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

The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

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

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

Paul A Rota

Larry J Anderson

Thomas G Ksiazek

Anthony Sanchez

Pierre E Rollin

Cara Carthel Burns

M Steven Oberste

William Allan Nix

Raymond Campagnoli

Dean D Erdman

Mark A Pallansch

James A Comer

Suxiang Tong

William J Bellini

Cynthia Goldsmith

Stephan S Monroe

Shannon L Emery

Charles D Humphrey

Joseph P Icenogle

Teresa C T Peret

Sherif R Zaki

Qi Chen

Jeanette Guarner

Richard F Meyer

Christopher D Paddock

Michael D Bowen

Wun-Ju Shieh

Mark L Hemphill

Renee A Black

Renee Black

Byron T Cook

Alan P Kendal

Disclosed herein is a newly isolated human coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Also provided are the nucleic acid sequence of the SARS-CoV genome and the amino acid sequences of the SARS-CoV open reading frames, as well as methods of using these molecules to detect a SARS-CoV and detect infections therewith. Immune stimulatory compositions are also provided, along with methods of their use.

Coronavirus isolated from humans

The invention provides sequence analyses for recent strains of Influenza Type B Virus.

Sequences of the hemagglutinins of recent strains of influenza type B

The present invention relates to nucleoprotein (NP) genes of the influenza A and B viruses which were constructed from virion RNA and subsequently expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (S19) cells using the baculovirus vector, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). Western blot analysis of lysates prepared from S19 cells infected with the recombinant viruses confirmed that the baculovirus-expressed NP antigens were reactive with monoclonal antibodies specific for either type A or B NP and with anti-NP antibodies in human serum samples. Electrophoretic analysis indicated that the expressed influenza NP antigens comigrated with NP purified from influenza A or B virions and that the recombinant NP antigens represented greater than 10% of total protein in infected cells. Dilutions of clarified S19 cell lysates were used as antigens in a standard enzyme immunoassay format to detect serum antibody specific for influenza A or B viruses. The results from assays using the baculovirus-expressed NP antigens showed good correlation with the results obtained using bacterially-expressed NP antigen as well as complement fixation. Therefore, baculovirus-expressed NP antigens can be used in reproducible and routine assays for the serodiagnosis of influenza virus infections as an alternative to the more burdensome complement fixation or hemagglutination tests.

Bioassay for influenza A and B nucleoprotein

The present invention relates to baculovirus-expressed influenza antigens, in particular, to the influenza A membrane protein, M2, expressed from Autographa Californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). The present invention further relates to a method to increase the yield of baculovirus-expressed M2 proteins in host cells by culturing the recombinant baculovirus infected host cells with an amantadine-like drug. Other aspect of the present invention relate to the use of baculovirus-expressed M2 proteins in reproducible and routine assays for the seradiagnosis of influenza A virus infections as an alternative to the more burdensome complement fixation and hemagglutination tests.

Expression of influenza a M2 protein in baculovirus

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Decatur, GA, United States of America

Paul A Rota