164results about "Complement proteins" patented technology

Analogs of regulators of complement activation (RCA) proteins which have altered specificities and affinities for the targets C3b and / or C4b are described. These analogs are obtained by substituting amino acids which affect the complement inhibitory activities of these proteins, substituting, rearranging or adding SCRs (short consensus repeats) or SCR regions to the proteins, deleting amino acid sequences, and combinations thereof.

Compounds comprising peptides and peptidomimetics capable of binding C3 protein and inhibiting complement activation are disclosed. These compounds display greatly improved complement activation-inhibitory activity as compared with currently available compounds.

The present invention relates to novel cyclic or constrained acyclic compounds which modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors and are useful in the treatment of conditions mediated by G protein-coupled receptors, for example, inflammatory conditions.

The present invention relates to an influenza antigen, comprising a fusion product of at least the extracellular part of a conserved influenza membrane protein or a functional fragment thereof and a presenting carrier, which may be a presenting (poly)peptide or a non-peptidic structure, such as glycans, peptide mimetics, synthetic polymers. The invention further relates to a vaccine against influenza, comprising at least an antigen of the invention, optionally in the presence of one or more excipients. The invention also relates to use of the antigen, a method for preparing the antigen and acceptor cells expressing the antigen.

The present invention relates to a method for the treatment or prevention of pain by administering to an animal an agent that decreases the activity of the complement cascade.

A polypeptide containing an antibody Fc region variant which has an amino acid sequence in which an amino acid alteration at position 238 according to EU numbering is combined with other specific amino acid alteration(s), was found to have decreased binding activities to all activating FcγRs, in particular FcγRIIa (R type), while maintaining its FcγRIIb-binding activity, when compared to a polypeptide containing a native IgG Fc region.

The present invention provides compositions and pharmaceutical formulations of Factor H derived from plasma. Also provided are methods for the manufacture of the Factor H compositions and formulations, as well as methods for the treatment of diseases associated with Factor H dysfunction.

The present inventors have shown that MASP-depleted MBL is able to recruit MASPs from plasma and successfully activate complement cascade. Furthermore, it has been discovered that MBL purified as a complex has limited ability to activate the complement cascade when compared to MASP-depleted MBL. Accordingly, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated non-recombinant mannose binding lectin (MBL) substantially free from activated MBL associated serine proteases (MASPs) together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. Also provided is a method of treating a subject in need of MBL comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention.

The present invention relates to compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions that inhibit complement activation, and contain amino acid sequences X1-X2-X3-W-E-X4-X5-X6 and / or Z1-C1-Z2-P-Z3-Z4-C2-Z5 as described. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting complement activation in vivo or ex vivo by administering a pharmaceutical composition as described herein.

The present invention provides compositions and pharmaceutical formulations of Factor H derived from plasma. Also provided are methods for the manufacture of the Factor H compositions and formulations, as well as methods for the treatment of diseases associated with Factor H dysfunction.

Methods are described for the identification and preparation of high-affinity Nucleic Acid Ligands to Complement System Proteins. Methods are described for the identification and preparation of high affinity Nucleic Acid Ligands to Complement System Proteins C1q, C3 and C5. Included in the invention are specific RNA ligands to C1q, C3 and C5 identified by the SELEX method.

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases comprising the administration of compositions comprising one or more peptide(s) having a stimulatory effect on the afflicted host's immune system. Specifically, the invention relates to methods comprising the use of cationic amphipathic peptides having an alpha-helical structure and effecting activation of macrophages when administered in a therapeutically sufficient amount. The methods of the present invention are useful for the treatment of, for example, infectious diseases or cancer.

Compounds comprising peptides and peptidomimetics capable of binding C3 protein and inhibiting complement activation are disclosed. These compounds display greatly improved complement activation-inhibitory activity as compared with currently available compounds.

The present invention provides modulators of complement activity. Also provided are methods of utilizing such modulators as therapeutics.

The invention relates to Factor H gene polymorphisms and haplotypes associated with an elevated or a reduced risk of AMD. The invention provides methods and reagents for diagnosis and treatment of AMD.

The present invention provides methods of treatment and / or prevention of infections, for example, viral and bacterial infections, in individuals, wherein the method comprises administering a supraphysiological amount of mannose-binding lectin (MLB) and / or ficolin-MBL fusion protein to an individual afflicted with an infection or at risk of an infection, such as a bacterial or a viral infection. For example, methods for treatment and / or prevention of Ebola virus infection are provided.

The invention relates to novel cyclic compounds which have the ability to modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors. The compounds preferably act as antagonists. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides cyclic peptidic and peptidomimetic antagonists of C5a receptors, which are active against C5a receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. The compounds of the invention are both potent and selective, and are useful in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory conditions.

The present invention relates to a Complement Factor H protein as a biomarker for neurodegenerative disease, including Parkinson's disease, and the related diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to the identification of a Complement Factor H protein, useful for the screening, diagnosis, and differentiation between neurodegenerative diseases.

The present invention relates to novel plasmid constructs useful for the delivery of DNA vaccines. The present invention provides novel plasmids having a transcription cassette capable of directing the expression of a vaccine nucleic acid insert encoding immunogens derived from any pathogen, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. The present invention, however, is particularly useful for inducing in a patient an immune response against pathogenic viruses such as HIV, measles or influenza. Immunodeficiency virus vaccine inserts of the present invention express non-infectious HIV virus-like particles (VLP) bearing multiple viral epitopes. VLPs allow presentation of the epitopes to multiple histocompatability types, thereby reducing the possibility of the targeted virus escaping the immune response. Also described are methods for immunizing a patient by delivery of a novel plasmid of the present invention to the patient for expression of the vaccine insert therein. Optionally, the immunization protocol may include a booster vaccination that may be a live vector vaccine such as a recombinant pox virus or modified vaccinia Arbora vector. The booster live vaccine vector includes a transcription cassette expressing the same vaccine insert as the primary immunizing vector.

The invention relates to a serum protein marker group for diagnosing MODY (maturity-onset-diabetes of the young) and application thereof. The serum protein marker group comprises five proteins: apolipoprotein C-IV (APOC4), apolipoprotein a (LPA), a complement component C6 (C6), a blood coagulation factor v (F5) and thyroid binding globulin (SERPINA7). ITRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation) are used to combine with an MALDI-TOF / MS technology to detect; mass spectrum detection shows that expression levels of the serum apolipoprotein C-IV, the apolipoprotein a, the complement component C6 and the blood coagulation factor v protein in serum of a MODY patient are obviously improved, and an expression level of the thyroid binding globulin in the serum of the MODY patient is obviously reduced. Mass spectrum MRM (multiple-reaction-monitoring) also verifies that the five proteins are abnormal in expression in serums of the MODY patient, type-1 and type-2 diabetics and a healthy control group, and are specific proteins.

Compounds comprising peptides and peptidomimetics capable of binding the C3 protein and inhibiting complement activation are disclosed. These compounds display improved complement activation-inhibitory activity as compared with currently available compounds. Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptides are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of blood-borne and toxin mediated diseases, and in particular anti-C5a antibodies for the prevention and treatment of sepsis in humans as well as other animals. The present invention also relates to methods of generating anti-C5a antibodies employing C-terminal truncated C5a peptides.

The structure of C3c in complex with the complement inhibitor, compstatin, and use of this information for rational design or identification of complement-inhibiting drugs are disclosed.

The present invention relates to an influenza antigen, comprising a fusion product of at least the extracellular part of a conserved influenza membrane protein or a functional fragment thereof and a presenting carrier, which may be a presenting (poly)peptide or a non-peptidic structure, such as glycans, peptide mimetics, synthetic polymers. The invention further relates to a vaccine against influenza, comprising at least an antigen of the invention, optionally in the presence of one or more excipients. The invention also relates to use of the antigen, a method for preparing the antigen and acceptor cells expressing the antigen.

The invention provides modified human complement C3 proteins, comprising a human C3 protein, wherein amino acid residues in the human C3 protein are substituted with a corresponding portion of a Cobra Venom Factor (CVF) protein, and wherein one or more amino acid residues in the CVF portion of the modified human complement C3 protein are further modified.

This invention provides expressible polynucleotides, which can express a target protein or polypeptide. Synthetic mRNA constructs for producing a protein or polypeptide can contain one or more 5′ UTRs, where a 5′ UTR may be expressed by a gene of a plant. In some embodiments, a 5′ UTR may be expressed by a gene of a member of Arabidopsis genus. The synthetic mRNA constructs can be used as pharmaceutical agents for expressing a target protein or polypeptide in vivo.