Genelabs Technologies, Inc.

Genelabs, Incorporated

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

Other

University of California

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

The United States of America

Gregory R Reyes

Albert W Tam

Daniel W Bradley

Patrice O Yarbough

Krzysztof Z Krawczynski

Kirk E Fry

Jungsuh P Kim

Randolph Moeckli

Kenneth G Hadlock

Jr-Shin Twu

Michael A Purdy

Michael S McGrath

Christian C Simonsen

Valerie L Ng

LaVonne Marie Young

Linda B Rabin

Mitchell Carl

Patrice D Yarbough

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

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 isolating genomic or RNA-derived duplex fragments which are unique to one of two fragment mixtures. The fragments in positive-source and negative-source mixtures are separately equipped with end linkers, and each mixture is amplified by successive primed-strand replications, using a single primer which is homologous to the associated linker. The second-source linker is biotinylated, and the fragments in this mixture are hybridized in molar excess with the fragments in the positive-source mixture. DNA species which are not hybridized with the biotinylated species, i.e., species that are unique to the positive-source mixture, are isolated after removal of hybridized species by affinity chromatography. Also disclosed is a method of amplifying a mixture of DNA fragments by repeated linker/primer replication.

DNA amplification and subtraction techniques

Novel HTLV-I and HTLV-II peptide antigens are disclosed for use in diagnostics assays for screening and confirming HTLV-I and HTLV-II antisera. The peptides are derived from analogous regions of HTLV-I and HTLV-II gp46 envelop proteins, and are differentiated by their immunoreactivity with an HTLV-II specific monoclonal antibody and by HTLV-I and HTLV-II antisera. The peptides are also useful in vaccine compositions.

HTLV-I and HTLV-II peptide antigens and methods

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

Novel HTLV-I and HTLV-II peptide antigens are disclosed for use in diagnostics assays for screening and confirming HTLV-I and HTLV-II antisera. The peptides are derived from analogous regions of HTLV-I and HTLV-II gp46 envelope proteins, and are differentiated by their immunoreactivity with an HTLV-II specific monoclonal antibody and by HTLV-I and HTLV-II antisera. The peptides are also useful in vaccine compositions.

Polypeptide antigens are disclosed which are immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with non-A, non-B, non-C, non-D, non-E hepatitis. Also disclosed are corresponding genomic-fragment clones containing polynucleotides encoding the open reading frame sequences for the antigenic polypeptides. The antigens are useful in diagnostic methods for detecting the presence of N-(ABCDE) hepatitis agent infection in primates. The antigens are also useful in vaccine and antibody preparations. Methods are presented for the isolation of entire genomes corresponding to the N-(ABCDE) hepatitis agents.

Non-A/non-B/non-C/non-D/non-E hepatitis agents and molecular cloning

Peptide antigens which are immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are disclosed. Several of the antigens are immunologically reactive with antibodies present in individuals identified as having chronic and acute HCV infection. The antigens are useful in diagnostic methods for detecting HCV infection in humans. Also disclosed are corresponding genomic-fragment clones containing polynucleotides encoding the open reading frame sequences for the antigenic peptides.

Hepatitis C virus epitopes

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.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Gregory R Reyes