SPERM ANTIGEN CORRESPONDING TO A SPERM ZONA BINDING PROTEIN AUTOANTIGENIC EPITOPE

摘要

The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigeenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.