Filoviral immunosuppressive peptides and uses thereof

摘要

The invention provides a region of strong secondary structure conservation between the C-terminus domain of the envelope glycoprotein of filoviruses and an immunosuppressive domain found in retroviral envelope glycoproteins. The invention provides filoviral peptides and modified derivatives thereof with strong immunosuppressive bioactivity. The invention further provides methods for treatment of autoimmune disorders by administering the immunosuppressive peptide. The invention also provides methods for the identification of therapeutic agents that modulate the immunosuppressive activity of the peptides. Antibodies against the inventive peptides and the modified derivatives thereof are also provided. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for treatment of filoviral infection by administering compositions comprising the antibodies and/or the therapeutic agents that modulate the immunosuppressive activity of the inventive peptides.