STRUCTURALLY MODIFIED PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF

摘要

This invention relates to modified peptides that bind to an HLA molecule, particularly an HLA-A*0201 molecule wherein the modified peptides have a binding efficiency and immunogenicity similar to that of the parental non-modified peptide. This invention relates particularly to modified analogs of the tumor associated antigen Melan-A26-35A27L that have at least, one or more modified amino acid at positions lor 2 or (b ) one or more modified amino acid at positions 8, 9 or 10. The isolated modified peptides have a half-life in human serum of at least about 12 hours. Also disclosed are methods of using 10 such modified peptides. The invention also relates to methods for using the modified peptides of this invention.