Avir Green Hills Biotechnology Research Development Trade Ag

Klaus Wolff

Thomas Muster

Andreas Grassauer

Hubert Pehamberger

Nucleotide sequences and fragments which code for a human endogenous retrovirus which is infectious. 'Fragments' according to the present invention relate also to specific fragments of the sequences inserted into the vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as MERV-env, MERV-gag, MERV-prt and MERV-pol as mentioned above. Additionally, methods of using such sequences, polypeptides encoded by such sequences, antibodies directs against such sequences, and methods and compositions relating to the same are all contemplated.

Polynucleotide fragments of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus

Described is a polynucleotide molecule being a fragment of a polynucleotide sequence of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of (a) a sequence with at least 98%, preferably 99%, still preferred 99.5%, identity to a sequence according to SEQ ID No 1, (b) a sequence which hybridises under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence according to said SEQ ID No 1, (c) a sequence which differs from said sequences (a) or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code and (d) a sequence comprising sequences inserted into vectors pCR4-Topo and deposited as 'MERV-env', 'MERV-gag', &#x201c;MERV-prt&#x201d; and &#x201c;MERV-pol&#x201d; at the DSMZ on 26 Sep. 2001 or fragments thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Vienna, Austria

Klaus Wolff