Generation of auto-antibodies towards Alzheimer's disease vaccination

We developed a novel procedure to evoke anti-aggregating beta -amyloid (AP) antibodies, using filamentous phages displaying only Four amino acids EFRH of the beta -amyloid peptide (ABP). This epitope was Found to be the main regulatory site for fibril Formation. For the first time, effective auto-an tibodies have been obtained in guinea-pigs. which exhibit human identity in the A betaP. Immunization through a phage-carrying epitope was Found to be long-lasting, and no toxic effect caused by autoimmune response was detect ed in the challenged animal sections. These antibodies performed similarly to site-directed monoclonal antibodies and to antibodies raised against fib rillar A beta in disaggregation of plaques, and may serve as the basis for developing an anti-A beta vaccine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.