Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Antigen – epitope – or other immunospecific immunoeffector – Virus or component thereof
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-28
2001-01-23
Scheiner, Laurie (Department: 1641)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Antigen, epitope, or other immunospecific immunoeffector
Virus or component thereof
C424S184100, C435S235100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177081
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the detection and treatment of viral infection. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis of and vaccination against infection with a newly-discovered family of lymphotropic viruses designated activating virus (AV).
2. Description of Related Art
Viruses can contribute to the development of human tumors by a variety of mechanisms ranging from genetic stimulation of proliferation in host cells to induced immunosuppression that permits emergence of tumors not directly related to the suppressing virus. For instance, a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has substantially increased risk for developing Kaposi sarcomas and B cell lymphomas, apparently due to immunosuppression caused by the HIV infection. Herpes simplex virus (HSV), on the other hand, has been suspected of contributing to tumors, particularly anogenital and oral cancers (A. Nahmias, et al.,
Am. J. Epidemol.,
91:547, 1970; W. E. Rawls, et al.,
Cancer Res.,
33:1542, 1973; R. Duff, et al.,
J. Virol.,
8:469, 1971; H. zur Hausen,
Int. Rev. Exp. Pathol,
25:307, 1983).
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus, several types of papilloma viruses, and HTLV-I and possibly II (human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus) are consistently linked to specific malignancies, but none of these viruses has been shown to be sufficient alone to induce cancer. Recent studies suggest that the Epstein-Barr and human papilloma viruses carry genes that immortalize infected cells and cause them to divide continuously. Evidence points to two genes, designated E6 and E7, as the likely transforming genes of the cancer-associated papilloma viruses. Both genes are consistently found in the DNA of cervical cancer cells, for example, and are active there. The Epstein-Barr virus also appears to carry a transforming gene, EBNA-2, that may stimulate the expression of other viral and cellular genes, including the latent membrane protein gene. Hepatitus B virus does not carry transforming genes so far as is known, yet it leads to liver cancer, perhaps because the viral DNA inserts itself into the genome of infected cells, activating a cellular oncogene.
Despite their significance, no DNA tumor virus can cause cancer by itself. Other changes and causative factors presently unidentified, perhaps several, are also required in infected cells. The present invention discloses a newly discovered virus called the “Activating Virus” or AV. This virus is implicated as a causative factor in a variety of cancers. It has been isolated from a wide variety of cancerous cells, many of which cancers have heretofore been thought to be linked to viral infection as an instigating factor, but where no viral etiologic agent has been found.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Compositions and methods are provided for detection of and vaccination against a novel virus designated activating virus (AV). The compositions include the whole virus and portions thereof, particularly including polypeptides which are cross-reactive with antibodies specific for determinant sites characteristic of the virus, such as those found on the major envelope and core proteins. The compositions further include antibodies capable of reacting with the virus and polynucleotides which are capable of duplexing with the AV genome.
Using the compositions of the present invention, the virus and viral infection may be detected by a variety of techniques, particularly immunoassays and techniques employing nucleotide probes. Immunoassays provide for the detection of the virus or antibody to the virus in a physiological specimen, particularly blood and lymph tissue. Nucleic probes are used to detect the presence of the AV genome in a physiological specimen. Vaccines may be prepared from the whole virus, either by partial or complete inactivation. Alternatively, subunit vaccines may be prepared from antigenic portions of the viral proteins capable of modulating B-lymphocyte or T-lymphocyte responses.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4692403 (1987-09-01), Linder et al.
patent: 4816395 (1989-03-01), Hancock et al.
patent: 4831012 (1989-05-01), Estep
patent: 4831118 (1989-05-01), Zimmerman et al.
patent: 4832946 (1989-05-01), Green
patent: 5037753 (1991-08-01), Pendersen et al.
patent: 5055391 (1991-10-01), Montagnier et al.
patent: 5108920 (1992-04-01), Ng et al.
patent: WO 92/20787 (1992-11-01), None
patent: WO 93/10222 (1997-05-01), None
Poiesz et al., “Detection and Isolation of Type C Retrovirus Particles from Fresh and Cultured Lymphocytes of a Patient with Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77(12):7415-7419, 1980.
Marczynska et al., “Syncytium-Forming Virus of Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus),” Infect. Immun. 31(3):1261-1269, 1981.
Murphy, F., 1996, “Virus Taxonomy”, inFields Virology, Third Edition, Fields et al., eds., Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, pp. 15-57.
Nathanson, N., 1996, “Epidemiology”, inFields Virology, Third Edition, Fields et al., eds., Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, pp. 251-271.
Tyler et al., 1996, “Pathogenesis of Viral Infections”, inFields Virology, Third Edition, Fields et al., eds., Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, pp. 15-57.
Newman et al., 1995, “Immunological and Formulation Design Considerations for Subunit Vaccines”, inVaccine Design: The Subunit and Adjuvant Approach, Powell et al., eds., Plenum Press, New York, pp. 1-42.
Strongin, W., 1992, “Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictive Value of Diagnostic Tests: Definitions and Clinical Applications”, inLaboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections, Lennette, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, pp. 211-219.
Laufs and Steinke, “Vaccination of non-human primates against malignant lymphoma”,Nature, vol. 253, pp. 70-72, 1975.
Johnson, et al., “Interaction of Herpesvirus Ateles and Herpesvirus Saimiri with Primate Lymphocytes”,Intervirology, vol. 13, pp. 21-27, 1980.
Wright, et al., “Herpesvirus Saimiri: Protective Effect of Attenuated Strain Against Lymphoma Induction”,J. Cancer, vol. 26, pp. 477-482, 1980.
Laufs and Melendez, “Oncogenicity of Herpesvirus Ateles in Monkeys”,J. Natl. Cancer Inst., vol. 51, pp. 599-608, 1973.
Deinhardt, et al., “Simian Herpesvirus”,Cancer Research, vol. 33, pp. 1424-1426, Jun., 1973.
Laufs and Steinke, “Vaccination of Nonhuman Primates with Killed Oncogenic Herpesviruses”,Cancer Research, vol. 36, pp. 704-705, Feb. 1976.
Lo, et al., “Fatal Infection of Silvered Leaf Monkeys with a Virus-Like Infectious Agent (VLIA) Derived From a Patient with AIDS”,Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., vol. 4, No. 40, pp. 339-409, 1989.
Daniel, et al., “Selective Antiviral Activity of Human Interferons on Primate Oncogenic and Neurotropic Herpesvirus”,Int. J. Cancer, vol. 27, pp. 113-121, 1981.
Falk, et al., “Transformation of Marmoset Lymphocytes In Vitro withHerpesvirus Ateles”, Int. J. Cancer, vol. 21, pp. 652-657, 1978.
Melendez, Two New Herpesviruses From Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi),Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 233-237, Jul., 1972.
Wright, et al., “Susceptibility of Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to Oncogenic an Attenuated Strains of Herpesvirus saimiri”,J. Natl. Cancer Inst., vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 1475-1478, Nov., 1977.
Fleckenstein and Desrosiers, “Herpesvirus saimiri and Herpesvirus Ateles”,New England Regional Primate Research Inst., pp. 253-332.
Deinhardt, et al., “Simian Herpesviruses and Neoplasia”, Univ. Of Illinois Med. Ctr., pp. 167-205.
Daniel, et al., “Comparative Studies of Interferon and Three Antiviral Agents on Neurotropic and Oncogenic Herpesviruses”,Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 622-628, Oct., 1980.
Modrow and Wolf, “Characterization of Herpesvirus Ateles Structural Proteins”,Virology, vol. 125, pp. 251-255, 1983.
Luetzeler, et al., “Ultrastructural Studies on the Replication of Herpes Virus Ateles-73 in Owl Monkey Kidney Cells”,Archives of Virology, vol. 60, pp. 59-73, 1979.
Pearson and Davis, Immune Response to Monkeys to Lymphotr
Lindner Luther E.
Wechter Stephen R.
Benjamin Aaron Adler
Pacific Biotech International, Inc.
Parkin Jeffrey S.
Scheiner Laurie
LandOfFree
Human and marmoset activating viruses does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Human and marmoset activating viruses, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Human and marmoset activating viruses will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2549412