Genelabs Technologies, Inc.

Other

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

The United States of America

Albert W Tam

Gregory R Reyes

Daniel W Bradley

Patrice O Yarbough

Krzysztof Z Krawczynski

Kirk E Fry

Jr-Shin Twu

Michael A Purdy

Thomas W Bruice

Megan E Laurance

Douglas B Starr

Jungsuh P Kim

Cynthia A Edwards

Mark Douglas Velligan

Emil F Michelotti

Yan Kwok

Moon Young Lim

Liana T Sheppard

Moon Young Kim

James Larrick

Patrice D Yarbough

Mitchell Carl

Derek R Latour

Rita L Thomas

Ana Kongpachith

The present invention provides molecular switch system methods and compositions for use in regulatable gene expression. The system includes a nucleic acid construct which has a DNA response sequence for a transcriptional regulatory protein operably linked to a promoter, a compound binding sequence in the vicinity of the DNA response sequence, a transgene under the control of the promoter; and a DNA binding compound. In some cases, the molecular switch system further includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding a transcriptional regulatory protein operably linked to a second promoter. The invention further provides a method for screening compounds for the ability to function in the molecular switch system and thereby regulate gene expression.

DNA binding compound-mediated molecular switch system

Viral proteins derived from an enterically transmitted non-A/non-B viral hepatitis agent (HEV) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the protein is immunologically reactive with antibodies present in individuals infected with the viral hepatitis agent. This protein is useful in a diagnostic method for detecting infection by the enterically transmitted agent. Specific epitopes have been identified that are reactive with sera of individual infected with different strains of HEV. Also disclosed are DNA probes derived from a cloned sequence of the viral agent. These probes are useful for identifying and sequencing the entire viral agent and for assaying the presence of the viral agent in an infected sample, by using probe-specific amplification of virus-derived DNA fragments.

Enterically transmitted non-A/non-B hepatitis viral agent and characteristic epitopes thereof

This invention provides nucleic acid sequences, vectors and host cells comprising regulatory regions associated with various promoters including a cyclin D1 promoter, a CD40L promoter, three HBV promoters (core, pre-S1 and HBV-X), a vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) promoter, an androgen receptor promoter, a Her2 promoter, and &#x3b2;-lactamase promoter. The invention further provides methods of regulating gene expression comprising the regulatory regions of such promoters.

Promoters for regulated gene expression

Antigen and antibody vaccine composition effective in preventing hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection are disclosed. The antigen composition includes peptides corresponding to carboxyl terminal end regions of the second and third open reasing frames of the HEV genome. The composition is effective in preventing HEV infection after vaccination. The antibody composition contains an antibody effective to block HEV infection of human primary hepatocytes in culture.

Hepatitis E virus vaccine and method

Method of detecting HEV infection

DNA sequences of enterically transmitted non-A/non-B hepatitis viral agent

Method of detecting hev infection

A method of amplifying a mixture of different-sequence DNA fragments which may be formed from RNA transcription, or derived from genomic single- or double-stranded DNA fragments. The fragments are treated with terminal deoxynucleotide transferase and a selected deoxynucleotide, to form a homopolymer tail at the 3' end of the anti-sense strands, and the sense strands are provided with a common 3'-end sequence. The fragments are mixed with a homopolymer primer which is homologous to the homopolymer tail of the anti-sense strands, and a defined-sequence primer which is homologous to the sense-strand common 3'-end sequence, with repeated cycles of fragment denaturation, annealing, and polymerization, to amplify the fragments. In one embodiment, the defined-sequence and homopolymer primers are the same, i.e., only one primer is used. The primers may contain selected restriction-site sequences, to provide directional restriction sites at the ends of the amplified fragments.

Amplification of mixed sequence nucleic acid fragments

Immunogenic peptides derived from the ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3 regions of hepatitis E virus (HEV), diagnostic reagents containing the peptide antigens, vaccine compositions containing the antigens, and antibodies which are immunoreactive with the antigens are disclosed.

Hepatitis E virus peptide antigen and antibodies

DNA sequences of enterically transmitted non-A/non-B hepatitis viral

Nucleic acid sequences derived from enterically transmitted nonA/nonB viral hepatitis agent (HEV) are disclosed. DNA sequences encoding specific epitopes within viral protein sequences that are reactive with sera of individuals infected with different strains of HEV are also disclosed. These DNA sequences and fragments thereof are useful for identifying and sequencing the entire viral agent and for assaying the presence of the viral agent in an infected sample, for example by using specific amplification of virus-derived DNA sequences, as well as for producing viral proteins or polypeptides.

An antigen composition hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection are disclosed. The antigen composition includes peptides corresponding to carboxyl terminal end regions of the second and third open reading frames of the HEV genome.

Hepatitis E virus ORF Z peptides

Antigen and antibody vaccine composition effective in preventing hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection are disclosed. The antigen composition includes a peptide corresponding to a carboxyl terminal end region of the capsid protein encoded by the second open reading frame 2 of the HEV genome. The composition is effective in preventing HEV infection after vaccination. The antibody composition contains an antibody effective to block HEV infection of human primary hepatocytes in culture.

Peptide antigens are provided which are derived from the enterically transmitted non-A/non-B viral hepatitis agent, known as hepatitis E virus (HEV). The HEV derived peptides and in particular, SG3, are immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with HEV. The antigens are useful as diagnostic reagents in diagnostic methods and kits for determining infection of an individual with HEV.

Hepatitis E virus peptides and methods

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Albert W Tam