Assays and therapies for latent viral infection

专利名称：Assays and therapies for latent viral

infection

发明人：JOHN B HARLEY,JUDITH A. JAMES,KENNETH

KAUFMAN

申请号：AU1795401申请日：20001122公开号：AU1795401A公开日：20010604

摘要：Compositions that bind viral proteins that are specifically expressed during thelatent stage of the viral life cycle are disclosed. These compositions bind the latent viralproteins while the viral proteins are expressed in their cellular host, and provide a meansfor targeting cells that harbor latent virus. In a preferred embodiment the compositionsare antibodies which bind the extracellular region of the latent viral protein, mostpreferably LMP-2A, an EBV latent protein, which are conjugated to a diagnostic orcytotoxic agent or immobilized to a solid support for removal of the infected cells. Theseantibodies are capable of distinguishing cells expressing EBV DNA from cells which arenot expressing EBV DNA. Compositions that can be used to elicit production of theseantibodies, or as a vaccine, are also disclosed. Methods for generating diagnostic orcytotoxic reagents and vaccines based on the viral epitopes that identify cells harboringlatent virus are also disclosed. The antibody conjugates can be used in diagnostic assaysto identify cells expressing latent viral protein and people who are harboring latent viralparticles. The antibody conjugates can also be used to remove the infected cells or to killthe infected the cells. Alternatively, or in addition, the viral proteins or portions thereof

can be used as a vaccine to induce an immune reaction by the host to kill the infectedcells. These methods can be used to detect or treat patients harboring latent viruses likeEBV and who are at risk of developing a disease such as an autoimmune disease likesystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

申请人：OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

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