DRUG FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF AUTO-IMMUNE AND VIRAL DISEASES, AND DIAGNOSTIC AGENTS FOR DETECTING SAID DISEASES

摘要

The present invention concerne drugs and diagnostic agents as well as diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive methods for treating auto-immune and viral diseases in humans, these diseases being caused by pathogenic bacteria which are, in particular, micro-organisms colonizing human mucus membranes and secreting given exoproteins which display structural similarities to human proteins. Proteins similar to IgA protease which are absorbed particularly well by cells and present as antigens on MHC molecules are of particular significance in this respect. The IgA protease polyprotein (IPP) of pathogenic Neisseriae has a particularly marked homology to human proteins. For example, a given IPP peptide has marked homology to the articular proteins link and aggrekan. It is thus proven, for example, that the IPP is an etiological agent of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The auto-immune reaction is further encouraged by other properties of the IPP-producing Neisseriae and IPPs. A particularly important property is the ability of the IPP to activate viruses and viral elements. This concerns in particular the activation of proviral retroviruses and endogenic retroviruses in humans. Further auto-immune reactions are induced in humans owing to the activation of viruses and viral elements. The development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is also explained by the IPP-dependent activation of the HIV provirus. The properties according to the invention of the pathogenic Neisseriae and the IPPs formed thereby give rise to numerous novel diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive processes.