The present invention provides a method for identifying a peptide which binds to an anti-double stranded DNA antibody. The present invention also provides a class of peptides identified by the method of the present invention which bind to anti-double stranded DNA antibodies and compositions containing these peptides. The present invention also provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus utilizing the peptides of the present invention.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/833,838, filed Apr. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,970, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/531,832, filed Sep. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,964, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
