Synthetic peptides useful in biological essays for detecting infections caused by group O HIV-1 viruses

1. Synthetic peptide in linear form or in a form cyclized by means of intercysteine disulphide bridges, having the general formula (I):

Δ-Z-TrpGlyCys-Θ-CysTyrThrSer-Ω (SEQ ID NO: 23)

wherein

Δ is selected from the group consisting of a biotinyl radical, a biocytinyl radical, a hydrogen atom, an acetyl (CH 3 CO—) radical, an aliphatic chain which may contain one or two thiol, an aldehyde functional group and an amine functional group,

Z represents a peptide sequence, selected from the group consisting of the sequences of the formulae:

Ξ 1 -Ser-Ξ 2   (II)

Ξ 1 -Ser-  (IV)

Ξ 1 -Gln-Ξ 2   (V)

Ξ 1 -Asn-Ξ 2   (VIII)

wherein

Ξ 1 represents a peptide sequence of 0 to 9 amino acids, and

Ξ 2 represents a peptide sequence of 0 to 5 amino acids,

Θ represents a peptide sequence of formula (XI):

(AA 1 )-Gly-(AA 3 )-Leu-(AA 5 )  (XI):

wherein

(AA 1 ) is selected from the group consisting of a lysine residue and an arginine residue,

(AA 3 ) is selected from the group consisting of a lysine residue and an arginine residue,

(AA 5 ) is selected from the group consisting of an isoleucine residue and a valine residue, provided, however, that Θ never represents the peptide sequence Lys Gly Lys Leu Ile (SEQ ID NO: 14) or Lys Gly Lys Leu Val (SEQ ID NO: 18),

Ω attached to the —CO— group of serine, is selected from the group consisting of:

a hydroxyl (—OH) radical and

a peptide sequence of formula (XII):

Val-Σ-Ψ  (XII)

wherein Σ represents a sequence:

(AA 6 )-Trp Asn-(AA 7 )-(AA 8 )  (XIII)

wherein:

(AA 6 ) represents an amino acid different from lysine,

(AA 7 ) represents an amino acid,

(AA 8 ) is selected from the group consisting of a serine and a threonine residue, and Ψ, attached to the —CO— residue of the free AA 8 amino acid, is selected from the group consisting of an OH group and a NH 2 group.

2. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Δ represents an aliphatic chain, the aliphatic chain being selected from the group consisting of an alkyl chain of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl chain of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and an aminoalkylcarbonyl chain of 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

3. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein (AA 1 )-Gly-(AA 3 )-Leu-(AA 5 ) is selected from the group consisting of:

Arg-Gly-Arg-Leu-Val (SEQ ID NO: 25),

Arg-Gly-Lys-Leu-lle (SEQ ID NO: 26),

Arg-Gly-Lys-Leu-Val (SEQ ID NO: 27), and

Lys-Gly-Arg-Leu-Val (SEQ ID NO: 28).

4. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII) and (AA 6 ) is selected from the group consisting of a glutamine residue and an arginine residue.

5. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII) and (AA 7 ) is a serine residue.

6. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII) and (AA 7 ) is a threonine residue.

7. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII), (AA 7 ) is a threonine residue, and (AA 8 ) is a serine residue.

8. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII), (AA 6 ) is a glutamine residue or an arginine residue, and (AA 8 ) is a serine residue or a threonine residue.

9. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII), (AA 6 ) is a glutamine residue, and (AA 8 ) is a serine residue or a threonine residue.

10. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII), (AA 6 ) is an arginine residue, and (AA 8 ) is a serine residue or a threonine residue.

11. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII) and (AA 8 ) is a serine residue or a threonine residue.

12. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII) and (AA 8 ) is a serine residue.

13. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω corresponds to the peptide sequence of formula (XII) and (AA 8 ) is a threonine residue.

14. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Ω is peptide sequence

Val Gln Trp Asn Ser Thr Ψ(residues 17-22 of SEQ ID NO: 4).

15. Synthetic peptide of formula (I) according to claim 1 wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of peptide sequences of formulae:

Leu Leu Ser Leu-(residues 1-4 of SEQ ID NO: 1),

Leu Leu Ser Ser-(residues 1-4 of SEQ ID NO: 8),

Leu Leu Asn Ser-(residues 1-4 of SEQ ID NO: 10),

Arg Leu Asn Ser-(residues 1-4 of SEQ ID NO: 16),

Ala Leu Glu Thr Leu Leu Gln Asn Gln Gln Leu Leu Asn Ser-(residues 1-14 of SEQ ID NO: 11),

Ala Leu Glu Thr Leu Leu Gln Asn Gln Gln Leu Leu Asn Ile-(residues 1-14 of SEQ ID NO: 12),

Leu Asn Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Asn Ser-(residues 1-9 of SEQ ID NO: 14), and

Arg Ala Leu Glu Thr Leu Leu Asn Gln Gln Arg Leu Leu Asn Ser-(residues 1-15 of SEQ ID NO: 15).