Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for preventing or treating allergy to ragweed by tolerisation. The compositions are based on combinations of peptide fragments derived from the major allergen in ragweed pollen, Amb a 1. The invention also relates to products, vectors and formulations which may be used to provide polypeptides of the invention in combination. The invention further relates to in vitro methods for determining whether T cells recognize a polypeptide of the invention, and for determining whether an individual has or is at risk of a condition characterized by allergic symptoms in response to a ragweed allergen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to cats, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to birch, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides for preventing or treating said allergy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for preventing or treating allergy to ragweed by tolerization. The compositions are based on combinations of peptide fragments derived from the major allergen in ragweed pollen, Amb a 1. The invention also relates to products, vectors and formulations which may be used to provide polypeptides of the invention in combination. The invention further relates to in vitro methods for determining whether T cells recognize a polypeptide of the invention, and for determining whether an individual has or is at risk of a condition characterized by allergic symptoms in response to a ragweed allergen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to house dust mites, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides for preventing or treating said allergy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for preventing or treating allergy to ragweed by tolerisation. The compositions are based on combinations of peptide fragments derived from the major allergen in ragweed pollen, Amb a 1. The invention also relates to products, vectors and formulations which may be used to provide polypeptides of the invention in combination. The invention further relates to in vitro methods for determining whether T cells recognize a polypeptide of the invention, and for determining whether an individual has or is at risk of a condition characterized by allergic symptoms in response to a ragweed allergen.

Abstract: A first or second polypeptide for use in a method of treating or preventing a disorder by tolerisation, wherein said method comprises administration of the first and second polypeptide; and wherein both first and second polypeptides: i) are of 7 to 30 amino acids in length; ii) comprise at least one MHC Class Il-binding T cell epitope; and iii) are a fragment of a protein allergen or a homologous variant of said fragment; wherein said first polypeptide induces the release of an amount of IL-10 that is greater than the amount of IL-10 released in response to the whole protein allergen from which the first polypeptide derives; wherein said disorder is characterised by an inappropriate immune response to the protein allergen from which the second polypeptide derives.

Abstract: Methods for desensitising an individual to a selected polypeptide antigen are provided. The methods entail administration of T cell epitope containing peptides from a polypeptide antigen in such a way as to establish a tolergeneic environment, that is, a state of hyporesponsiveness to the peptides. The selected polypeptide antigen is then administered such that the state of hyporesponsiveness and co-administration of the selected antigen are sufficient to desensitise the individual to the polypeptide antigen. Also provided are therapeutic systems useful in the methods of the invention, and the use of polypeptide antigens and peptides in the manufacture of medicaments in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides comprising multiple MHC Class II-binding T cell epitopes for tolerisation therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to house dust mites, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides for preventing or treating said allergy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to cats, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides.

Abstract: Methods for desensitising an individual to a selected polypeptide antigen are provided. The methods entail administration of T cell epitope containing peptides from a polypeptide antigen in such a way as to establish a tolergeneic environment, that is, a state of hyporesponsiveness to the peptides. The selected polypeptide antigen is then administered such that the state of hyporesponsiveness and co-administration of the selected antigen are sufficient to desensitise the individual to the polypeptide antigen. Also provided are therapeutic systems useful in the methods of the invention, and the use of polypeptide antigens and peptides in the manufacture of medicaments in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of desensitising a patient to a polypeptide allergen the method comprising administering to the patient a peptide derived from the allergen wherein restriction to a MHC Class II molecule possessed by the patient can be demonstrated by the peptide and the peptide is able to induce a late phase response in an individual who possesses the said MHC Class II molecule. A composition comprising a plurality of peptides derived from a polypeptide allergen wherein for at least one of the peptides in the composition restriction to a MHC Class II molecule can be demonstrated, and the composition is able to induce a late phase response in an individual possessing the given MHC Class II moleculeis also provided. The invention also relates to a method of selecting a peptide for use as an immunotherapeutic agent for desensitising a patient to a polypeptide allergen capable of eliciting an allergic response in the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunologically cryptic peptides; methods for their identification in individuals and populations and their use in diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions such as asthma and allergy, and their use in screening for therapeutic activity. Such cryptic peptides are identified by a method which includes the steps of: 1) exposing T cells with the peptide in a primary challenge; 2) measuring the reactivity of T cells with the peptide in the primary challenge of step 1); 3) exposing pre-challenged T cells with the peptide in a secondary challenge, wherein the pre-challenged T cells are obtainable by exposign the T cells to the protein; and measuring the reactivity of the pre-challenged T cells with the peptide in the secondary challenge of step 3), and the peptide is a cryptic peptide if T-cell reactivity is observable in the secondary challenge but not in the primary challenge.

Abstract: Compounds are provided for use in the diagnosis and/or therapy of tumors and/or as immunosuppressive agent. The compounds are antibodies which bind to IL-4 receptors and IL-4 receptor-binding fragments thereof. A preferred compound is monoclonal antibody MR-6 produced by the hybridoma deposited at the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures with the accession number 88033002. The invention also extends to the use of the compounds for in vitro removal of graft-versus-host reactive T-lymphocytes prior to bone marrow transplantation and to a novel protein of molecular weight 200,000 daltons functioning as a receptor for IL-4.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds for use in the diagnosis and/or therapy of tumors and/or as an immunosuppressant agent selected from the group consisting of antibodies which bind to IL-4 receptors and IL-4 receptor-binding fragments thereof. A preferred such compound is monoclonal antibody MR6 produced by the hybridoma deposited at the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures with the accession number 88033002. The invention also extends to the use of the compounds for in vitro removal of graft-versus-host reactive T-lymphocytes prior to bone marrow transplantation and to a novel protein of molecular weight 200,000 daltons functioning as a receptor for IL-4.