We previously reported the selection of several families of phage-displayed peptide mimics
(mimotopes) recognized by oligoclonal immunoglobulins present in the CSF of multiple
sclerosis (MS) patients. To search for the natural antigens recognized by these antibodies,
anti-sera were raised against one of the mimotopes and used as a probe in ELISA, Western
blotting and immunoprecipitation experiments. Anti-mimotope IgG were found to cross-react
with an epitope shared by a brain-specific factor conserved from rodents to humans, and the …