| abstract |
This invention provides carbohydrate epitope mimic compounds, particularly peptides, and analogs and variants thereof. In particular, the compounds and peptides of the present invention mimic the carbohydrate epitope GlcAβ1→3Galβ1→4GlcNAc or sulfate -3GlcAβ1→3Galβ1→4GlcNAc, or the L2/HNK1 carbohydrate epitope. This invention provides an isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a carbohydrate epitope mimic peptide in which the amino acid sequence is set forth in any of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8, 27-38, 39, 40 and 41, including variants, analogs and active fragments thereof. The invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a carbohydrate epitope mimic peptide. This invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use of the isolated polypeptides and nucleic acids, particularly in modulating or mediating cell-cell adhesion and viral infection and the processes and events mediated thereby. Assays for compounds which mimic, alter or inactivate the polypeptides of the present invention for use in therapy are also provided. |