Yeda Research and Develpment & Co. Ltd

Michael Deckmann

Meir Shinitzky

The invention concerns peptides which bind antibodies that are found in elevated levels in body fluids of schizophrenic patients and are found at a lower level or not found at all in body fluids of non-schizophrenic individuals. Using a computerized program, the antigenic epitope of the peptides of the invention is predicted as having a core of hydrophobic amino acids which is surrounded by positively charged amino acids. The peptides of the invention are useful in the diagnosis of schizophrenia in an individual.

Assay for the diagnosis of schizophrenia based on a new peptide

A diagnostic method for assaying schizophrenia in a subject is provided wherein a preparation comprising platelet derived proteins or fractions thereof having a pI above about 6.5 is injected into a subject and the occurrence of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction at the site of the injection is determined. A positive DTH reaction indicates that the tested subject has a high likelihood of being schizophrenic. The protein preparation used in the diagnostic method is also provided as well as a method for its preparation and a kit for use in the diagnosis of schizophrenia using the above method.

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Guebwiller, France

Michael Deckmann