Diagnostic device using GP40

Abstract

A purified polypeptide having an epitope of an antigenic polypeptide of FIV.

1 . A purified polypeptide comprising an epitope of an antigenic polypeptide of FIV.  
     
     
         2 . The purified polypeptide of  claim 1 , said peptide comprising an epitope of a gag or env polypeptide of FIV.  
     
     
         3 . The purified polypeptide of  claim 2  wherein said polypeptide comprises a polypeptide having at least 75% homology to said gag or env polypeptide.  
     
     
         4 . The purified polypeptide of  claim 3  wherein said polypeptide comprises a gag or env polypeptide of FIV.  
     
     
         5 . The purified polypeptide of  claim 2 ,  3 , or  4  wherein said polypeptide is p10, p15, or p26.  
     
     
         6 . The purified polypeptide of  claim 2 ,  3  or  4  wherein said polypeptide is gp40, gp100, or gp130.  
     
     
         7 . A method for detecting antibody to FIV comprising providing purified polypeptide comprising an epitope of an antigenic polypeptide of FIV, contacting said purified polypeptide with a sample comprising said antibody, and detecting the presence of a complex formed between said polypeptide and said antibody.  
     
     
         8 . A purified nucleic acid comprising a 50 nucleotide sequence having at least 90% homology with a 50 nucleotide sequence naturally occurring in an FIV particle.  
     
     
         9 . The nucleic acid of  claim 8 , said nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an epitope of an antigenic polypeptide of FIV.  
     
     
         10 . The nucleic acid of  claim 9 , said polypeptide comprising an epitope of a gag or env polypeptide of FIV.  
     
     
         11 . The nucleic acid of  claim 8  carried in an expression vector.  
     
     
         12 . A method for inducing immunity to FIV-caused disease symptoms in a cat, comprising the step of inoculating the cat with a polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . A purified polypeptide comprising ten or more contiguous amino acids taken from the sequence V-Q-S-R-G-S-G-P-V-C-F-N-C-K-K-P-G-H-L-A-R-Q-S-H or P-I-Q-T-V-N-G-V-P-Q-Y-V-A-L-D-P-K-M-V-S or S-V-Q-S-R-G-Q-G-P-V-A-F-N.