Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying a subject suspected of having or being susceptible to an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), comprising: contacting a sample of bodily fluid obtained from the subject with (i) a binding pair member having a binding affinity for citrullinated tenascin (cTNC) or a fragment thereof or (ii) a cTNC peptide; determining in a sample of bodily fluid obtained from the subject the presence or amount of (i) a citrullinated peptide derived from tenascin or (ii) an anti cTNC antibody; comparing the presence or amount of (i) the citrullinated peptide derived from tenascin or (ii) the anti cTNC antibody with a pre-defined threshold value; and assigning a diagnosis of RA or a future likelihood of developing RA when the presence or amount of (i) cTNC or (ii) an antibody against cTNC is detected or exceeds the threshold; and associated kits, peptides, binding members and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosing, preventing or delaying onset of or treating rheumatoid arthritis, methods of distinguishing between different types or stages of rheumatoid arthritis, of identifying an individual at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and of monitoring efficacy of a treatment regime in an individual being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, using a citrullinated enolase peptide to detect or capture antibodies associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, prognosing, preventing or delaying onset of or treating rheumatoid arthritis, methods of distinguishing between different types or stages of rheumatoid arthritis, of identifying an individual at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and of monitoring efficacy of a treatment regime in an individual being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, using a citrullinated enolase peptide to detect or capture antibodies associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel retrovirus associated with autoimmune disease. The present invention provides nucleotide and amino acid sequences relating to GAG, PRO and POL proteins of the retrovirus as well as diagnostic techniques and antibodies for use in diagnosis. The retrovirus (HRV-5) according to the present invention has been detected in inflamed joints (RA, osteoarthritis (OA), reactive arthritis and psoriatic arthritis) but not normal synovium. Further, HRV-5 proviral DNA has been detected in blood from patients with RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).