Mimotope Peptides Induce Antibodies to Clear Alpha-Synuclein Aggregates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy, primarily offer symptomatic relief without halting disease progression, and there is a need for a therapeutic approach that targets the underlying neuronal accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein.

Innovation Solution

Development of a peptide or polypeptide with a specific amino acid sequence that induces the formation of antibodies targeting alpha-synuclein, reducing its accumulation and oligomerization, thereby treating and preventing synucleinopathies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If symptomatic medications (L-dopa, anticholinergic drugs, MAO inhibitors) are used, then symptoms are alleviated, but disease progression is not halted and no long-lasting disease-modifying effect is achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymptomatic reliefVSAvoiddisease modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the harmful accumulated alpha-synuclein protein itself as the target for therapeutic intervention. By designing peptides that mimic alpha-synuclein epitopes, the invention converts the pathogenic protein into a therapeutic target, enabling the immune system to recognize and clear the harmful aggregates while preventing further disease progression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces synthetic peptides as intermediaries that bridge the gap between the immune system and alpha-synuclein aggregates. These peptides serve as mediators by binding to antibodies and facilitating the clearance of pathological alpha-synuclein without directly interacting with the complex neurodegenerative processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If alpha-synuclein accumulates in Lewy bodies, then characteristic pathologic lesions form, but neuronal function deteriorates and neurodegeneration progresses

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLewy body formationVSAvoidneurotoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the immunogenic epitope information from the alpha-synuclein protein sequence and uses it to design synthetic peptides. These peptides are then used to generate antibodies that specifically target and remove pathological alpha-synuclein aggregates from neurons, thereby extracting the harmful component while preserving neuronal function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of alpha-synuclein by focusing on specific epitopic regions (amino acid sequences) that are most immunogenic and pathologically relevant. By targeting these specific parameters rather than the entire protein, the therapy achieves selective clearance of pathological forms while minimizing effects on normal protein function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed peptides and polypeptides effectively induce antibodies that bind to alpha-synuclein, reducing its levels and oligomerization, providing a potential disease-modifying treatment for synucleinopathies by promoting the degradation of alpha-synuclein aggregates and preventing neurodegeneration.

Implementation Method 1

The proposed peptides and polypeptides effectively induce antibodies that bind to alpha-synuclein, reducing its levels and oligomerization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntigen-antibody binding:

Data Source

PatentEP2467153B1Use of mimotopes of alpha-synuclein epitopes for treating lewy body diseases
Publication Date: 2016.03.02 AFFIRIS AG
  • EP2467153B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2467153B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2467153B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to peptides or polypeptides for producing medicaments for preventing and/or treating synucleinopathies.