Lentivirus from the group of immunodeficiency viruses of drill monkeys (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and their use

Abstract

The present invention relates to an immunodeficiency virus of drill monkeys, its RNA, the corresponding cDNA, proteins derived therefrom and fragments of the nucleic acids or proteins. The invention likewise relates to the diagnostic use of the nucleic acids and proteins mentioned and their fragments and to a diagnostic.

1 . The immunodeficiency virus SIM27, whose RNA or a part thereof is complementary to the sequence according to Table 2 or Table 3 or Table 4 or Table 5 or Table 6 or Table 7.  
     
     
         2 . A variant of the immunodeficiency virus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising an RNA which is complementary to a DNA which is investigated by the following process: 
 (a) extraction of the sequences mentioned in Table 11 from the gene database “Genbank” and loading of the sequences including the sequence to be investigated into the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (b) multiple alignment of the sequences according to Table 11 and of the sequence to be investigated and phylogenetic analysis of the data obtained by the neighbor-joining method by means of the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (c) visualization of the family tree data obtained as a family tree using a suitable presentation program,    wherein the variant branches off along the distance from the end up to the first branching point from the branch of the family tree on the end of which SIM27 is located.    
     
     
         3 . The GAG protein of SIM27 or a variant thereof, which is investigated by the following process: 
 (a) extraction of the GAG portions of the sequences mentioned in Table 11 from the gene database “Genbank” and loading of the corresponding amino acid sequences into the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (b) multiple alignment of these amino acid sequences with the sequence according to Table 8 and phylogenetic analysis of the data obtained by the neighbor-joining method by means of the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (c) visualization of the family tree data obtained as a family tree using a suitable presentation program;    wherein the variant branches off along the distance from the end up to the first branching point from the branch of the family tree on the end of which SIM27-gag is located.    
     
     
         4 . The Env protein of SIM27 or a variant thereof, which is investigated by the following process: 
 (a) extraction of the ENV portions of the sequences mentioned in Table 11 from the gene database “Genbank” and loading of the corresponding amino acid sequences into the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (b) multiple alignment of these amino acid sequences with the sequences according to Table 10 and phylogenetic analysis of the data obtained by the neighbor-joining method by means of the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (c) visualization of the family tree data obtained as a family tree using a suitable presentation program;    wherein the variant branches off along the distance from the end up to the first branching point from the branch of the family tree on the end of which SIM27-env is located.    
     
     
         5 . The POL protein of SIM27 or a variant thereof, which is investigated by the following process: 
 (a) extraction of the POL portions of the sequences mentioned in Table 11 from the gene database “Genbank” and loading of the corresponding amino acid sequences into the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (b) multiple alignment of these amino acid sequences with the sequences according to Table 9 and phylogenetic analysis of the data obtained by the neighbor-joining method by means of the computer program “ClustalW Version 1.74”,    (c) visualization of the family tree data obtained as a family tree using a suitable presentation program;    wherein the variant branches off along the distance from the end up to the first branching point from the branch of the family tree on the end of which SIM27-pol is located.    
     
     
         6 . The use of a virus as claimed in  claim 1  or of a protein as claimed in one or more of  claims 3  to  5  for the detection of antibodies directed against an immunodeficiency virus in a sample.