Reagents and methods for treating dental disease

1. An isolated polypeptide consisting of 1 to 10 copies of a polypeptide consisting of 12-42 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, (HPP(S/T)HTLQPHHH(L/I)PVVPAQQPV(A/I)PQQPMMPVPG(H/Q)HSMTP(T/I)QH) (ADP7).

2. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of

(i) (HTLQPHHH(L/I)PVV) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 12) (ADP1);

(ii) (VPG(H/Q)HSMTP(T/I)QH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 13) (ADP2)

(iii) (HPP(S/T)HTLQPHHH(L/I)PVV) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 14) (ADP4);

(iv) (PAQQPV(A-I)PQQPMMP) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 15) (ADP8);

(v) (HPP(S/T)HTLQPHHH(L/I)PVVPAQQPV(A/I)PQQPMMPVPG (H/Q)HSMTP(T/I)QH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 4) (ADP7);

(vi) (HTLQPHHHLPVV) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 16) (ADP1M);

(vii) (HTLQPHHHIPVV) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 17) (ADP1H);

(viii) (VPGHHSMTPTQH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 18) (ADP2M)

(ix) (VPGQHSMTPIQH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 19) (ADP2H)

(x) (HPPSHTLQPHHHLPVV) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 20) (ADP4M);

(xi) (HPPTHTLQPHHHIPVV) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 21) (ADP4H);

(xii) (HPPSHTLQPHHHLPVVPAQQPVAPQQPMMPVPGHHSMTPTQH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 8) (ADP7M);

(xiii) (HPPTHTLQPHHHIPVVPAQQPVIPQQPMMPVPGQHSMTPIQH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 9) (ADP7H);

(xiv) (PAQQPVAPQQPMMP) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 22) (ADP8M); and

(xv) (PAQQPVIPQQPMMP) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 23) (ADP8H).

3. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of (HPPSHTLQPHHHLPVVPAQQPVAPQQPMMPVPGHHSMTPTQH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 8) (ADP7M), or (HPPTHTLQPHHHIPVVPAQQPVIPQQPMMPVPGQHSMTPIQH) 1-10 (SEQ ID NO: 9) (ADP7H).

4. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 consisting of 2-10 copies of the polypeptide.

5. The isolated polypeptide of claim 2 consisting of 2-10 copies of the polypeptide selected from the group.

6. A recombinant fusion polypeptide, comprising:

(a) the polypeptide of claim 1 ; and

(b) a heterologous polypeptide.

7. A recombinant fusion polypeptide, comprising:

(a) the polypeptide of claim 4 ; and

(b) a heterologous polypeptide.

8. The recombinant fusion protein of claim 6 , wherein the heterologous polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of detectable polypeptides, polypeptide affinity tags, peptide markers, a fusion tag, anti-microbial polypeptides, biomineralization-promoting polypeptides, inorganic material-binding polypeptides, three-dimensional scaffold-forming polypeptides, collagen, chitosan, amphiphilic peptides, protein-binding polypeptides, enamelin-derived polypeptides, tuftelin-derived peptides, statherin-derived polypeptides, dentin-derived polypeptides, bone sialoprotein-derived polypeptides, osteocalcin-derived polypeptides, osteopontin-derived polypeptides, proteins with caries inhibitory activity, casein, and bone morphogenetic-derived polypeptides.

9. The recombinant fusion protein of claim 7 , wherein the heterologous polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of detectable polypeptides, polypeptide affinity tags, peptide markers, a fusion tag, anti-microbial polypeptides, biomineralization-promoting polypeptides, inorganic material-binding polypeptides, three-dimensional scaffold-forming polypeptides, collagen, chitosan, amphiphilic peptides, protein-binding polypeptides, enamelin-derived polypeptides, tuftelin-derived peptides, statherin-derived polypeptides, dentin-derived polypeptides, bone sialoprotein-derived polypeptides, osteocalcin-derived polypeptides, osteopontin-derived polypeptides, proteins with caries inhibitory activity, casein, and bone morphogenetic-derived polypeptides.

10. A composition, comprising:

(a) the polypeptide of claim 1 ; and

(b) a non-peptide moiety linked to the polypeptide.

11. A composition, comprising:

(a) the polypeptide of claim 4 ; and

(b) a non-peptide moiety linked to the polypeptide.

12. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the non-peptide moiety is selected from the group consisting of radioactive isotopes, non-peptide affinity tags, isotope-coded affinity tags, fluorophores, nanotubes, nanowires, nanoparticles, atomic clusters, quantum dots, single layer or multilayer atomic materials, inorganic ions or ion clusters, organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures, fish flour, amino acids, and non-peptide polymers.

13. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the non-peptide moiety is selected from the group consisting of radioactive isotopes, non-peptide affinity tags, isotope-coded affinity tags, fluorophores, nanotubes, nanowires, nanoparticles, atomic clusters, quantum dots, single layer or multilayer atomic materials, inorganic ions or ion clusters, organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures, fish flour, amino acids, and non-peptide polymers.

14. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising

(a) the polypeptide of claim 1 ; and

(b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

15. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising

(a) the polypeptide of claim 4 ; and

(b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

16. An oral care product, comprising the polypeptide of claim 1 .

17. An oral care product, comprising the polypeptide of claim 4 .

18. The oral care product of claim 16 , wherein the dental care product is selected from the group consisting of toothpaste, toothpowders, mouthwash, dental floss, liquid dentifrices, dental tablets, topical gels, troches, chewing gums, dental pastes, gingival massage creams, gargle tablets, lozenges, and food products.

19. The oral care product of claim 17 , wherein the dental care product is selected from the group consisting of toothpaste, toothpowders, mouthwash, dental floss, liquid dentifrices, dental tablets, topical gels, troches, chewing gums, dental pastes, gingival massage creams, gargle tablets, lozenges, and food products.

20. A method for treating dental disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an amount effective to treat the dental disease of the polypeptide of claim 1 .

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the dental disorder is selected from the group consisting of periodontitis, tooth erosion, hypersensitivity, bacterial plaque, dental fluorosis, tooth decay, carries, tooth resorption, and gingival recession.