Compounds For Treating Beta-amyloidoses

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of mimotopes in the treatment of diseases associated with .beta.-amyloid formation and/or aggregation (.beta.-Amyloidoses) including Alzheimer's disease, whereby said mimotopes are able to induce the in vivo formation of antibodies directed to A.beta.1-40/42, A.beta.pE3-40/42, A.beta.3-40/42 and A.beta.11-40/42.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/997,674 filed Dec. 13, 2010 which is a National Stage Entry of PCT/AT2009/000236 filed Jun. 12, 2009 and claims priority of Austrian Patent Application No. A 951/2008 filed Jun. 12, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to the use of mimotopes for the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of diseases associated with .beta.-amyloid formation and/or aggregation (.beta.-Amyloidoses).

[0003] Various degenerative diseases are characterized by the aberrant polymerization and accumulation of specific proteins. These so called proteopathies include neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease as well as diverse systemic disorders including the amyloidoses. The present invention relates to the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of proteopathies associated with .beta.-amyloid proteins summarised under the term .beta.-Amyloidoses. The most prominent form of .beta.-Amyloidoses is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Other examples include but are not limited to Dementia with Lewy bodies and Dementia in Down syndrome.

[0004] AD is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaques--closely associated with extensive astrocytosis and microgliosis as well as dystrophic neurones and neuronal loss. These amyloid plaques mainly consist of the Amyloid-.beta. (A.beta.) peptides A.beta.40 and A.beta.42 derived from the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), which is expressed on various cell types in the nervous system. A.beta. peptides are considered to be directly involved in the pathogenesis and progression of AD.

[0005] APP is normally processed by two cleavage steps to form the currently known forms of Abeta x-40/42/43. The first cleavage is performed by the so called beta-site APP-cleaving enzymes 1 and 2 (BACE1 and BACE2); the second proteolytic step is performed by the gamma-Secretase Complex (reviewed in De Strooper et al. J Cell Sci 113 (2000): 1857-1870).

[0006] BACE enzymes recognise two sites in the N-terminal portion of the presumptive A.beta. peptide: the first interaction of BACE with APP leads to a cut at the sequence DAEFR (SEQ ID NO: 105) (pos. 1 in A.beta.) and formation of Abeta 1-X. Alternatively BACE can also cut at future position 11 within A.beta. resulting in the fragment II-X. Thus BACE mediated APP processing creates a variety of different A.beta. species with full length Abeta 1-40/42 as major contribuent. Gamma-Secretase activity leads to production of 3 main fragments: A.beta. 1-40/42/43. Once these peptides are produced they are further processed by Amino-peptidases resulting in their subsequent stepwise degradation. These further steps lead to formation of other forms like for example A.beta.3-40/42 respectively. In humans on average 60-85% of amyloid plaque material is formed by A.beta.40/42 derivatives which are N-terminally truncated and frequently modified. The relative amounts of N-terminally truncated A.beta. species are variable in respect of A.beta. levels, mutations and BACE activity.

[0007] The most abundant truncated forms of A.beta. are: A.beta.3-40/42 and A.beta.11-40/42. Both peptides contain an N-terminal glutamate residue, which is frequently modified enzymatically to pyroglutamate, resulting in the formation of A.beta.3(pE)-40/42 and A.beta.11(pE)-40/42, respectively. Because the amino terminus of the Abeta 3(pE) and 11(pE) peptides is blocked by internal lactam, it is protected from the proteolytic action of aminopeptidases other than pyroglutamate-specific ones and can thus remain stable in tissues.

[0008] The most prominent form of N-terminally truncated modified amyloid is formed by the peptide 3(pE)-40/42, which is thought to constitute up to 50% of all truncated forms. This means that this isoforms constitute 25-40% of all amyloid peptides in AD brains. Another prominent form of truncated A.beta. peptides is A.beta.11-40/42: Naslund et al. and Huse et al. could demonstrate that there is a significant level of these truncated species detectable in human brains of AD patients as well as in infra-clinical patients for AD. Furthermore these peptides undergo intramolecular dehydration and form stable (pE) forms with similar consequences as described for 3(pE)-40/42.

[0009] It has been shown previously that truncated and modified peptides are more stable in neural tissue than full length A.beta.. Additionally, N-terminally truncated forms of A.beta. are more amyloidogenic than unmodified A.beta. peptides, thus enhancing the rate of plaque formation, and also show neurotoxic activity when applied to neurons in culture as well as in in vivo experiments. Truncated forms of A.beta. can already be detected in diffuse aggregations of A.beta. in early stages of AD and might be involved in early plaque formation, acting as individual seeds in vivo.

[0010] There is compelling evidence that the occurrence of N-terminally truncated A.beta. species is correlated with increasing severity and early onset of neurodegeneration in sporadic and familial Alzheimer disease as well as Down Syndrome patients. The aggregatory effects in conjunction with the increased stability of these peptides make them a potentially dangerous player in AD development. Analysis in infraclinical patients suffering from familial AD or Down-Syndrome have unequivocally shown that A.beta. 3(pE)-42 can be detected during the earliest stages of disease, also called the "seed" stages. At this time no or only minor neurological symptoms can be detected although plaques are starting to accumulate which bear the A.beta. 3(pE)-42 peptide species. Thus, data from such patients are implying a link between early formation of truncated A.beta. species and disease onset as well as progression.

[0011] In light of these findings it seems to be important to decrease the amount of these peptide species in AD patients to modify disease progression and reduce toxicity and accompanying cognitive decline. An optimal AD-vaccine should thus elicit an immune response which is able to target the most prominent forms of A.beta. peptides present in the brain of AD patients.

[0012] Indeed, immunotherapeutic treatment using active and passive immunisation strategies to target full length A.beta., led to reduction of A.beta. plaques and had beneficial impact on disease progression in animal models of AD. Passive vaccination experiments in mouse models of AD clearly showed, that antibodies specifically directed against the N- and C-termini of A.beta.40/42 are able to reduce plaque burden in the brain and also improve cognitive functions in treated animals as judged from behavioural analyses. Similar observations have been made in active vaccination experiments, using different approaches to induce immune responses directed against A.beta.40/42 in mice. All of these approaches used full length A.beta.40/42 or fragments containing the native sequence of A.beta. and most reduced the amyloid burden in transgenic mouse models. Importantly, these animals also showed improved cognitive functions. Strikingly, Lernere et al. (Am J Pathol 165 (2004): 283-297) could reproduce these results in non-human primates which showed clear reduction of plaque deposition and associated pathology in response to active vaccination with full length A.beta.. However, the first phase IIa clinical vaccination trial in AD patients using full length A.beta.42 as antigen had to be discontinued due to severe neuroinflammatory side effects including brain infiltration of autoreactive T-cells. Nevertheless, studies investigating the clinical effects in patients treated with AN-1792 revealed that patients who developed an antibody response against A.beta.42 but did not suffer from meningoencephalitis performed better in cognitive tests than non-responding patients, indicating that immunotherapy might be a very useful treatment approach in AD.

[0013] Most importantly, recent results obtained from autopsy cases analysing patients which underwent AN1792 vaccination showed a clearance of full length A.beta. species from the brain but a persistence of N-terminally truncated forms of A.beta.. This underscores the necessity of the invention of novel vaccines which are targeting full length A.beta. as well as N-terminally truncated and modified forms of this molecule.

[0014] Inducing an immune response against A.beta.40/42 peptides in humans can interfere with cognitive decline in AD patients, but a safe Alzheimer vaccine has to avoid the formation of autoreactive T cells. Vaccination using native A.beta.40/42 peptides or fragments thereof suffers from the intrinsic risk of inducing autoimmune disease in patients, as the immune response cannot exclusively be targeted to A.beta..

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide compounds and medicaments which can be used to treat and/or prevent .beta.-Amyloidoses including Alzheimer's disease. These compounds should show no or a significantly reduced risk of inducing autoimmune diseases when administered to an individual. According to another object of the present invention said compound may be able to induce the in vivo formation of antibodies in an individual which are directed to truncated and/or stabilised forms of A.beta., which usually are the major components of amyloid deposits.

[0016] Therefore the present invention relates to the use of at least one compound comprising the amino acid sequence

X.sub.1RX.sub.2DX.sub.3(X.sub.4).sub.n(X.sub.5).sub.m(X.sub.6).sub.o (SEQ ID NO: 100) (Formula I),

wherein [0017] X.sub.1 is isoleucine (I) or valine (V), [0018] X.sub.2 is tryptophan (W) or tyrosine (Y), [0019] X.sub.3 is threonine (T), valine (V), alanine (A), methionine (M), glutamine (Q) or glycine (G), [0020] X.sub.4 is proline (P), alanine (A), tyrosine (Y), serine (S), cysteine (C) or glycine (G), [0021] X.sub.5 is proline (P), leucine (L), glycine (G) or cysteine (C), [0022] X.sub.6 is cysteine (C), [0023] n, m and o are, independently, 0 or 1,

[0024] said compound having a binding capacity to an antibody which is specific for an epitope of the amyloid-beta-peptide (A.beta.) comprising the amino acid sequence EFRHDSGY (SEQ ID NO: 102) and/or pEFRHDSGY (SEQ ID NO: 103)

[0025] for producing a medicament for preventing and/or treating .beta.-amyloidoses.

[0026] It surprisingly turned out, that a compound comprising an amino acid sequence of the formula I is able to induce the in vivo formation of antibodies which are directed to the truncated A.beta. forms A.beta.pE3-40/42 and A.beta.3-40/42. The antibodies formed are able to bind to said A.beta. fragments resulting in the disintegration of A.beta. plaques.

[0027] Formula I and II and all other peptidic molecules disclosed herein mimic the natural occurring A.beta. peptides and variants A.beta.1-40/42, A.beta.pE3-40/42, A.beta.3-40/42 and A.beta.11-40/42, so that compounds comprising the amino acid sequences disclosed herein are able to induce the formation of respective antibodies.

[0028] The invention presented herein refers to antigens which do not contain sequences of the native A.beta. peptide and mimic the structure of neo-epitopes not detectable by mimotopes such as described in WO 2004/062556. Such a mimotope-based AD vaccine would therefore induce antibody responses exclusively reacting with the pathological A.beta. molecules mentioned herein but not with parental structures like APP. Furthermore, mimotopes do not contain potential T-cell self-epitopes and avoid induction of detrimental autoreactive T-cells.

[0029] ".beta.-Amyloidoses", as used herein, refers to various degenerative diseases which are characterized by the aberrant polymerization and accumulation of specific proteins so called proteopathies. The present invention relates to the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of proteopathies associated with .beta.-amyloid proteins summarized under the term .beta.-Amyloidoses. The most prominent form of .beta.-Amyloidoses is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Other examples include but are not limited to Dementia with Lewy bodies and Dementia in Down syndrome. Further examples are Lewy body dementia, myositis, sporadic inclusion body myositis, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis (dutch type), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, A.beta. related angiitis.

[0030] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention ".beta.-Amyloidoses" is Alzheimer's disease.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the compound comprises a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of IRWDTP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 106), VRWDVYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 107), IRYDAPL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 108), IRYDMAG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 109), IRWDTSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 110), IRWDQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 111), IRWDG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 112) and IRWDGG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 113).

[0032] Particularly preferred compounds of the present invention comprise or consist of the above identified amino acid sequences, whereby the C-terminus of said peptide may or may not comprise a cysteine residue (indicated by the use of brackets) so that the compound obtained may be coupled, e.g., to a carrier molecule. However, it is of course also possible to link to the N-terminus of said peptide a cysteine residue.

[0033] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the amino acid sequence is IRWDTP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 106), VRWDVYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 107), IRYDAPL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 108) or IRYDMAG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 109).

[0034] Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of at least one compound comprising the amino acid sequence

EX.sub.1WHX.sub.2X.sub.3(X.sub.4).sub.n(X.sub.5).sub.m(SEQ ID NO: 101) (Formula II),

wherein [0035] X.sub.1 is valine (V), arginine (R) or leucine (L), [0036] X.sub.2 is arginine (R) or glutamic acid (E), [0037] X.sub.3 is alanine (A), histidine (H), lysine (K), leucine (L), tyrosine (Y) or glycine (G), [0038] X.sub.4 is proline (P), histidine (H), phenylalanine (F), glutamine (Q) or cysteine (C) [0039] X.sub.5 is cysteine (C), [0040] n and m are, independently, 0 or 1,

[0041] said compound having a binding capacity to an antibody which is specific for an epitope of the amyloid-beta-peptide (A.beta.) comprising the amino acid sequence EVHHQKL (SEQ ID NO: 104)

[0042] for producing a medicament for preventing and/or treating .beta.-amyloidoses.

[0043] The administration of a compound comprising an amino acid sequence of formula II provokes an immune response against the truncated A.beta. form A.beta.11-40/42.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the compound comprises a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of EVWHRHQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 114), ERHEKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 115), EVWHRLQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 116), ELWHRYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 117), ELWHRAF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 118), ELWHRA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 119), EVWHRG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 120), EVWHRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 121) and ERHEK(C) (SEQ ID NO: 122), preferably EVWHRHQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 114), ERHEKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 115), EVWHRLQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 116), ELWHRYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 117) and ELWHRAF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 118).

[0045] Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of at least one compound comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of QDFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 123), SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 125), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), TPFRHT(C) (SEQ ID NO: 127), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SAFRHH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 130), LPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 131), SHFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 132), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), QFKHDL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 134), NWFPHP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 135), EEFKYS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 136), NELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 137), GEMRHQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 138), DTYFPRS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 139), VELRHSR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 140), YSMRHDA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 141), AANYFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 142), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), SSSFFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 144), EDWFFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 145), SAGSFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 146), QVMRHHA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 147), SEFSHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 148), QPNLFYH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 149), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), ATFRHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 152), APMYFPH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 153), TYFSHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 154), HEPLFSH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 155), SLMRHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 156), EFLRHTL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 157), ATPLFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 158), QELKRYY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 159), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), LHIPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 161), NELFKHF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 162), SQYFPRP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 163), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), MLPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 165), SAMRHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 166), TPLMFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 167), LQFKHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 168), ATFRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 169), TGLMFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 170), AEFSHWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 171), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), AEFMHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 173), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), DGLLFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 175), IGFRHDS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 176), SNSEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 177), SELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 178), THMEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 179), EELRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 180), QLFKHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 181), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182), SNFRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 183), APIQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 184), AYFPHTS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 185), NSSELRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 186), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187), TSTEMWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 188), SQSYFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 189), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 191), (C)HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 192) and HEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 193) for producing a medicament for preventing and/or treating .beta.-amyloidoses.

[0046] Each of these compounds is able to induce the in vivo formation of antibodies directed to A.beta.1-40/42, A.beta.pE3-40/42 and A.beta.3-40/42. Therefore these compounds are particularly well suited to treat and/or prevent .beta.-amyloidoses, such as AD, because the administration of one compound results in the formation of antibodies which are capable to recognize the three major A.beta. forms A.beta.1-40/42, A.beta.pE3-40/42 and A.beta.3-40/42.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the compound comprises or consists of a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of QDFRHY(C)_(SEQ ID NO: 123), SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 125), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), TPFRHT(C) (SEQ ID NO: 127), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SAFRHH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 130), LPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 131), SHFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 132), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), QFKHDL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 134), NWFPHP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 135), EEFKYS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 136), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), DGLLFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 175), EELRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 180), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 191), (C)HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 192) and HEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 193) preferably SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187).

[0048] The amino acid sequences disclosed herein are considered to be mimotopes of the epitopes of A.beta. comprising the amino acid sequence EFRHDSGY (SEQ ID NO: 102), pEFRHDSGY (SEQ ID NO: 103) or EVHHQKL (SEQ ID NO: 104). According to the present invention the term "mimotope" refers to a molecule which has a conformation that has a topology equivalent to the epitope of which it is a mimic. The mimotope binds to the same antigen-binding region of an antibody which binds immunospecifically to a desired antigen. The mimotope will elicit an immunological response in a host that is reactive to the antigen to which it is a mimic. The mimotope may also act as a competitor for the epitope of which it is a mimic in in vitro inhibition assays (e.g. ELISA inhibition assays) which involve the epitope and an antibody binding to said epitope. However, a mimotope of the present invention may not necessarily prevent or compete with the binding of the epitope of which it is a mimic in an in vitro inhibition assay although it is capable to induce a specific immune response when administered to a mammal.

[0049] As used herein, the term "epitope" refers to an immunogenic region of an antigen which is recognized by a particular antibody molecule. In general, an antigen will possess one or more epitopes, each capable of binding an antibody that recognizes the particular epitope.

[0050] The mimotopes of the present invention can be synthetically produced by chemical synthesis methods which are well known in the art, either as an isolated peptide or as a part of another peptide or polypeptide. Alternatively, the peptide mimotope can be produced in a microorganism which produces the peptide mimotope which is then isolated and if desired, further purified. The peptide mimotope can be produced in microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast or fungi, in eukaryote cells such as a mammalian or an insect cell, or in a recombinant virus vector such as adenovirus, poxvirus, herpesvirus, Simliki forest virus, baculovirus, bacteriophage, sindbis virus or sendai virus. Suitable bacteria for producing the peptide mimotope include E. coli, B. subtilis or any other bacterium that is capable of expressing peptides such as the peptide mimotope. Suitable yeast types for expressing the peptide mimotope include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida, Pichia pastoris or any other yeast capable of expressing peptides. Corresponding methods are well known in the art. Also methods for isolating and purifying recombinantly produced peptides are well known in the art and include e.g. as gel filtration, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography etc.

[0051] To facilitate isolation of the peptide mimotope, a fusion polypeptide may be made wherein the peptide mimotope is translationally fused (covalently linked) to a heterologous polypeptide which enables isolation by affinity chromatography. Typical heterologous polypeptides are His-Tag (e.g. His.sub.6 (SEQ ID NO: 194); 6 histidine residues (SEQ ID NO: 194)), GST-Tag (Glutathione-Stransferase) etc. The fusion polypeptide facilitates not only the purification of the mimotopes but can also prevent the mimotope polypeptide from being degraded during purification. If it is desired to remove the heterologous polypeptide after purification the fusion polypeptide may comprise a cleavage site at the junction between the peptide mimotope and the heterologous polypeptide. The cleavage site consists of an amino acid sequence that is cleaved with an enzyme specific for the amino acid sequence at the site (e.g. proteases).

[0052] The mimotopes of the present invention may also be modified at or nearby their N- and/or C-termini so that at said positions a cysteine residue is bound thereto. In a preferred embodiment terminally positioned (located at the N- and C-termini of the peptide) cysteine residues are used to cyclize the peptides through a disulfide bond. The cysteine residue may also serve to bind to said peptide/compound a further molecule (e.g. a carrier).

[0053] The mimotopes of the present invention may also be used in various assays and kits, in particular in immunological assays and kits. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that the mimotope may be part of another peptide or polypeptide, particularly an enzyme which is used as a reporter in immunological assays. Such reporter enzymes include e.g. alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase.

[0054] The mimotopes according to the present invention preferably are antigenic polypeptides which in their amino acid sequence vary from the amino acid sequence of A.beta. or of fragments of A.beta.. In this respect, the inventive mimotopes may not only comprise amino acid substitutions of one or more naturally occurring amino acid residues but also of one or more non-natural amino acids (i.e. not from the 20 "classical" amino acids) or they may be completely assembled of such non-natural amino acids. Moreover, the inventive antigens which induce antibodies directed and binding to A.beta.1-40/42, A.beta.pE3-40/42, A.beta.3-40/42 and A.beta.11-40/42 may be assembled of D- or L-amino acids or of combinations of DL-amino acids and, optionally, they may have been changed by further modifications, ring closures or derivatizations. Suitable antibody-inducing antigens may be provided from commercially available peptide libraries. Preferably, these peptides are at least 7 amino acids, and preferred lengths may be up to 16, preferably up to 14 or 20 amino acids (e.g. 5 to 16 amino acid residues). According to the invention, however, also longer peptides may very well be employed as antibody-inducing antigens. Furthermore the mimotopes of the present invention may also be part of a polypeptide and consequently comprising at their N- and/or C-terminus at least one further amino acid residue.

[0055] For preparing the mimotopes of the present invention (i.e. the antibody-inducing antigens disclosed herein), of course also phage libraries, peptide libraries are suitable, for instance produced by means of combinatorial chemistry or obtained by means of high throughput screening techniques for the most varying structures (Display: A Laboratory Manual by Carlos F. Barbas (Editor), et al.; Willats WG Phage display: practicalities and prospects. Plant Mol. Biol. 2002 December; 50(6):837-54).

[0056] Furthermore, according to the invention also anti-A.beta.1-40/42-, -A.beta.pE3-40/42-, -A.beta.3-40/42- and -A.beta.11-40/42-antibody-inducing antigens based on nucleic acids ("aptamers") may be employed, and these, too, may be found with the most varying (oligonucleotide) libraries (e.g. with 2-180 nucleic acid residues) (e.g. Burgstaller et al., Curr. Opin. Drug Discov. Dev. 5(5) (2002), 690-700; Famulok et al., Acc. Chem. Res. 33 (2000), 591-599; Mayer et al., PNA.beta. 98 (2001), 4961-4965, etc.). In antibody-inducing antigens based on nucleic acids, the nucleic acid backbone can be provided e.g. by the natural phosphor-diester compounds, or also by phosphorotioates or combinations or chemical variations (e.g. as PNA), wherein as bases, according to the invention primarily U, T, A, C, G, H and mC can be employed. The 2'-residues of the nucleotides which can be used according to the present invention preferably are H, OH, F, Cl, NH.sub.2, O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-propyl or O-butyl, wherein the nucleic acids may also be differently modified, i.e. for instance with protective groups, as they are commonly employed in oligonucleotide synthesis. Thus, aptamer-based antibody-inducing antigens are also preferred antibody-inducing antigens within the scope of the present invention.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the compound is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preferably KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin), tetanus toxoid, albumin-binding protein, bovine serum albumin, a dendrimer (MAP; Biol. Chem. 358: 581), peptide linkers (or flanking regions) as well as the adjuvant substances described in Singh et al., Nat. Biotech. 17 (1999), 1075-1081 (in particular those in Table 1 of that document), and O'Hagan et al., Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery 2 (9) (2003), 727-735 (in particular the endogenous immunopotentiating compounds and delivery systems described therein), or mixtures thereof. The conjugation chemistry (e.g. via heterobifunctional compounds such as GMBS and of course also others as described in "Bioconjugate Techniques", Greg T. Hermanson) in this context can be selected from reactions known to the skilled man in the art. Moreover, the vaccine composition may be formulated with an adjuvant, preferably a low soluble aluminium composition, in particular aluminium hydroxide. Of course, also adjuvants like MF59 aluminium phosphate, calcium phosphate, cytokines (e.g., IL-2, IL-12, GM-CSF), saponins (e.g., QS21), MDP derivatives, CpG oligos, LPS, MPL, polyphosphazenes, emulsions (e.g., Freund's, SAF), liposomes, virosomes, iscoms, cochleates, PLG microparticles, poloxamer particles, virus-like particles, heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), cholera toxin (CT), mutant toxins (e.g., LTK63 and LTR72), microparticles and/or polymerized liposomes may be used.

[0058] The compound of the present invention is preferably bound to the carrier or adjuvant via a linker, which is selected from the group consisting of NHS-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) (e.g. NHS-PEO.sub.4-maleimide).

[0059] A vaccine which comprises the present compound (mimotope) and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be administered by any suitable mode of application, e.g. i.d., i.v., i.p., i.m., intranasally, orally, subcutaneously, etc. and in any suitable delivery device (O'Hagan et al., Nature Reviews, Drug Discovery 2 (9), (2003), 727-735). The compound of the present invention is preferably formulated for intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular administration (see e.g. "Handbook of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Formulations", Sarfaraz Niazi, CRC Press Inc, 2004).

[0060] The medicament (vaccine) according to the present invention contains the compound according to the invention in an amount of from 0.1 ng to 10 mg, preferably 10 ng to 1 mg, in particular 100 ng to 100 .mu.g, or, alternatively, e.g. 100 fmol to 10 .mu.mol, preferably 10 .mu.mol to 1 .mu.mol, in particular 100 .mu.mol to 100 nmol. Typically, the vaccine may also contain auxiliary substances, e.g. buffers, stabilizers etc.

[0061] Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a compound as defined above for treating and/or ameliorating symptoms of synucleopathy.

[0062] It surprisingly turned out that the compounds of the present invention can also be used to treat and ameliorate symptoms associated with synucleopathies.

[0063] Amyloidoses and synucleopathies are associated with the cerebral accumulation of .beta.-amyloid and .alpha.-synuclein, respectively. Some patients show clinical and pathological features of both diseases, raising the possibility of overlapping pathogenic pathways. These patients are also classified as suffering from a newly identified syndrome described as Dementia with Lewy Bodies or Parkinson's disease with dementia (DLB/PDD). In a recent transgenic animal model for DLB/PDD it has been shown that overexpression of both, .alpha.-synuclein and Amyloid Precursor Protein (hAPP), in mice leads to the development of cognitive and motor alterations accompanied by loss of cholinergic neurons and reduction in synaptic vesicles, formation of extensive amyloid plaques, and haSYN-immunoreactive intraneuronal fibrillar inclusions. All of these features are also found in the DLB/PDD syndrome. It has been described recently that both molecules are potentially able to interact and to form hybrid oligomers in vitro. It has also been shown that overexpression of the APP can exacerbate some of the pathologic effects of .alpha.-synuclein overexpression. In contrast, .alpha.-synuclein is able to enhance secretion and toxicity of amyloid beta peptides and could thus also increase the effects of .beta.-amyloid supporting the notion of overlapping pathogenic pathways in neurodegenerative processes.

[0064] In both proteopathies progressive accumulation of peptide oligomers has been identified as one of the central toxic events leading to the various alterations typical for either synucleopathies or amyloidoses. Despite this mechanistic similarity, it is hypothesized that .alpha.-synuclein and A.beta. have distinct, as well as convergent, pathogenic effects on the integrity and function of the brain. Synucleins are believed to affect motoric function more severely than cognitive function, whereas amyloid .beta. peptides are described to have opposite effects. The reason for this discrepancy is currently unknown but it precludes a clear description of the interdependencies and effects of both molecules.

[0065] The treatment approach presented in the current invention is describing an immunotherapy targeting A.beta. which will lead to the removal of mainly extracellular amyloid. It is thus believed to relieve the amyloid associated alterations ranging from plaque deposition to neuronal death as well as to memory problems and cognitive decline. The subcellular localization of synucleins however indicates that these intracellular proteins are mainly active at the synapse, especially confined to synaptic vesicles. Interestingly, also synuclein accumulations, which are the unifying pathologic hallmark of synucleopathies, are mainly detectable intracellularly. Additionally, the pathogenic mechanism underlying synucleopathies is believed to be attributable to intraneuronal changes ranging from mitochondrial dysfunction, .alpha.-cumulation of abnormally folded, ubiquitinated or phosphorylated proteins as well as accumulation of alpha synuclein. These alterations are consequently resulting in changes in synaptic functions, synaptic failure, and loss of dopaminergic neurons and classical clinical signs of synucleopathies. In contrast A.beta. is mainly detectable extraneuronally and amyloid plaques as well as fibrils, protofibrils and oligomers of beta amyloid can exert neurotoxic functions when applied extracellularly or intracerebrally. Thus it is a surprising finding to the expert that an approach mainly targeting extracellular amyloid would reduce the symptoms of synucleopathies like PD, which are affecting mainly intracellular processes leading to the typical symptoms described below. It is even more surprising as it is currently believed that the overlapping effects of both molecules are caused by direct interactions of the two proteins which should mainly occur intracellularly. According to the present invention the term "synucleinopathy" includes all neurodegenerative disorders characterized by pathological synuclein aggregations. Several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's Disease (PD), Lewy Body Disease (LBD), Diffuse Lewy Body Disease (DLBD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Parkinsonism with Dementia (PDD), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation type I (NBIA Type I) are collectively grouped as synucleinopathies.

[0066] "Symptoms of synucleopathy", as used herein, refers to those symptoms of the synucleopathies, in particular Parkinson's disease, which affect the motor and non-motor behaviour of a patient suffering from said disease. "Motor symptoms" include resting tremor, Bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, stooped posture, dystonia, fatigue, impaired fine motor dexterity and motor coordination, impaired gross motor coordination, poverty of movement (decreased arm swing), akathisia, speech problems, such as softness of voice or slurred speech caused by lack of muscle control, loss of facial expression, or "masking", micrographia, difficulty swallowing, sexual dysfunction, drooling etc. "Non-motor" symptoms include pain, dementia or confusion, sleep disturbances, constipation, skin problems, depression, fear or anxiety, memory difficulties and slowed thinking, urinary problems, fatigue and aching, loss of energy, compulsive behaviour, cramping etc.

[0067] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the synucleopathy is selected from the group of Parkinson's Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, multiple system atrophy and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Particularly preferred is Parkinson's disease.

[0068] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a peptide having or consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of IRWDTP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 106), VRWDVYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 107), IRYDAPL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 108), IRYDMAG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 109), IRWDTSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 110), IRWDQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 111), IRWDG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 112), IRWDGG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 113), EVWHRHQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 114), ERHEKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 115), EVWHRLQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 116), ELWHRYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 117), ELWHRAF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 118), ELWHRA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 119), EVWHRG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 120), EVWHRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 121), ERWHEK(C) (SEQ ID NO: 122), QDFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 123), SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 125), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), TPFRHT(C) (SEQ ID NO: 127), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SAFRHH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 130), LPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 131), SHFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 132), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), QFKHDL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 134), NWFPHP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 135), EEFKYS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 136), NELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 137), GEMRHQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 138), DTYFPRS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 139), VELRHSR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 140), YSMRHDA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 141), AANYFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 142), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), SSSFFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 144), EDWFFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 145), SAGSFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 146), QVMRHHA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 147), SEFSHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 148), QPNLFYH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 149), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), ATFRHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 152), APMYFPH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 153), TYFSHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 154), HEPLFSH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 155), SLMRHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 156), EFLRHTL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 157), ATPLFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 158), QELKRYY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 159), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), LHIPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 161), NELFKHF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 162), SQYFPRP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 163), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), MLPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 165), SAMRHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 166), TPLMFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 167), LQFKHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 168), ATFRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 169), TGLMFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 170), AEFSHWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 171), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), AEFMHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 173), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), DGLLFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 175), IGFRHDS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 176), SNSEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 177), SELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 178), THMEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 179), EELRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 180), QLFKHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 181), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182), SNFRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 183), APIQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 184), AYFPHTS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 185), NSSELRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 186), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187), TSTEMWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 188), SQSYFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 189), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 191), (C)HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 192) and HEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 193). As indicated by the use of the parenthesis the peptides of the present invention may or may not comprise the cysteine residue at the C- or N-terminus. Consequently the present invention encompasses also the following amino acid sequences: IRWDTP (SEQ ID NO: 195), VRWDVYP (SEQ ID NO: 196), IRYDAPL (SEQ ID NO: 197), IRYDMAG (SEQ ID NO: 198), IRWDTSL (SEQ ID NO: 199), IRWDQP (SEQ ID NO: 200), IRWDG (SEQ ID NO: 201), IRWDGG (SEQ ID NO: 202), EVWHRHQ (SEQ ID NO: 203), ERHEKH (SEQ ID NO: 204), EVWHRLQ (SEQ ID NO: 205), ELWHRYP (SEQ ID NO: 206), ELWHRAF (SEQ ID NO: 207), ELWHRA (SEQ ID NO: 208), EVWHRG (SEQ ID NO: 209), EVWHRH (SEQ ID NO: 210), ERHEK (SEQ ID NO: 211), QDFRHY (SEQ ID NO: 212), SEFKHG (SEQ ID NO: 213), TSFRHG (SEQ ID NO: 214), TSVFRH (SEQ ID NO: 215), TPFRHT (SEQ ID NO: 216), SQFRHY (SEQ ID NO: 217), LMFRHN (SEQ ID NO: 218), SAFRHH (SEQ ID NO: 219), LPFRHG (SEQ ID NO: 220), SHFRHG (SEQ ID NO: 221), ILFRHG (SEQ ID NO: 222), QFKHDL (SEQ ID NO: 223), NWFPHP (SEQ ID NO: 224), EEFKYS (SEQ ID NO: 225), NELRHST (SEQ ID NO: 226), GEMRHQP (SEQ ID NO: 227), DTYFPRS (SEQ ID NO: 228), VELRHSR (SEQ ID NO: 229), YSMRHDA (SEQ ID NO: 230), AANYFPR (SEQ ID NO: 231), SPNQFRH (SEQ ID NO: 232), SSSFFPR (SEQ ID NO: 233), EDWFFWH (SEQ ID NO: 234), SAGSFRH (SEQ ID NO: 235), QVMRHHA (SEQ ID NO: 236), SEFSHSS (SEQ ID NO: 237), QPNLFYH (SEQ ID NO: 238), ELFKHHL (SEQ ID NO: 239), TLHEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 240), ATFRHSP (SEQ ID NO: 241), APMYFPH (SEQ ID NO: 242), TYFSHSL (SEQ ID NO: 243), HEPLFSH (SEQ ID NO: 244), SLMRHSS (SEQ ID NO: 245), EFLRHTL (SEQ ID NO: 246), ATPLFRH (SEQ ID NO: 247), QELKRYY (SEQ ID NO: 248), THTDFRH (SEQ ID NO: 249), LHIPFRH (SEQ ID NO: 250), NELFKHF (SEQ ID NO: 251), SQYFPRP (SEQ ID NO: 252), DEHPFRH (SEQ ID NO: 253), MLPFRHG (SEQ ID NO: 254), SAMRHSL (SEQ ID NO: 255), TPLMFWH (SEQ ID NO: 256), LQFKHST (SEQ ID NO: 257), ATFRHST (SEQ ID NO: 258), TGLMFKH (SEQ ID NO: 259), AEFSHWH (SEQ ID NO: 260), QSEFKHW (SEQ ID NO: 261), AEFMHSV (SEQ ID NO: 262), ADHDFRH (SEQ ID NO: 263), DGLLFKH (SEQ ID NO: 264), IGFRHDS (SEQ ID NO: 265), SNSEFRR (SEQ ID NO: 266), SELRHST (SEQ ID NO: 267), THMEFRR (SEQ ID NO: 268), EELRHSV (SEQ ID NO: 269), QLFKHSP (SEQ ID NO: 270), YEFRHAQ (SEQ ID NO: 271), SNFRHSV (SEQ ID NO: 272), APIQFRH (SEQ ID NO: 273), AYFPHTS (SEQ ID NO: 274), NSSELRH (SEQ ID NO: 275), TEFRHKA (SEQ ID NO: 276), TSTEMWH (SEQ ID NO: 277), SQSYFKH (SEQ ID NO: 278), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 279), HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 280) and HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 280).

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment the peptide is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, preferably KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin).

[0070] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation, preferably a vaccine, comprising at least one peptide according to the present invention. Said pharmaceutical formulation may be employed to treat individuals suffering from .beta.-Amyloidoses including Alzheimer's disease or prevent the formation of A.beta.-plaques in an individual to impede the formation of .beta.-Amyloidoses including Alzheimer's disease.

[0071] The present invention is further illustrated by the following figures and examples, however without being restricted thereto.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows binding of monoclonal antibody MV-001 to specific peptides and recombinant proteins;

[0073] FIG. 2 shows binding of monoclonal antibody MV-003 to specific peptides and recombinant proteins;

[0074] FIG. 3 shows binding of monoclonal antibody MV-004 to specific peptides and recombinant proteins;

[0075] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show typical binding assays with mimotopes for .beta.-amyloid and N-terminally truncated and/or posttranslationally modified .beta.-amyloid fragments;

[0076] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show typical inhibition assays with mimotopes for .beta.-amyloid and N-terminally truncated and/or posttranslationally modified .beta.-amyloid fragments;

[0077] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show examples for in vivo characterisations of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination (injected peptide/irrelevant peptide);

[0078] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C show examples for in vivo characterisation of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination against Amyloid Beta fragments;

[0079] FIGS. 8A and 8B show examples for in vivo characterisation of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination against full length A.beta.40/42.

[0080] FIG. 9 shows areas occupied by amyloid plaques. Tg2576 were injected 6 times with mimotope vaccines adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide (ALUM) by s.c. inoculation at monthly intervals. Control mice received PBS-ALUM only. Area occupied by amyloid plaques shown as percent of the control group. Gr1 . . . control group; Gr2 . . . received p4381; Gr3 . . . received p4390; Gr4 . . . received p4715

[0081] FIG. 10 shows areas occupied by amyloid plaques. Tg2576 were injected 6 times with AFFITOPE vaccines adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide (ALUM) by s.c. inoculation at monthly intervals. Control mice received PBS-ALUM only. Area occupied by amyloid plaques shown as percent of the control group. Gr1 . . . control group; Gr2 . . . received p4395.

EXAMPLES

Methods

[0082] The antibodies used for the mimotope identification according to the present invention detect amino acid sequences derived from human A.beta. but do not bind to full length human APP. The sequences detected include EFRHDS (=original epitope aa3-8 of A.beta.), p(E)FRHDS (=original epitope of the modified aa3-8 of A.beta.), EVHHQK (=original epitope aa11-16 of A.beta.). The antibody may be a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody preparation or any antibody part or derivative thereof, the only prerequisite is that the antibody molecule specifically recognises at least one of the epitopes mentioned above (derived from human A.beta.), but does not bind to full length human APP.

[0083] The mimotopes are identified and further characterised with such monoclonal antibodies and peptide libraries.

Example 1

Generation of Monoclonal Antibodies to Specifically Detect .beta.-Amyloid and N-Terminally Truncated and/or Posttranslationally Modified .beta.-Amyloid Fragments

Example 1a

Generation of Monoclonal Antibody MV-001

[0084] A monoclonal antibody derived from the fusion of experiment Alz-5 was generated: In experiment Alz-5 C57/B16 mice were immunized repeatedly with original A.beta. epitope DAEFRHDSGYC (SEQ ID NO: 89) coupled to KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) and Alum (Aluiminium Hydroxide) as adjuvant. p4371-peptide-specific, antibody-producing hybridomas were detected by ELISA (p1253- and p4371-peptide-coated ELISA plates). Human A.beta.40/42 (recombinant protein) was used as positive control peptide: hybridomas recognizing the recombinant protein immobilised on ELISA plates were included because they are binding both peptide and full length A.beta. specifically. P1454 (Human A.beta. 33-40) was used as negative control peptide. Furthermore hybridomas were tested against p4373. Only hybridomas with no or limited p4373 binding were used for further antibody development.

[0085] The Hybridoma clone (MV-001 (internal name 824; IgG1) was purified and analysed for specific detection of p1253, p4371, p4373, p1454 and A.beta. respectively. MV-001 recognized the injected epitope (p1253) as well as the specific epitope (p4371) and full length A.beta. protein (recombinant protein; obtained from Bachem AG, Bubendorf, Switzerland) in ELISA. It however did not detect p1454 in ELISA. Furthermore, the MV-001 antibodies basically failed to detect the peptide p4373 encoding the pyroglutamate version of A.beta.3-10 (30 times lower titer than the original epitopes).

Example 1b

Generation of Monoclonal Antibody MV-003

[0086] A monoclonal antibody derived from the fusion of experiment Alz-16 was generated: In experiment Alz-16 BalbC mice were immunized repeatedly with the epitope p(E)FRHDSC (SEQ ID NO: 92) (p4373) coupled to KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) and Alum (Aluiminium Hydroxide) as adjuvant. p4373-peptide-specific, antibody-producing hybridomas were detected by ELISA (p4373-peptide-coated ELISA plates). p1253, p1454 and A.beta.40/42 were used as negative control peptides. Furthermore, hybridomas were tested against p4371. Only hybridomas with no or limited p4371 binding were used for further antibody development in order to guarantee for pyroglutamate-specificity.

[0087] The Hybridoma clone (MV-003 (internal name D129; IgG1) was purified and analysed for specific detection of p1253, p4371, p4373, p1454 and A.beta. respectively. MV-003 recognized the injected epitope (p4373) but failed to detect p1454, p1253 or full length A.beta. protein (recombinant protein; obtained from Bachem AG, Bubendorf, Switzerland) in ELISA. Furthermore, the MV-003 antibodies failed to detect the peptide p4371 encoding the normal version of A.beta.3-10 (15 times lower titer than the original epitope).

Example 1c

Generation of Monoclonal Antibody MV-004

[0088] A monoclonal antibody derived from the fusion of experiment Alz-15 was generated: In experiment Alz-15 BalbC mice were immunized repeatedly with the epitope EVHHQKC (SEQ ID NO: 91) (p4372) coupled to KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) and Alum (Aluiminium Hydroxide) as adjuvant. p4372-peptide-specific, antibody-producing hybridomas were detected by ELISA (p4372-peptide-coated ELISA plates). P4376, p4378, p1454 and A.beta.40/42 were used as negative control peptides. Only hybridomas with no or limited p4376 and p4378 binding were used for further antibody development in order to guarantee for specificity against the free N-Terminus at position aa11.

[0089] The Hybridoma clone (MV-004 (internal name B204; IgG1) was purified and analysed for specific detection of p4372, p4376, p4378, p1454 and A.beta. respectively. MV-004 recognized the injected epitope (p4372) but failed to detect p1454, p4376 and p4378 as well as full length A.beta. protein (recombinant protein; obtained from Bachem AG, Bubendorf, Switzerland) in ELISA. The failure to detect p4376, p4378 demonstrates specificity for the free N-terminus at position aa11 in truncated A.beta..

Example 2

Phage Display, In Vitro Binding and Inhibition ELISA

[0090] Phage Display libraries used in this example were: Ph.D. 7: New England BioLabs E8102L (linear 7mer library). Phage Display was done according to manufacturer's protocol (www.neb.com).

[0091] After 2 or 3 subsequent rounds of panning, single phage clones were picked and phage supernatants were subjected to ELISA on plates coated with the antibody that was used for the panning procedure. Phage clones that were positive in this ELISA (strong signal for the target, but no signal for unspecific control) were sequenced. From DNA sequences, peptide sequences were deduced. These peptides were synthesized and characterised in binding and inhibition ELISA. Additionally, some novel mimotopes were created by combining sequence information from mimotopes identified in the screen to support the identification of a consensus sequence for a mimotope vaccination.

[0092] 1. In Vitro Binding Assay (ELISA)

[0093] Peptides derived from Phage Display as well as variants thereof were coupled to BSA and bound to ELISA plates (1 .mu.M; as indicated in the respective figures) and subsequently incubated with the monoclonal antibody that was used for the screening procedure to analyse binding capacity of identified peptides.

[0094] 2. In Vitro Inhibition Assay (ELISA)

[0095] Different amounts of peptides (concentrations ranging from 10 .mu.g to 0.08 .mu.g; serial dilutions), derived from Phage Display were incubated with the monoclonal antibody that was used for the screening procedure. Peptides diminishing subsequent binding of the antibody to the original epitope coated on ELISA plates were considered as inhibiting in this assay.

Example 3

In Vivo Testing of Mimotopes: Analysis of Immunogenicity and Crossreactivity

[0096] 1. In Vivo Testing of Mimotopes

[0097] Inhibiting as well as non-inhibiting peptides were coupled to KLH and injected into mice (wildtype C57/B16 mice; subcutaneous injection into the flank) together with an appropriate adjuvant (aluminium hydroxide). Animals were vaccinated 3-6 times in biweekly intervals and sera were taken biweekly as well. Titers to injected peptides, as well as to an irrelevant peptide were determined with every serum. Furthermore, titers against the recombinant human A.beta. protein, and against original peptides were determined respectively. In general sera were analysed by reaction against peptides coupled to Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and recombinant full length proteins which were immobilised on ELISA plates. Titers were determined using anti mouse IgG specific antibodies. For detailed results see FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 respectively.

[0098] 2. Results

2.1. Identification of Specific Monoclonal Antibodies (mAB) Directed Against N-Terminally Truncated and Modified Forms of A.beta.:

[0099] FIG. 1 depicts the characterisation of the monoclonal antibody MV-001 (internal name 824; IgG1) derived from experiment Alz-5 demonstrating specificity for full length A.beta. and A.beta. truncated at position E3.

[0100] FIG. 2 depicts the characterisation of the monoclonal antibody MV-003 (internal name D129; IgG1) derived from experiment Alz-16 demonstrating specificity for A.beta. truncated and posttranslationally modified at position p(E)3.

[0101] FIG. 3 depicts the characterisation of the monoclonal antibody MV-004 (internal name B204; IgG1) derived from experiment Alz-15 demonstrating specificity for A.beta. truncated at position E11.

2.2. Screening with Specific mABs Directed Against n-Terminally Truncated and Modified Forms of A.beta.:

2.2.1. Phage Display Library pH.D. 7

[0102] 2.2.1.1. Screening with Monoclonal Antibody Directed Against p4373

[0103] 8 Sequences were identified by screening PhD 7 phage display libraries in this screen: Table 1A summarises the peptides identified and their binding capacity as compared to the original epitope.

2.2.1.2. Screening with Monoclonal Antibody Directed Against p4372

[0104] 9 Sequences were identified by screening PhD 7 phage display libraries in this screen: Table 1B summarises the peptides identified and their binding capacity as compared to the original epitope.

2.2.1.3. Screening with Monoclonal Antibody Directed Against p4371

[0105] 71 Sequences were identified by screening PhD 7 and PhD12 phage display libraries in this screen: Table 1C summarises the peptides identified and their binding capacity as compared to the original epitope.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1A mimotopes binding to the parental antibody MV-003 Internal Peptide SEQ ID Binding number No. Sequence Capacity p4395 1 IRWDTPC 2 p4396 2 VRWDVYPC 1 p4397 3 IRYDAPLC 1 p4399 4 IRYDMAGC 1 p4728 5 IRWDTSLC 3 p4756 6 IRWDQPC 3 p4792 7 IRWDGC 1 p4793 8 IRWDGGC 2 Legend to Table 1A: the binding capacity is coded by the following binding code: 1: X describes the dilution factor of the parental AB. OD halfmax binding code 1: X 0 no binding : 0 1 weak binding : <16000 2 medium binding : 16-60000 3 strong binding : >60000

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1B mimotopes binding to the parental antibody MV-004 Internal Peptide SEQ ID Binding number No. Sequence Capacity p4417 9 EVWHRHQC 2 p4418 10 ERWHEKHC 3 p4419 11 EVWHRLQC 3 p4420 12 ELWHRYPC 2 p4665 13 ELWHRAFC 2 p4786 14 ELWHRAC 1 p4788 15 EVWHRGC 1 p4789 16 EVWHRHC 1 p4790 17 ERWHEKC 1 Legend to Table 1B: the binding capacity is coded by the following binding code: 1: X describes the dilution factor of the parental AB. OD halfmax binding code 1: X 0 no binding : 0 1 weak binding : <24000 2 medium binding : 24-96000 3 strong binding : >96000

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1C mimotopes binding to the parental antibody MV-001 Internal Peptide SEQ ID Binding number No. Sequence Capacity p4380 18 QDFRHYC 2 p4381 19 SEFKHGC 3 p4382 20 TSFRHGC 2 p4383 21 TSVFRHC 3 p4384 22 TPFRHTC 2 p4385 23 SQFRHYC 2 p4386 24 LMFRHNC 3 p4387 25 SAFRHHC 2 p4388 26 LPFRHGC 2 p4389 27 SHFRHGC 2 p4390 28 ILFRHGC 3 p4391 29 QFKHDLC 2 p4392 30 NWFPHPC 1 p4393 31 EEFKYSC 2 p4701 32 NELRHSTC 3 p4702 33 GEMRHQPC 3 p4703 34 DTYFPRSC 2 p4704 35 VELRHSRC 2 p4705 36 YSMRHDAC 2 p4706 37 AANYFPRC 2 p4707 38 SPNQFRHC 3 p4708 39 SSSFFPRC 2 p4709 40 EDWFFWHC 1 p4710 41 SAGSFRHC 3 p4711 42 QVMRHHAC 2 p4712 43 SEFSHSSC 3 p4713 44 QPNLFYHC 1 p4714 45 ELFKHHLC 3 p4715 46 TLHEFRHC 3 p4716 47 ATFRHSPC 2 p4717 48 APMYFPHC 2 p4718 49 TYFSHSLC 2 p4719 50 HEPLFSHC 1 p4721 51 SLMRHSSC 2 p4722 52 EFLRHTLC 3 p4723 53 ATPLFRHC 3 p4724 54 QELKRYYC 1 p4725 55 THTDFRHC 3 p4726 56 LHIPFRHC 3 p4727 57 NELFKHFC 2 p4729 58 SQYFPRPC 2 p4730 59 DEHPFRHC 3 p4731 60 MLPFRHGC 2 p4732 61 SAMRHSLC 2 p4733 62 TPLMFWHC 1 p4734 63 LQFKHSTC 2 p4735 64 ATFRHSTC 2 p4736 65 TGLMFKHC 2 p4737 66 AEFSHWHC 2 p4738 67 QSEFKHWC 3 p4739 68 AEFMHSVC 2 p4740 69 ADHDFRHC 3 p4741 70 DGLLFKHC 3 p4742 71 IGFRHDSC 2 p4743 72 SNSEFRRC 3 p4744 73 SELRHSTC 3 p4745 74 THMEFRRC 3 p4746 75 EELRHSVC 3 p4747 76 QLFKHSPC 3 p4748 77 YEFRHAQC 3 p4749 78 SNFRHSVC 3 p4750 79 APIQFRHC 3 p4751 80 AYFPHTSC 2 p4752 81 NSSELRHC 3 p4753 82 TEFRHKAC 3 p4754 83 TSTEMWHC 1 p4755 84 SQSYFKHC 3 p4800 85 CSEFKH 3 p4801 86 SEFKHC 3 p4802 87 CHEFRH 3 p4803 88 HEFRHC 3 Legend to Table 1C: the binding capacity is coded by the following binding code: 1: X describes the dilution factor of the parental AB OD halfmax binding code 1: X 0 no binding : 0 1 weak binding : <4000 2 medium binding : 4000-20000 3 strong binding : >20000

2.3. In Vitro Characterisation of Mimotopes Identified in Screening Phage Display Libraries with Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against n-Terminally Truncated and Modified Forms of A.beta.:

[0106] FIGS. 4 and 5 show representative examples for binding and inhibition assays used to characterise mimotopes in vitro. Data obtained are summarised in Tables 1 and 2 respectively.

[0107] MV-003 Mimotopes: From the 8 sequences presented 6 sequences inhibit binding of the p(E)3-7A.beta. specific monoclonal antibody in in vitro competition experiments: Additional 2 sequences were identified that do not inhibit binding of monoclonal antibody in in vitro competition experiments but still retain binding capacity to the parental antibody (Table 2A).

[0108] MV-004 Mimotopes: All the 9 sequences presented inhibit binding of the monoclonal antibody specifically binding the free N-terminus of A.beta. truncated at position E11 in in vitro competition experiments: (Table 2B).

[0109] MV-001 Mimotopes: From the 71 sequences presented 27 sequences inhibit binding of the monoclonal antibody specifically directed against A.beta. truncated at position E3 in in vitro competition experiments: Additional 44 sequences were identified that do not inhibit binding of monoclonal antibody in in vitro competition experiments but still retain binding capacity to the parental antibody (Table 2C).

[0110] Table 2: mimotopes identified in this invention giving positive results in inhibiting assays

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2A MV-003 Mimotopes Internal Peptide SEQ ID Inhibition number No. Sequence Capacity p4395 1 IRWDTPC 1 p4397 3 IRYDAPLC 1 p4728 5 IRWDTSLC 2 p4756 6 IRWDQPC 1 p4792 7 IRWDGC 1 p4793 8 IRWDGGC 1 Legend to Table 2A: the inhibition capacity is coded by the following code: Weak inhibition means more peptide is required to lower AB binding than with the original epitope; strong inhibition means similar peptide amounts are required for mimotope and original epitope for lowering AB binding. Mimotopes are compared to the original peptide as standard. OD at 10 ug peptide used in the assay is used to calculate the competition capacity compared to original peptide. competition code 0 no inhibition (OD of 10 ug peptide above 12 times of original peptide) 1 Weaker than original epitope (OD of 10 ug peptide below 12 times of original peptide) 2 strong inhibition (as original epitope; OD of 10 ug peptide below 5 times of original peptide)

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 2B MV-004 Mimotopes Internal Peptide SEQ ID Inhibition number No. Sequence Capacity p4417 9 EVWHRHQC 1 p4418 10 ERWHEKHC 2 p4419 11 EVWHRLQC 2 p4420 12 ELWHRYPC 1 p4665 13 ELWHRAFC 2 p4786 14 ELWHRAC 1 p4788 15 EVWHRGC 1 p4789 16 EVWHRHC 1 p4790 17 ERWHEKC 2 Legend to Table 2B: the inhibition capacity is coded by the following code: Weak inhibition means more peptide is required to lower AB binding than with the original epitope; strong inhibition means similar peptide amounts are required for mimotope and original epitope for lowering AB binding. Mimotopes are compared to the original peptide as standard. OD at 10 ug peptide used in the assay is used to calculate the competition capacity compared to original peptide. competition code 0 no inhibition (OD of 10 ug peptide above 5 times of original peptide) 1 Weaker than original epitope (OD of 10 ug peptide below 5 times of original peptide) 2 strong inhibition (as original epitope; OD of 10 ug peptide below 2 times of original peptide)

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 2C MV-001 Mimotopes Internal Peptide SEQ ID Inhibition number No. Sequence Capacity p4380 18 QDFRHYC 1 p4381 19 SEFKHGC 1 p4382 20 TSFRHGC 1 p4383 21 TSVFRHC 1 p4384 22 TPFRHTC 1 p4385 23 SQFRHYC 1 p4386 24 LMFRHNC 1 p4387 25 SAFRHHC 1 p4388 26 LPFRHGC 1 p4389 27 SHFRHGC 1 p4390 28 ILFRHGC 1 p4391 29 QFKHDLC 1 p4392 30 NWFPHPC 1 p4393 31 EEFKYSC 1 p4707 38 SPNQFRHC 1 p4715 46 TLHEFRHC 2 p4725 55 THTDFRHC 1 p4730 59 DEHPFRHC 1 p4738 67 QSEFKHWC 1 p4740 69 ADHDFRHC 1 p4741 70 DGLLFKHC 1 p4746 75 EELRHSVC 1 p4753 82 TEFRHKAC 2 p4800 85 CSEFKH 2 p4801 86 SEFKHC 1 p4802 87 CHEFRH 2 p4803 88 HEFRHC 2 Legend to Table 2C: the inhibition capacity is coded by the following code: Weak inhibition means more peptide is required to lower AB binding than with the original epitope; strong inhibition means similar peptide amounts are required for mimotope and original epitope for lowering AB binding. Mimotopes are compared to the original peptide as standard. OD at 10 ug peptide used in the assay is used to calculate the competition capacity compared to original peptide. competition code 0 no inhibition (OD of 10 ug peptide above 3 times of original peptide) 1 Weaker than original epitope (OD of 10 ug peptide below 3 times of original peptide) 2 strong inhibition (as original epitope; OD of 10 ug peptide below 2 times of original peptide)

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 3 Non-mimotope peptides Internal SEQ Peptide ID number No. Sequence p1253 89 DAEFRHDSGYC p4371 90 EFRHDS-C p4372 91 EVHHQK-C p4373 92 p(E)FRHDS-C p4374 93 p(E)VHHQKLVFC p4376 94 GYEVHHQKC p4377 95 EVHHQKLVFC p4378 96 C-EVHHQKLVFF p1454 97 CGLMVGGVV A.beta.1-40 98 DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKLVFFAEDVGSNKGAIIGL MVGGVV A.beta.1-42 99 DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKLVFFAEDVGSNKGAIIGL MVGGVVIA sAPPalpha 100 alpha-Secretase induced cleavage product derived from human APP (gi: 112927)

2.4. In Vivo Characterisation of Mimotopes Identified in Screening Phage Display Libraries with a Monoclonal Antibody Directed Against N-Terminally Truncated and Modified Forms of A.beta.:

[0111] Female C57/b16 mice, 5-6 mice per group, were subcutaneously immunized with 30 .mu.g peptide coupled to KLH. Control groups were administered original epitope-KLH conjugates respectively. As adjuvant alum was used (always 1 mg per mouse). The peptides administered were all able to bind to monoclonal antibodies specifically although some of the peptides did not inhibit the binding of the original epitope to its parental antibody in vitro (in an in vitro inhibition assay). The in vitro ELISA assay to determine the antibody titer was performed with sera of single mice after each vaccination in a two week interval (see FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively). The wells of the ELISA plate were coated with mimotope-BSA conjugate and an irrelevant peptide-BSA conjugate (negative control). The positive control was performed by reaction of the parental antibody with the respective mimotope-BSA conjugate. The detection was performed with anti-mouse IgG. Additionally, recombinant proteins were immobilised on ELISA plates and sera reacted accordingly. FIGS. 6 to 8 show representative examples for assays used to characterise mimotopes in vivo.

[0112] FIG. 6 shows examples for in vivo characterisations of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination by analysing the immune response against injected peptide and an irrelevant peptide, containing an unrelated sequence. In all three examples shown, the original epitopes and the mimotopes, elicit immune responses against the injected peptides but fail to induce a relevant immune response against an unrelated sequence (p1454).

[0113] As example for MV-003-mimotopes, original epitope p4373 and the mimotopes p4395, p4396, p4397, and p4399 are depicted in FIG. 6A. All vaccines are mounting similar immune responses against their respective mimotopes. Neither original epitope p4373-vaccine treated nor the animals treated with mimotope p4395, p4396, p4397 or p4399-vaccines mount relevant titers against irrelevant peptide p1454 (11.times.-25.times. less than injected peptides).

[0114] As example for MV-004-mimotopes original epitope p4372 and the mimotopes p4417, p4418, p4419, and p4420 are depicted in FIG. 6B. All vaccines are mounting similar immune responses against their respective mimotopes. Neither original epitope p4372-vaccine treated nor the animals treated with mimotope p4417, p4418, p4419, and p4420-vaccines mount relevant titers against irrelevant peptide p1454 (20-80.times. less than injected peptides).

[0115] As example for MV-001-mimotopes original epitope p4371 and the mimotopes p4381, p4382, and p4390 are depicted in FIG. 6C. All vaccines are mounting similar immune responses against their respective mimotopes. Neither original epitope p4371-vaccine treated nor the animals treated with mimotope p4381, p4382, and p4390-vaccines mount relevant titers against irrelevant peptide p1454 (>10.times. less than injected peptides).

[0116] FIG. 7 shows examples for in vivo characterisations of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination against the respective original epitope of the parental antibody as well as against peptides derived of other forms of truncated species of A.beta..

[0117] As example for MV-003-mimotopes, original epitope p4373 and the mimotopes p4395, p4396, p4397, and p4399 are depicted in FIG. 7A. 3/4 Mimotope vaccines indicated mount detectable immune responses against the original epitope p4373. A similar phenomenon can be detected analysing cross reactivity against the non-modified form as displayed by p4371. The original epitope p4373-vaccine and 2/4 Mimotope vaccines mount relevant titers against p4371. Surprisingly, the mimotopes selected by MV-003, which is specifically binding to p4373 are also inducing a immune reaction cross reacting with the unmodified form of the original epitope.

[0118] As example for MV-004-mimotopes, original epitope p4372 and the mimotopes p4417, p4418, p4419, and p4420 are depicted in FIG. 7B. 3/4 Mimotope vaccines shown mount detectable immune responses against the original epitope p4372.

[0119] As example for MV-001-mimotopes, original epitope p4371 and the mimotopes p4381, p4382, and p4390 are depicted in FIG. 7C. All Mimotope vaccines depicted mount detectable immune responses against the original epitope p4371. A similar phenomenon as described for MV-003 derived mimotopes can be detected analysing cross reactivity against the pyroglutamate-modified form as displayed by p4373. The original epitope p4371-vaccine and all Mimotope vaccines mount relevant titers against p4373. Surprisingly, the mimotopes selected by MV-001, which is specifically binding to p4371 are inducing a immune reaction cross reacting better with the modified form of the original epitope than the original epitope induced immune reaction or the parental antibody. Thus these mimotopes might surprisingly be able to induce but are not necessarily inducing a broader immune reaction than the parental antibody and can be used for a more wide targeting of forms of A.beta..

[0120] FIG. 8 shows examples for in vivo characterisations of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination against full length A.beta.. Surprisingly, the mimotopes selected by using MV-001 and MV-003 induce a cross reaction not only with the truncated or modified short epitopes used to create the antibodies but also induce cross reactivity to full length, non modified forms of A.beta. as good as the original sequence or even more efficiently than p4371/p4373. For MV-002 original epitope as well as for the mimotopes identified, no such cross reactivity can be detected demonstrating a transfer of specificity of the antibody to the free N-Terminus of unmodified A.beta.11-40/42. Thus the mimotopes presented in this invention constitute optimised vaccine candidates to target a broad spectrum of naturally occurring forms of the A.beta. peptides as have been found in the brain of AD patients. The forms include but are not limited to A.beta.1-40/42, and N-terminally truncated forms like A.beta.3-40/42, A.beta.(pE)3-40/42 and unmodified A.beta.11-40/42 respectively.

[0121] In Table 4 and 5 further examples of the immune response elicited by mimotope vaccination against full length A.beta. by using MV-001 and MV-003 derived mimotopes are described.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 4 In vivo characterisation of mimotopes: MV-001 Internal Peptide SEQ ID Detection of number No. A.beta./truncated/modified forms p4381 19 + p4383 21 + p4385 23 + p4386 24 + p4390 28 + p4707 38 + p4714 45 + p4715 46 + p4725 55 + p4730 59 + p4738 67 + p4740 69 + p4748 77 + p4753 82 +

[0122] All peptides listed in Table 4 mount specific immune reactions against full length and/or truncated and modified forms of A.beta. or fragments thereof.

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 5 In vivo characterisation of mimotopes: MV-003 Internal Peptide SEQ ID Detection of number No. A.beta./truncated/modified forms p4395 1 + p4396 2 + p4397 3 + p4399 4 +

[0123] All peptides listed in Table 5 mount specific immune reactions against full length and/or truncated and modified forms of A.beta. or fragments thereof.

2.5: In Vivo Characterisation of Mimotopes for the Efficacy to Reduce AD Like Disease in Transgenic Animals

[0124] The Tg2576 AD mouse model was used to study the preclinical efficacy of the mimotope vaccines. This transgenic line is expressing human APP carrying the Swedish double mutation at aa position 670/671 under the control of a hamster prion protein (PrP) promoter which results in overexpression of the protein. It is currently one of the most widely employed models in AD research. The Tg2576 model recapitulates various hallmarks of AD pathology including disease-specific amyloid plaque deposition and astrocytosis. As all other AD model systems available to date, it does not reflect all cardinal neuropathological features of AD.

[0125] To assess whether treatment with mimotopes is capable of preventing cerebral A.beta. accumulation, Tg2576 mice were s.c. injected 6 times at monthly intervals with peptide-KLH conjugates adsorbed to ALUM (adjuvant: aluminium hydroxide) or PBS adsorbed to ALUM (referred to as PBS or control) alone. Up to eight weeks after the last immunization, animals were sacrificed, their brains harvested and analyzed for their A.beta. load (AD-like pathology). The mice were sacrificed under deep anaesthesia. Subsequently, the brain was isolated, fixed in 4% PFA and dehydrated by graded Ethanol series followed by incubation in Xylene and paraffin embedding. Each paraffin-embedded brain was sectioned at 7 .mu.M using a slicing microtome and sections were mounted on glass slides.

[0126] As a method to assay AD-like pathology in Tg2576 animals, we analyzed the relative area occupied by amyloid deposits in the brain of treated animals. This analysis was performed using an automated area recognition programme. To identify the plaques, sections were stained with the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3A5 (specific for A.beta.40/42). Mimotope treated animals were compared to control animals. All animals have been sacrificed at an age of 13, 5-14 months. For this analysis 3 slides/animal covering the cortex and hippocampus were selected, stained with mAb 3A5 and subsequently documented using the Mirax-system (Zeiss). For the calculation of the area occupied by amyloid plaques, we analysed up to four individual sections per slide and sections carrying tissue artefacts and aberrant staining intensities have been excluded after inspection of the result pictures.

[0127] For the mimotopes derived from MV001 an area analysis using three exemplary candidates was performed: Analysis was performed following repeated vaccination using peptide-KLH conjugate vaccines. The control group showed an average occupation of 0.35% as compared to 0.11%, 0.14% and 0.22% for the mimotope treated animals respectively. This corresponds to a reduction following mimotope treatment of 67% in group 2, a 60% reduction in group 3 and a 36% reduction in group 4 (see FIG. 9).

[0128] A similar picture can be detected for the group of MV003 derived mimotopes. Here the example of p4395 is depicted. As described for the MV001 derived mimotopes, an analysis of the area occupied by amyloid plaques following peptide-conjugate vaccination has been performed. The control group showed an average occupation of 0.35% as compared to 0.21% for the mimotope treated animals respectively. This corresponds to a reduction following mimotope treatment of 38% in group 2 (see FIG. 10).

[0129] Thus, this set of data clearly indicates a beneficial effect of mimotope vaccine treatment on AD like pathology in transgenic animals.

Sequence CWU 1

1

28317PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 1Ile Arg Trp Asp Thr Pro Cys 1 5 28PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 2Val Arg Trp Asp Val Tyr Pro Cys 1 5 38PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 3Ile Arg Tyr Asp Ala Pro Leu Cys 1 5 48PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 4Ile Arg Tyr Asp Met Ala Gly Cys 1 5 58PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 5Ile Arg Trp Asp Thr Ser Leu Cys 1 5 67PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 6Ile Arg Trp Asp Gln Pro Cys 1 5 76PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 7Ile Arg Trp Asp Gly Cys 1 5 87PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 8Ile Arg Trp Asp Gly Gly Cys 1 5 98PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 9Glu Val Trp His Arg His Gln Cys 1 5 108PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 10Glu Arg Trp His Glu Lys His Cys 1 5 118PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 11Glu Val Trp His Arg Leu Gln Cys 1 5 128PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 12Glu Leu Trp His Arg Tyr Pro Cys 1 5 138PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 13Glu Leu Trp His Arg Ala Phe Cys 1 5 147PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 14Glu Leu Trp His Arg Ala Cys 1 5 157PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 15Glu Val Trp His Arg Gly Cys 1 5 167PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 16Glu Val Trp His Arg His Cys 1 5 177PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 17Glu Arg Trp His Glu Lys Cys 1 5 187PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 18Gln Asp Phe Arg His Tyr Cys 1 5 197PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 19Ser Glu Phe Lys His Gly Cys 1 5 207PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 20Thr Ser Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 217PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 21Thr Ser Val Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 227PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 22Thr Pro Phe Arg His Thr Cys 1 5 237PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 23Ser Gln Phe Arg His Tyr Cys 1 5 247PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 24Leu Met Phe Arg His Asn Cys 1 5 257PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 25Ser Ala Phe Arg His His Cys 1 5 267PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 26Leu Pro Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 277PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 27Ser His Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 287PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 28Ile Leu Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 297PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 29Gln Phe Lys His Asp Leu Cys 1 5 307PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 30Asn Trp Phe Pro His Pro Cys 1 5 317PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 31Glu Glu Phe Lys Tyr Ser Cys 1 5 328PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 32Asn Glu Leu Arg His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 338PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 33Gly Glu Met Arg His Gln Pro Cys 1 5 348PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 34Asp Thr Tyr Phe Pro Arg Ser Cys 1 5 358PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 35Val Glu Leu Arg His Ser Arg Cys 1 5 368PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 36Tyr Ser Met Arg His Asp Ala Cys 1 5 378PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 37Ala Ala Asn Tyr Phe Pro Arg Cys 1 5 388PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 38Ser Pro Asn Gln Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 398PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 39Ser Ser Ser Phe Phe Pro Arg Cys 1 5 408PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 40Glu Asp Trp Phe Phe Trp His Cys 1 5 418PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 41Ser Ala Gly Ser Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 428PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 42Gln Val Met Arg His His Ala Cys 1 5 438PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 43Ser Glu Phe Ser His Ser Ser Cys 1 5 448PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 44Gln Pro Asn Leu Phe Tyr His Cys 1 5 458PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 45Glu Leu Phe Lys His His Leu Cys 1 5 468PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 46Thr Leu His Glu Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 478PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 47Ala Thr Phe Arg His Ser Pro Cys 1 5 488PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 48Ala Pro Met Tyr Phe Pro His Cys 1 5 498PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 49Thr Tyr Phe Ser His Ser Leu Cys 1 5 508PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 50His Glu Pro Leu Phe Ser His Cys 1 5 518PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 51Ser Leu Met Arg His Ser Ser Cys 1 5 528PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 52Glu Phe Leu Arg His Thr Leu Cys 1 5 538PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 53Ala Thr Pro Leu Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 548PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 54Gln Glu Leu Lys Arg Tyr Tyr Cys 1 5 558PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 55Thr His Thr Asp Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 568PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 56Leu His Ile Pro Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 578PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 57Asn Glu Leu Phe Lys His Phe Cys 1 5 588PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 58Ser Gln Tyr Phe Pro Arg Pro Cys 1 5 598PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 59Asp Glu His Pro Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 608PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 60Met Leu Pro Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 618PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 61Ser Ala Met Arg His Ser Leu Cys 1 5 628PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 62Thr Pro Leu Met Phe Trp His Cys 1 5 638PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 63Leu Gln Phe Lys His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 648PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 64Ala Thr Phe Arg His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 658PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 65Thr Gly Leu Met Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 668PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 66Ala Glu Phe Ser His Trp His Cys 1 5 678PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 67Gln Ser Glu Phe Lys His Trp Cys 1 5 688PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 68Ala Glu Phe Met His Ser Val Cys 1 5 698PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 69Ala Asp His Asp Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 708PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 70Asp Gly Leu Leu Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 718PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 71Ile Gly Phe Arg His Asp Ser Cys 1 5 728PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 72Ser Asn Ser Glu Phe Arg Arg Cys 1 5 738PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 73Ser Glu Leu Arg His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 748PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 74Thr His Met Glu Phe Arg Arg Cys 1 5 758PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 75Glu Glu Leu Arg His Ser Val Cys 1 5 768PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 76Gln Leu Phe Lys His Ser Pro Cys 1 5 778PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 77Tyr Glu Phe Arg His Ala Gln Cys 1 5 788PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 78Ser Asn Phe Arg His Ser Val Cys 1 5 798PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 79Ala Pro Ile Gln Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 808PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 80Ala Tyr Phe Pro His Thr Ser Cys 1 5 818PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 81Asn Ser Ser Glu Leu Arg His Cys 1 5 828PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 82Thr Glu Phe Arg His Lys Ala Cys 1 5 838PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 83Thr Ser Thr Glu Met Trp His Cys 1 5 848PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 84Ser Gln Ser Tyr Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 856PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 85Cys Ser Glu Phe Lys His 1 5 866PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 86Ser Glu Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 876PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 87Cys His Glu Phe Arg His 1 5 886PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 88His Glu Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 8911PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 89Asp Ala Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Cys 1 5 10 907PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 90Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Cys 1 5 917PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 91Glu Val His His Gln Lys Cys 1 5 927PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 92Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Cys 1 5 9310PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 93Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Cys 1 5 10 949PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 94Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys Cys 1 5 9510PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 95Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Cys 1 5 10 9611PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 96Cys Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu Val Phe Phe 1 5 10 979PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 97Cys Gly Leu Met Val Gly Gly Val Val 1 5 9840PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polypeptide 98Asp Ala Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile 20 25 30 Gly Leu Met Val Gly Gly Val Val 35 40 9942PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polypeptide 99Asp Ala Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr Glu Val His His Gln Lys 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Phe Phe Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Ser Asn Lys Gly Ala Ile Ile 20 25 30 Gly Leu Met Val Gly Gly Val Val Ile Ala 35 40 1008PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 100Xaa Arg Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys 1 5 1018PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic mimotope peptide 101Glu Xaa Trp His Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys 1 5 1028PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic amyloid-beta fragment peptide 102Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr 1 5 1038PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic amyloid-beta fragment peptide 103Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser Gly Tyr 1 5 1047PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic amyloid-beta fragment peptide 104Glu Val His His Gln Lys Leu 1 5 1055PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic amyloid-beta fragment peptide 105Asp Ala Glu Phe Arg 1 5 1067PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 106Ile Arg Trp Asp Thr Pro Cys 1 5 1078PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 107Val Arg Trp Asp Val Tyr Pro Cys 1 5 1088PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 108Ile Arg Tyr Asp Ala Pro Leu Cys 1 5 1098PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 109Ile Arg Tyr Asp Met Ala Gly Cys 1 5 1108PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 110Ile Arg Trp Asp Thr Ser Leu Cys 1

5 1117PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 111Ile Arg Trp Asp Gln Pro Cys 1 5 1126PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 112Ile Arg Trp Asp Gly Cys 1 5 1137PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 113Ile Arg Trp Asp Gly Gly Cys 1 5 1148PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 114Glu Val Trp His Arg His Gln Cys 1 5 1158PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 115Glu Arg Trp His Glu Lys His Cys 1 5 1168PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 116Glu Val Trp His Arg Leu Gln Cys 1 5 1178PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 117Glu Leu Trp His Arg Tyr Pro Cys 1 5 1188PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 118Glu Leu Trp His Arg Ala Phe Cys 1 5 1197PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 119Glu Leu Trp His Arg Ala Cys 1 5 1207PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 120Glu Val Trp His Arg Gly Cys 1 5 1217PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 121Glu Val Trp His Arg His Cys 1 5 1227PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 122Glu Arg Trp His Glu Lys Cys 1 5 1237PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 123Gln Asp Phe Arg His Tyr Cys 1 5 1247PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 124Ser Glu Phe Lys His Gly Cys 1 5 1257PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 125Thr Ser Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 1267PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 126Thr Ser Val Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1277PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 127Thr Pro Phe Arg His Thr Cys 1 5 1287PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 128Ser Gln Phe Arg His Tyr Cys 1 5 1297PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 129Leu Met Phe Arg His Asn Cys 1 5 1307PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 130Ser Ala Phe Arg His His Cys 1 5 1317PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 131Leu Pro Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 1327PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 132Ser His Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 1337PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 133Ile Leu Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 1347PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 134Gln Phe Lys His Asp Leu Cys 1 5 1357PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 135Asn Trp Phe Pro His Pro Cys 1 5 1367PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 136Glu Glu Phe Lys Tyr Ser Cys 1 5 1378PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 137Asn Glu Leu Arg His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 1388PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 138Gly Glu Met Arg His Gln Pro Cys 1 5 1398PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 139Asp Thr Tyr Phe Pro Arg Ser Cys 1 5 1408PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 140Val Glu Leu Arg His Ser Arg Cys 1 5 1418PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 141Tyr Ser Met Arg His Asp Ala Cys 1 5 1428PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 142Ala Ala Asn Tyr Phe Pro Arg Cys 1 5 1438PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 143Ser Pro Asn Gln Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1448PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 144Ser Ser Ser Phe Phe Pro Arg Cys 1 5 1458PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 145Glu Asp Trp Phe Phe Trp His Cys 1 5 1468PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 146Ser Ala Gly Ser Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1478PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 147Gln Val Met Arg His His Ala Cys 1 5 1488PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 148Ser Glu Phe Ser His Ser Ser Cys 1 5 1498PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 149Gln Pro Asn Leu Phe Tyr His Cys 1 5 1508PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 150Glu Leu Phe Lys His His Leu Cys 1 5 1518PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 151Thr Leu His Glu Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1528PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 152Ala Thr Phe Arg His Ser Pro Cys 1 5 1538PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 153Ala Pro Met Tyr Phe Pro His Cys 1 5 1548PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 154Thr Tyr Phe Ser His Ser Leu Cys 1 5 1558PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 155His Glu Pro Leu Phe Ser His Cys 1 5 1568PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 156Ser Leu Met Arg His Ser Ser Cys 1 5 1578PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 157Glu Phe Leu Arg His Thr Leu Cys 1 5 1588PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 158Ala Thr Pro Leu Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1598PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 159Gln Glu Leu Lys Arg Tyr Tyr Cys 1 5 1608PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 160Thr His Thr Asp Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1618PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 161Leu His Ile Pro Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1628PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 162Asn Glu Leu Phe Lys His Phe Cys 1 5 1638PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 163Ser Gln Tyr Phe Pro Arg Pro Cys 1 5 1648PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 164Asp Glu His Pro Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1658PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 165Met Leu Pro Phe Arg His Gly Cys 1 5 1668PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 166Ser Ala Met Arg His Ser Leu Cys 1 5 1678PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 167Thr Pro Leu Met Phe Trp His Cys 1 5 1688PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 168Leu Gln Phe Lys His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 1698PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 169Ala Thr Phe Arg His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 1708PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 170Thr Gly Leu Met Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 1718PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 171Ala Glu Phe Ser His Trp His Cys 1 5 1728PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 172Gln Ser Glu Phe Lys His Trp Cys 1 5 1738PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 173Ala Glu Phe Met His Ser Val Cys 1 5 1748PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 174Ala Asp His Asp Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1758PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 175Asp Gly Leu Leu Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 1768PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 176Ile Gly Phe Arg His Asp Ser Cys 1 5 1778PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 177Ser Asn Ser Glu Phe Arg Arg Cys 1 5 1788PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 178Ser Glu Leu Arg His Ser Thr Cys 1 5 1798PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 179Thr His Met Glu Phe Arg Arg Cys 1 5 1808PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 180Glu Glu Leu Arg His Ser Val Cys 1 5 1818PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 181Gln Leu Phe Lys His Ser Pro Cys 1 5 1828PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 182Tyr Glu Phe Arg His Ala Gln Cys 1 5 1838PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 183Ser Asn Phe Arg His Ser Val Cys 1 5 1848PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 184Ala Pro Ile Gln Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1858PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 185Ala Tyr Phe Pro His Thr Ser Cys 1 5 1868PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 186Asn Ser Ser Glu Leu Arg His Cys 1 5 1878PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 187Thr Glu Phe Arg His Lys Ala Cys 1 5 1888PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 188Thr Ser Thr Glu Met Trp His Cys 1 5 1898PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 189Ser Gln Ser Tyr Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 1906PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 190Cys Ser Glu Phe Lys His 1 5 1916PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 191Ser Glu Phe Lys His Cys 1 5 1926PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 192Cys His Glu Phe Arg His 1 5 1936PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 193His Glu Phe Arg His Cys 1 5 1946PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic 6xHis tag 194His His His His His His 1 5 1956PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 195Ile Arg Trp Asp Thr Pro 1 5 1967PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 196Val Arg Trp Asp Val Tyr Pro 1 5 1977PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 197Ile Arg Tyr Asp Ala Pro Leu 1 5 1987PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 198Ile Arg Tyr Asp Met Ala Gly 1 5 1997PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 199Ile Arg Trp Asp Thr Ser Leu 1 5 2006PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 200Ile Arg Trp Asp Gln Pro 1 5 2015PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 201Ile Arg Trp Asp Gly 1 5 2026PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 202Ile Arg Trp Asp Gly Gly 1 5 2037PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 203Glu Val Trp His Arg His Gln 1 5 2047PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 204Glu Arg Trp His Glu Lys His 1 5 2057PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 205Glu Val Trp His Arg Leu Gln 1 5 2067PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 206Glu Leu Trp His Arg Tyr Pro 1 5 2077PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 207Glu Leu Trp His Arg Ala Phe 1 5 2086PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 208Glu Leu Trp His Arg Ala 1 5 2096PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 209Glu Val Trp His Arg Gly 1 5 2106PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 210Glu Val Trp His Arg His 1 5 2116PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 211Glu Arg Trp His Glu Lys 1 5 2126PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 212Gln Asp Phe Arg His Tyr 1 5 2136PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 213Ser Glu Phe Lys His Gly 1 5 2146PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 214Thr Ser Phe Arg His Gly 1 5 2156PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 215Thr Ser Val Phe Arg His 1 5 2166PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 216Thr Pro Phe Arg His Thr 1 5 2176PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 217Ser Gln Phe Arg His Tyr 1 5 2186PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 218Leu Met Phe Arg His Asn 1 5 2196PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 219Ser Ala Phe Arg His His 1 5 2206PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 220Leu Pro Phe Arg His Gly 1 5 2216PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 221Ser His Phe Arg His Gly 1 5 2226PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 222Ile Leu Phe Arg His Gly 1 5 2236PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 223Gln Phe Lys His Asp Leu 1 5 2246PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 224Asn Trp Phe Pro His Pro 1 5 2256PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 225Glu Glu Phe Lys Tyr Ser 1 5 2267PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 226Asn Glu Leu Arg His Ser Thr 1 5 2277PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 227Gly Glu Met Arg His Gln Pro 1 5 2287PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 228Asp Thr Tyr Phe Pro Arg Ser 1 5 2297PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 229Val Glu Leu Arg His Ser Arg 1 5 2307PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 230Tyr Ser Met Arg His Asp Ala 1 5 2317PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 231Ala Ala Asn Tyr Phe Pro Arg 1 5 2327PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 232Ser

Pro Asn Gln Phe Arg His 1 5 2337PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 233Ser Ser Ser Phe Phe Pro Arg 1 5 2347PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 234Glu Asp Trp Phe Phe Trp His 1 5 2357PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 235Ser Ala Gly Ser Phe Arg His 1 5 2367PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 236Gln Val Met Arg His His Ala 1 5 2377PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 237Ser Glu Phe Ser His Ser Ser 1 5 2387PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 238Gln Pro Asn Leu Phe Tyr His 1 5 2397PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 239Glu Leu Phe Lys His His Leu 1 5 2407PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 240Thr Leu His Glu Phe Arg His 1 5 2417PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 241Ala Thr Phe Arg His Ser Pro 1 5 2427PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 242Ala Pro Met Tyr Phe Pro His 1 5 2437PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 243Thr Tyr Phe Ser His Ser Leu 1 5 2447PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 244His Glu Pro Leu Phe Ser His 1 5 2457PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 245Ser Leu Met Arg His Ser Ser 1 5 2467PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 246Glu Phe Leu Arg His Thr Leu 1 5 2477PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 247Ala Thr Pro Leu Phe Arg His 1 5 2487PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 248Gln Glu Leu Lys Arg Tyr Tyr 1 5 2497PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 249Thr His Thr Asp Phe Arg His 1 5 2507PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 250Leu His Ile Pro Phe Arg His 1 5 2517PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 251Asn Glu Leu Phe Lys His Phe 1 5 2527PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 252Ser Gln Tyr Phe Pro Arg Pro 1 5 2537PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 253Asp Glu His Pro Phe Arg His 1 5 2547PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 254Met Leu Pro Phe Arg His Gly 1 5 2557PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 255Ser Ala Met Arg His Ser Leu 1 5 2567PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 256Thr Pro Leu Met Phe Trp His 1 5 2577PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 257Leu Gln Phe Lys His Ser Thr 1 5 2587PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 258Ala Thr Phe Arg His Ser Thr 1 5 2597PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 259Thr Gly Leu Met Phe Lys His 1 5 2607PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 260Ala Glu Phe Ser His Trp His 1 5 2617PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 261Gln Ser Glu Phe Lys His Trp 1 5 2627PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 262Ala Glu Phe Met His Ser Val 1 5 2637PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 263Ala Asp His Asp Phe Arg His 1 5 2647PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 264Asp Gly Leu Leu Phe Lys His 1 5 2657PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 265Ile Gly Phe Arg His Asp Ser 1 5 2667PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 266Ser Asn Ser Glu Phe Arg Arg 1 5 2677PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 267Ser Glu Leu Arg His Ser Thr 1 5 2687PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 268Thr His Met Glu Phe Arg Arg 1 5 2697PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 269Glu Glu Leu Arg His Ser Val 1 5 2707PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 270Gln Leu Phe Lys His Ser Pro 1 5 2717PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 271Tyr Glu Phe Arg His Ala Gln 1 5 2727PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 272Ser Asn Phe Arg His Ser Val 1 5 2737PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 273Ala Pro Ile Gln Phe Arg His 1 5 2747PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 274Ala Tyr Phe Pro His Thr Ser 1 5 2757PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 275Asn Ser Ser Glu Leu Arg His 1 5 2767PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 276Thr Glu Phe Arg His Lys Ala 1 5 2777PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 277Thr Ser Thr Glu Met Trp His 1 5 2787PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 278Ser Gln Ser Tyr Phe Lys His 1 5 2795PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 279Ser Glu Phe Lys His 1 5 2805PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 280His Glu Phe Arg His 1 5 2816PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 281Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser 1 5 2826PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 282Glu Phe Arg His Asp Ser 1 5 2836PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 283Glu Val His His Gln Lys 1 5

Claims

1. A process for preventing, treating, or both preventing and treating .beta.-amyloidoses, the process comprising administering to an individual a medicament comprising a compound comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182) and TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187).

2. A process for preventing, treating, or both preventing and treating .beta.-amyloidoses, the process comprising administering to an individual a medicament comprising a compound comprising an amino acid sequence X.sub.1RX.sub.2DX.sub.3(X.sub.4).sub.n(X.sub.5).sub.m(X.sub.6).sub.o (SEQ ID NO: 100) (Formula I), wherein X.sub.1 is isoleucine (I) or valine (V), X.sub.2 is tryptophan (W) or tyrosine (Y), X.sub.3 is threonine (T), valine (V), alanine (A), methionine (M), glutamine (Q) or glycine (G), X.sub.4 is proline (P), alanine (A), tyrosine (Y), serine (5), cysteine (C) or glycine (G), X.sub.5 is proline (P), leucine (L), glycine (G) or cysteine (C), X.sub.6 is cysteine (C), n, m and o are, independently, 0 or 1, wherein the compound has a binding capacity to an antibody which is specific for an epitope of an amyloid-beta-peptide (A.beta.) comprising an amino acid sequence EFRHDSGY (SEQ ID NO: 102) or pEFRHDSGY (SEQ ID NO: 103).

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the compound comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of IRWDTP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 106), VRWDVYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 107), IRYDAPL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 108), IRYDMAG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 109), IRWDTSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 110), IRWDQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 111), IRWDG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 112) and IRWDGG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 113).

4. A process for preventing, treating, or both preventing and treating .beta.-amyloidoses, the process comprising administering to an individual a medicament comprising a compound comprising an amino acid sequence EX.sub.1WHX.sub.2X.sub.3(X.sub.4).sub.n(X.sub.5).sub.m (SEQ ID NO: 101) (Formula II), wherein X.sub.1 is valine (V), arginine (R) or leucine (L), X.sub.2 is arginine (R) or glutamic acid (E), X.sub.3 is alanine (A), histidine (H), lysine (K), leucine (L), tyrosine (Y) or glycine (G), X.sub.4 is proline (P), histidine (H), phenylalanine (F) or glutamine (Q) or Cysteine X.sub.5 is cysteine (C), n and m are, independently, 0 or 1, wherein the compound has a binding capacity to an antibody which is specific for an epitope of an amyloid-beta-peptide (A.beta.) comprising an amino acid sequence EVHHQKL (SEQ ID NO: 104).

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the compound comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of EVWHRHQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 114), ERHEKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 115), EVWHRLQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 116), ELWHRYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 117), ELWHRAF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 118), ELWHRA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 119), EVWHRG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 120), EVWHRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 121) and ERHEK(C) (SEQ ID NO: 122).

6. A process for preventing, treating, or both preventing and treating .beta.-amyloidoses, the process comprising administering to an individual a medicament comprising a compound comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of QDFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 123), SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 125), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), TPFRHT(C) (SEQ ID NO: 127), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SAFRHH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 130), LPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 131), SHFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 132), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), QFKHDL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 134), NWFPHP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 135), EEFKYS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 136), NELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 137), GEMRHQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 138), DTYFPRS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 139), VELRHSR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 140), YSMRHDA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 141), AANYFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 142), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), SSSFFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 144), EDWFFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 145), SAGSFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 146), QVMRHHA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 147), SEFSHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 148), QPNLFYH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 149), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), ATFRHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 152), APMYFPH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 153), TYFSHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 154), HEPLFSH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 155), SLMRHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 156), EFLRHTL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 157), ATPLFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 158), QELKRYY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 159), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), LHIPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 161), NELFKHF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 162), SQYFPRP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 163), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), MLPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 165), SAMRHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 166), TPLMFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 167), LQFKHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 168), ATFRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 169), TGLMFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 170), AEFSHWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 171), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), AEFMHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 173), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), DGLLFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 175), IGFRHDS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 176), SNSEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 177), SELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 178), THMEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 179), EELRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 180), QLFKHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 181), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182), SNFRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 183), APIQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 184), AYFPHTS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 185), NSSELRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 186), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187), TSTEMWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 188), SQSYFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 189), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 191), (C)HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 192) and HEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 193).

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the compound comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of QDFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 123), SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 125), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), TPFRHT(C) (SEQ ID NO: 127), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SAFRHH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 130), LPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 131), SHFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 132), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), QFKHDL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 134), NWFPHP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 135), EEFKYS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 136), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), DGLLFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 175), EELRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 180), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 191), (C)HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 192) and HEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 193).

8. The process of claim 6, wherein the compound is a polypeptide comprising 7 to 20 amino acid residues.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein the compound is coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

10. The process of claim 6, wherein the compound is formulated for intravenous, subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular administration.

11. The process of claim 6, wherein the compound is formulated with an adjuvant.

12. The process of claim 6, wherein the medicament comprises 0.1 ng to 10 mg of the compound, preferably 10 ng to 1 mg, in particular 100 ng to 10 .mu.g.

13. An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of IRWDTP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 106), VRWDVYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 107), IRYDAPL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 108), IRYDMAG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 109), IRWDTSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 110), IRWDQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 111), IRWDG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 112), IRWDGG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 113), EVWHRHQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 114), ERHEKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 115), EVWHRLQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 116), ELWHRYP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 117), ELWHRAF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 118), ELWHRA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 119), EVWHRG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 120), EVWHRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 121), ERWHEK(C) (SEQ ID NO: 122), QDFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 123), SEFKHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 124), TSFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 125), TSVFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 126), TPFRHT(C) (SEQ ID NO: 127), SQFRHY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 128), LMFRHN(C) (SEQ ID NO: 129), SAFRHH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 130), LPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 131), SHFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 132), ILFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 133), QFKHDL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 134), NWFPHP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 135), EEFKYS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 136), NELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 137), GEMRHQP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 138), DTYFPRS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 139), VELRHSR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 140), YSMRHDA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 141), AANYFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 142), SPNQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 143), SSSFFPR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 144), EDWFFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 145), SAGSFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 146), QVMRHHA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 147), SEFSHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 148), QPNLFYH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 149), ELFKHHL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 150), TLHEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 151), ATFRHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 152), APMYFPH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 153), TYFSHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 154), HEPLFSH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 155), SLMRHSS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 156), EFLRHTL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 157), ATPLFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 158), QELKRYY(C) (SEQ ID NO: 159), THTDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 160), LHIPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 161), NELFKHF(C) (SEQ ID NO: 162), SQYFPRP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 163), DEHPFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 164), MLPFRHG(C) (SEQ ID NO: 165), SAMRHSL(C) (SEQ ID NO: 166), TPLMFWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 167), LQFKHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 168), ATFRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 169), TGLMFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 170), AEFSHWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 171), QSEFKHW(C) (SEQ ID NO: 172), AEFMHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 173), ADHDFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 174), DGLLFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 175), IGFRHDS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 176), SNSEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 177), SELRHST(C) (SEQ ID NO: 178), THMEFRR(C) (SEQ ID NO: 179), EELRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 180), QLFKHSP(C) (SEQ ID NO: 181), YEFRHAQ(C) (SEQ ID NO: 182), SNFRHSV(C) (SEQ ID NO: 183), APIQFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 184), AYFPHTS(C) (SEQ ID NO: 185), NSSELRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 186), TEFRHKA(C) (SEQ ID NO: 187), TSTEMWH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 188), SQSYFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 189), (C)SEFKH (SEQ ID NO: 190), SEFKH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 191), (C)HEFRH (SEQ ID NO: 192) and HEFRH(C) (SEQ ID NO: 193).

14. A process for treating, ameliorating symptoms of, or both treating and ameliorating symptoms of a synucleopathy, the process comprising administering to an individual a medicament comprising the peptide of claim 13.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the synucleopathy is selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, multiple system atrophy and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation.

16. A compound comprising the peptide of claim 13, coupled to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

17. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the peptide of claim 13.

18. A vaccine comprising the peptide of claim 13.

19. The process of claim 9, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin).

20. The process of claim 11, wherein the adjuvant is aluminium hydroxide.