The invention is directed to isomeric mixtures of cyclosporine analogs that are structurally similar to cyclosporine A. The mixtures possess enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity over the individual isomers and over naturally occurring and other presently known cyclosporines and cyclosporine derivatives. Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward cis and trans-isomers of cyclosporin A analogs referred to as ISA.sub.TX247, and derivatives thereof. Mixtures of ISA.sub.TX247 isomers exhibit a combination of enhanced potency and reduced toxicity over the naturally occurring and presently known cyclosporins. ISA.sub.TX247 isomers and alkylated, arylated, and deuterated derivatives are synthesized by stereoselective pathways where the particular conditions of a reaction determine the degree of stereoselectivity. The ratio of isomers in a mixture comprises greater than about 80 percent by weight of the E-isomer and less than about 20 percent by weight of the Z-isomer, based on the total weight of the mixture.

The invention is directed to isomeric mixtures of cyclosporine analogues that are structurally similar to cyclosporine A. The mixtures possess enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity over the individual isomers and over naturally occurring and other presently known cyclosporines and cyclosporine derivatives. Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward cis and trans-isomers of cyclosporin A analogs referred to as ISA.sub.TX247, and derivatives thereof. Mixtures of ISA.sub.TX247 isomers exhibit a combination of enhanced potency and reduced toxicity over the naturally occurring and presently known cyclosporins. ISA.sub.TX247 isomers and alkylated, arylated, and deuterated derivatives are synthesized by stereoselective pathways where the particular conditions of a reaction determine the degree of stereoselectivity. The ratio of isomers in a mixture may range from about 10 to 90 percent by weight of the (E)-isomer to about 90 to 10 percent by weight of the (Z)-isomer, based on the total weight of the mixture.

The invention is directed to isomeric mixtures of cyclosporine analogues that are structurally similar to cyclosporine A. The mixtures possess enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity over the individual isomers and over naturally occurring and other presently known cyclosporines and cyclosporine derivatives. Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward cis and trans-isomers of cyclosporin A analogs referred to as ISA.sub.TX247, and derivatives thereof. Mixtures of ISA.sub.TX247 isomers exhibit a combination of enhanced potency and reduced toxicity over the naturally occurring and presently known cyclosporins. ISA.sub.TX247 isomers and alkylated, arylated, and deuterated derivatives are synthesized by stereoselective pathways where the particular conditions of a reaction determine the degree of stereoselectivity. The ratio of isomers in a mixture comprises from about 70 to about 80 percent by weight of the E-isomer and from about 20 to about 30 percent by weight of the Z-isomer, based on the total weight of the mixture.

Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.

Provided is a polypeptide composition comprising one or more polypeptides, which polypeptides are immunogenic in a vertebrate such that they cause the vertebrate to produce immune system cells capable of recognizing at least one epitope from an arthropod saliva protein fraction, wherein the arthropod saliva protein fraction has a mass of 40 kDA or less, and wherein the polypeptides are selected independently from: the polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID 1-44 or sub-sequences from these sequences, the sub-sequences having 7 amino acids or more; or from polypeptide sequences having 85% homology or more with one or more of the above sequences and contained in one or more of the following databases: GenBank, Protein Data Bank (PDB), SwissProt, Protein Information Resource (PIR), Protein Research Foundation (PRF), or CDS translations of these.

Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.

The invention is directed to isomeric mixtures of cyclosporine analogues that are structurally similar to cyclosporine A. The mixtures possess enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity over the individual isomers and over naturally occurring and other presently known cyclosporines and cyclosporine derivatives. Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward cis and trans-isomers of cyclosporin A analogs referred to as ISA.sub.TX247, and derivatives thereof. Mixtures of ISA.sub.TX247 isomers exhibit a combination of enhanced potency and reduced toxicity over the naturally occurring and presently known cyclosporins. ISA.sub.TX247 isomers and alkylated, arylated, and deuterated derivatives are synthesized by stereoselective pathways where the particular conditions of a reaction determine the degree of stereoselectivity. The ratio of isomers in a mixture comprises from about 70 to about 80 percent by weight of the E-isomer and from about 20 to about 30 percent by weight of the Z-isomer, based on the total weight of the mixture.

Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.

Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.