Genelabs, Incorporated

Leland Stanford Junior University

Genelabs Technologies, Inc.

Theresa P Chow

Michael Piatak

Kirk E Fry

Kenneth G Hadlock

Steven Kh Foung

Method and assay kit for positively identifying HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection from human serum samples. The kit includes peptide antigens from the C-terminal regions of HLTV-I p19 and HTLV-II p21 gag proteins, and peptide antigens from the HLTV-I and HTLV-II env proteins immobilized on a solid support. After reaction of the serum sample with the solid support, an antibody-detection reagent in the kit is added to the support, to detect binding of human serum antibodies to each of the peptide antigens separately. The test allows positive identification of HTLV-I or HTLV-II when antibody binding to each HTLV-I or HTLV-II gag and env peptide antigen, respectively, is observed. Also disclosed is a kit for screening human sera for evidence of HTLV-I or HTLV-II infection.

HTLV-I/HTLV-II assay and method

Disclosed are the entire coding sequence for unprocessed and mature trichosanthin from Trichosanthes kirilowii, and primers derived from this coding sequence for use in obtaining the coding sequences of ribosome inactivating proteins which have regions of amino acid sequence identical to those of trichosanthin. Also disclosed is a recombinant trichosanthin protein produced from the coding sequence, and the mature protein with amino-terminal and/or carboxy-terminal extensions.

Recombinant trichosanthin and coding sequence

Disclosed are the entire protein and nucleic acid coding sequences for unprocessed and mature trichosanthin protein from Trichosanthes kirilowii. A recombinant trichosanthin protein produced from the coding sequence, and the trichosanthin protein with amino-terminal and/or carboxy-terminal extensions are also described. Primers derived from the coding sequence are disclosed for use in obtaining the coding sequences of ribosome-inactivating-proteins which have regions of amino acid sequence identical to those of trichosanthin. Further, a multigene family of ribosome-inactivating-protein encoding genes of Trichosanthes kirilowii is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Theresa P Chow