Patent ID: 7829301
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying whether a test agent has the ability to preferentially inhibit binding of the H384 allotypic variant of Factor H to a target compared with the Y384 allotypic variant of Factor H said method comprising: (i) providing a target to which both said variants of Factor H will bind differentially; (ii) contacting said target, both in the presence and absence of the test agent, with each of said variants, or a recombinant protein presenting a target-binding fragment of each of said variants including amino acid residue 384 and capable of heparin binding via the heparin-binding residues of the Complement Control Protein module 7 (CCP7), under conditions whereby both variant proteins employed bind said target differentially in the absence of the test agent, and (iii) determining whether the test agent exhibits said ability; with the proviso that where the target provided is heparin it exhibits higher binding of the H384 variant protein employed than the Y384 variant protein employed in the absence of the test agent.