Isis Innovation Limited

Oxford University Innovation Limited

Robert Paul Anderson

Adrian Vivian Sinton Hill

Derek Parry Jewell

The invention herein disclosed is related to epitopes useful in methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing coeliac disease. Therapeutic compositions which comprise at least one epitope are provided.

Therapeutic epitopes and uses thereof

A peptide analogue which is not more than 50 amino acids in length, and which is capable of being recognized by a T cell receptor that recognizes an epitope comprising sequencePQPELPY(SEQ ID NO:1), and fusion proteins, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits comprising the same, are provided herewith. Also provided are methods of diagnosing coeliac disease, or susceptibility to coeliac disease, in an individual comprising contacting a sample from the individual with a peptide analogue and determining in vitro whether T cells in the sample recognize the peptide analogue.

Diagnostic and therapeutic epitope, and transgenic plant

A food comprising a mutant gliadin protein that comprises at least one mutation in the epitopePQPQLPY(SEQ ID NO:6), wherein the mutation decreases the ability of the epitope to induce a T cell response, or a fragment of the mutant gliadin protein wherein the fragment is at least 15 amino acids long and comprises the mutatedPQPQLPY(SEQ ID NO:6) is provided herein.

A method of diagnosing coeliac disease, or susceptibility to coeliac disease, in an individual comprising: (a) contacting a sample from the host with an agent selected from (i) the epitope comprising sequence which is: SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, or an equivalent sequence from a naturally occurring homologue of the gliadin represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) an epitope comprising sequence comprising: SEQ ID NO: 1, or an equivalent sequence from a naturally occurring homologue of the gliadin represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, which epitope is an isolated oligopeptide derived from a gliadin protein, (ii) an analogue of (i) or (ii) which is capable of being recognised by a T cell receptor that recognises (i) or (ii), which in the case of a peptide analogue is not more than 50 amino acids in length, or (iv) a product comprising two or more agents as defined in (i), (ii) or (iii), and (b) determining in vitro whether T cells in the sample recognises the agent; recognition by the T cells indicating that the individual has, or is susceptible to, coeliac disease. Therapeutic compositions which comprise the epitope and gliadin proteins which do not cause coeliac disease are also provided.

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Headington, United Kingdom

Robert Paul Anderson