Peptides related to certain portions of the arginine deiminase enzyme from the bacterium Streptococcus cristatus are provided that disrupt the formation and composition of biofilms containing the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, and also modulate the virulence of P. gingivalis. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such peptides and method of using the same are disclosed.

The present invention relates to the food field. The invention provides a method for obtaining an improved property in a drink comprising a plant protein, said method comprising incubating a solution comprising a plant protein with phytase and a peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) and optionally processing the phytase and PAD treated solution into a drink comprising a plant protein, wherein the plant protein is pea protein or faba bean protein.

A method for measuring anti-PAD2 antibodies in a subject with an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and to determine if the subject has a better prognosis for developing a more severe form of inflammation based on anti-PAD2 antibody levels. Methods for the therapeutic use of anti-PAD2 antibodies are also described.

Provided are anti-PAD4 antibodies having excellent properties and an excellent method for treatment of RA. Used are anti-PAD4 antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope containing positions 345, 347, and 348 of PAD4. These anti-PAD4 antibodies may inhibit the citrullination activity of PAD4. In addition, these anti-PAD4 antibodies may have a KD (M) of 9.0×10.sup.−9 or less. Optionally, the anti-PAD4 antibody and a TNFα inhibitor are used in combination.

An antigen and antibodies prepared based on peptidylarginine deiminase (PADI4) serving as a tumor marker, and application thereof are disclosed. The antigen has an amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID NO. 1. Specific antibodies prepared by using the antigen are also disclosed. The protein PADI4 monoclonal antibodies include a protein PADI4 monoclonal antibody coated onto an ELISA plate and a biotin-labeled protein PADI4 monoclonal antibody. A kit prepared by using the antibodies of the present disclosure can effectively and stably determine a protein PADI4 level of a human serum, and has a broad spectrum, detectability, and high test repeatability.

The invention provides novel inhibitors or inactivators of protein arginine deiminases, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof. The invention also relates to molecular probes based on such compounds and methods of use thereof.

The present invention relates to field of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The inventors propose that PAD4, one of the enzymes which convert arginine into citrulline, is a target antigen for T cells that help the production of ACPA. They recently demonstrated that PAD immunization triggers anti-citrullinated fibrinogen antibody production in normal mice. Here, they demonstrate that the risk (OR) to develop RA associated with each of 12 HLA-DRB1 genotype correlates with the likelihood for the two HLA-DR molecules encoded by each genotype to bind at least one random peptide from PAD4, but not from citrullinated or native fibrinogen. PBLs from patients with RA, PsA and controls proliferate to PAD4 and they identify, notably, a peptide from PAD4, p8 (SEQ ID NO: 6), that stimulates T cells from RA patients and a few patients with PsA. Proliferative responses to p8 are associated with RA, shared epitope positive HLA-DR alleles and antibodies to PAD4. Thus the present invention relates to a peptide derived from the PAD4 protein and its use in the treatment and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.

Provided are anti-PAD4 antibodies having excellent properties and an excellent method for treatment of RA. Used are anti-PAD4 antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope containing positions 345, 347, and 348 of PAD4. These anti-PAD4 antibodies may inhibit the citrullination activity of PAD4. In addition, these anti-PAD4 antibodies may have a KD (M) of 9.0×10.sup.−9 or less. Optionally, the anti-PAD4 antibody and a TNFα inhibitor are used in combination.

The invention provides novel inhibitors or inactivators of protein arginine deiminases, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof. The invention also relates to molecular probes based on such compounds and methods of use thereof.

To obtain an anti-PAD2 antibody having excellent PAD2 inhibitory activity. Provided is an anti-PAD2 antibody that specifically binds to positions 341 to 357 of PAD2. Also provided is an anti-PAD2 antibody that specifically binds to a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.