EPSILON TOXIN FROM CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS AS A VACCINE

摘要

This invention relates to methods and compositions for detecting, diagnosing, preventing, treating or ameliorating the symptoms of a demyelinating condition selected from: : enterotoxemia (ET), multiple sclerosis(MS), clinically definite MS (CDMS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS),neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD),optic neuritis(ON), neuromyelitis optica (NMO), myelitis,myelitis, transverse myelitis (TM), a disease or condition characterised by the increase or presence of antibodies against aquaporin-4(AQP-4) and/or astrocyte damage,and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in a human or animal subject in need. The methods comprise administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of an agent that directly or indirectly interfereswith epsilontoxin (ETX) produced by Clostridium perfringens type B or type D bacterial strain, an ETX-binding receptor, or an interaction of ETX with its binding receptor so as to inhibit or suppress ETX modulated receptor signalling activities. The invention also provides novel polypeptides useful as a vaccine against diseases caused by or associated with the epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens.