The University of Texas System

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Institut Pasteur

Stanley M Lemon

MinKyung Yi

David V Sangar

Annette Martin

David R Shaffer

René Rijnbrand

MinKyung Yin

The present invention provides a replication competent hepatitis C virus that includes a heterologous polynucleotide. The invention also includes methods for modifying a hepatitis C virus polynucleotide, selecting a replication competent hepatitis C virus polynucleotide, detecting a replication competent hepatitis C virus polynucleotide, and identifying a compound that inhibits replication of a hepatitis C virus polynucleotide.

Replication competent hepatitis C virus and methods of use

The present invention provides replication competent polynucleotides that include a coding sequence encoding a hepatitis C virus polyprotein having adaptive mutations. The invention also includes methods for malting replication competent polynucleotides, identifying a compound that inhibits replication of a replication competent polynucleotide, selecting a replication competent polynucleotide, and detecting a replication competent polynucleotide.

The present invention relates generally to the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, and virology. More particularly, it relates to the identification of GB virus B (GBV-B)/HCV chimeras. The invention involves nucleic acid constructs and compositions encoding GBV-B/HCV chimera, including at least part of a 5' NTR derived from a HCV 5&#x2032; NTR. This construct, and chimeric versions of it, may be employed to study GBV-B and related hepatitis family members, such as hepatitis C virus. The invention thus includes methods of preparing GBV-B/HCV chimeric sequences, constructs, and viruses, as well as methods of employing these compositions.

Chimeric GB virus B (GBV-B)

The present invention relates generally to the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, and virology. More particularly, it relates to the identification of 259 nucleotides located at the 3' end of the GB virus B (GBV-B) genome. The invention involves nucleic acid constructs and compositions encoding GBV-B sequence, including the 3&#x2032; end of the sequence, which has allowed an infectious GBV-B clone to be constructed. This construct, and chimeric versions of it, may be employed to study GBV-B and related hepatitis family members, such as hepatitis C virus. The invention thus includes methods of preparing GBV-B-containing sequences, constructs, and viruses, as well as methods of employing these compositions.

3' Sequence of the GB virus B (GBV-B) genome

Replication competent hepatitus C virus and methods of use

Disclosed are live hepatitis A virus deletion mutants having a deletion mutation in the 5' nontranslated region of the viral genome. The deletion mutation may be selected from the group consisting of (a) pY1 deletion mutations that cause the virus to retain the ability to replicate in monkey kidney cells; and (b) deletion mutations between nucleotides 140 and 144 that render the virus temperature sensitive. Advantageously, the deletion mutation may be an attenuating mutation. Pharmaceutical formulations containing such viruses are disclosed, along with the use thereof to produce antibodies useful for diagnostic purposes and for imparting protective immunity against hepatitis A virus.

Growing community of inventors

Galveston, TX, United States of America

Stanley M Lemon