies, are provided. Also diagnostic methods for diagnosing mycobacterial infections and methods of vaccinating subjects against such infections. The diagnostic and vaccination methods employ the provided amino acid molecules. Accordingly, a diagnostic kit and a vaccine for executing the aforementioned methods are provided.

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Jerusalem, Israel

Ayelet Barenholz