Specific murine and humanized monoclonal antibodies detecting pathology associated secondary structure changes in proteins and peptides

Abstract

The present invention relates to antibodies and binding fragments thereof that bind the β-sheet secondary structure of a pathological monomeric or oligomeric non-fibrillar proteins without binding to the non-toxic, non-pathological forms of these proteins or peptides. These antibodies and binding fragments thereof are suitable for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of protein conformational disorders including all amyloid diseases.

Description

[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 365,465, filed on Jul. 22, 2016.[0002]This invention was made with government support under grant number NS073502 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to antibodies and binding fragments thereof that bind β-sheet secondary structures on pathological proteins, such as the β-sheet secondary structures found in toxic oligomeric forms of amyloidogenic proteins or in infectious, toxic or necrotic protein complexes. These antibodies and binding fragments thereof are suitable for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of protein conformational disorders including all amyloid disease and some foreign infective complexes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Amyloidosis broadly encompasses a variety of diseases that are characterized by the extracellular or intracellular deposi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method for producing antibodies that can detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases by targeting the abnormal secondary structure of proteins. This method involves using a specific peptide derived from a rare British amyloidosis as the immunogen, which forms high-quality soluble and stable oligomers with a high degree of β-sheet secondary structure. The resulting antibodies can detect and capture the abnormal protein conformers associated with neurodegenerative diseases, potentially providing a more effective treatment for these conditions.

Problems solved by technology

This conformational change leads to the generation of a toxic oligomeric form and ultimately to a fibrillary structure that becomes insoluble and precipitates in the milieu where the change was initiated.

In some cases the amyloid protein / peptide accumulates intracellularly, resulting in cell dysfunction and ultimately cell death.

Currently there is no effective therapy for any of these disorders.

Although conventional anti-Aβ specific immunotherapy held great promise as a means of reducing amyloid deposition, it, unfortunately, has been accompanied by major obstacles.

Specific problems associated with immunotherapy that were identified in a clinical trial for AD include the potential of toxicity from encephalitis (related to excessive cell mediated immunity), the immunological targeting of both the normal and abnormal Aβ peptide, the failure to address tau related pathology, and the apparent poor efficacy.

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