University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Chulbul M Ahmed

Howard Marcellus Johnson

Joseph Larkin

Lindsey Jager

The subject invention concerns peptide mimetics of SOCS proteins and methods of use. In one embodiment, a peptide mimetic of the invention binds to a SOCS1 and a SOCS3 target protein. In a specific embodiment, a peptide mimetic of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and/or SEQ ID NO:2 and/or SEQ ID NO:51, or a functional fragment or variant thereof. In a further embodiment, a peptide of the invention can comprise multiple copies of the mimetic sequence. In one embodiment, a peptide of the invention comprises two or more copies of SEQ ID NO:1 and/or SEQ ID NO:2 and/or SEQ ID NO:51. In a specific embodiment, a peptide mimetic of the invention comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and/or SEQ ID NO:4 to and/or SEQ ID NO:52, or a functional fragment or variant thereof. The subject invention also pertains to methods of treating and/or preventing autoimmune conditions and/or disorders. In one embodiment, one or more peptide mimetics of the invention are used to treat an autoimmune condition or disorder in a person or animal. In a specific embodiment, a mimetic of the invention is used to treat SLE in a person or animal. The subject invention also concerns methods for diagnosing and/or monitoring progression of SLE in a person or animal.

SOCS mimetics for the treatment of diseases

The subject invention pertains to agonist peptides of type I interferons and methods of using the peptides. These peptides are based on the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus region of the type I IFN molecules and are capable of binding to the cytoplasmic domain of type I IFN receptors. Surprisingly, these peptides were found to possess the same or similar biological activity as that associated with the full-length, mature type I IFN proteins, even though these peptides do not bind to the extracellular domain of the type I IFN receptors. In one embodiment, the peptide is a peptide of IFN&#x3b1;. In another embodiment, the peptide is a peptide of IFN&#x3b2;. Exemplified peptides of the invention include those having SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, and SEQ ID NO:40. The subject peptides have been shown to effect increased resistance to viral infection. Peptides of the invention can be used to treat or prevent viral infections, to treat oncological disorders, and to treat autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Chulbul M Ahmed