abstract |
The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing a coeliac condition, or susceptibility to coeliac disease, in an individual comprising: (a) contacting a sample from the host with an agent selected from (i) the epitope that it comprises a sequence which is: SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, or an equivalent sequence from a homologue that originates naturally from gliadin represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) an epitope comprising the sequence that comprises: SEQ ID NO: 1, or an equivalent sequence from a homologue that naturally originates from the gliadin represented by SEQ ID NO. 3, in which the epitope is an isolated oligopeptide derived from a gliadin protein, (iii) an analogue of (i) or (ii) which is capable of being recognized by a T cell receptor that recognizes (i) or (ii), which in the case of a peptide analog is not more than 50 amino acids in length, or (iv) a product comprising two or more agents as defined in (i), (ii) or (iii), and (b) determine in vitro whether the T cells in the sample recognize the agent, recognition by T cells indicating that the individual has, or is susceptible to, the coeliac condition. The therapeutic compositions are also provided which comprise epitope and gliadin proteins which do not cause coeliac diseases. |