Sperm antigen corresponding to a sperm autoantigenic epitope and methods of using the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a synthetic peptide, useful as an immunocontraceptive agent and for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility, which corresponds to an autoantigenic epitope of Rabbit Sperm Membrane Autoantigen (RSA). The synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting of the decapeptide NH.sub.2 -pro-gly-gly-gly-thr-leu-pro-pro-ser-gly-COOH and the antigenic equivalents thereof. Also disclosed is a method of diagnosing autoimmune infertility in a human subject. The method comprises the step of, first, contacting an immune sera sample from the subject with an antigen, the antigen selected from the group consisting of RSA, other proteins which bind selection antibodies which bind to RSA, and derivatives thereof which bind selection antibodies which bind to RSA. The next step is to detect the presence of antibodies from the immune sera sample bound to the antigen, the presence of antibodies bound to the antigen suggesting the subject is afflicted with autoimmune infertility. A preferred group of antigens is the decapeptide NH.sub.2 -pro-gly-gly-gly-thr-leu-pro-pro-ser-gly-COOH and the antigenic equivalents thereof.

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