Viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis, for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purpose

Abstract

Viral material, in the isolated or purified state, in which the genome comprises a nucleotide sequence chosen from the group including sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, their complementary sequences and their equivalent sequences, in particular nucleotide sequences displaying, for any succession of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 50% and preferably at least 70% homology with the said sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, respectively, and their complementary sequences.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for detecting a pathological and/or infective agent associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis, in a biological sample, comprising bringing a nucleic acid into contact with the biological sample, and detecting hybridization, said nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence having a succession of at least 100 contiguous monomers of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of said sequences SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 89 and their complementary sequences.  
     
     
         2 . A process for detecting a pathological and/or infective agent associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis, in a biological sample, comprising bringing a nucleic acid into contact with the biological sample, and detecting hybridization, said nucleic acid consisting of 100 or more contiguous monomers of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 89 and their complementary sequences.  
     
     
         3 . A process for detecting a pathological and/or infective agent associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis, in a biological sample, comprising bringing a nucleic acid into contact with the biological sample, and detecting hybridization, said nucleic acid comprising 100 or more contiguous monomers of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 89 and their complementary sequences.  
     
     
         4 . A probe for specifically hybridizing with a nucleic acid of a virus associated with multiple sclerosis, said probe comprising at least ten contiguous monomers of the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid, said nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence having a succession of at least 100 contiguous monomers of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 89 and their complementary sequences.  
     
     
         5 . A probe as defined in  claim 4 , having 10 to 100 contiguous monomers of said nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         6 . A specific primer for amplification by polymerization of a nucleic acid of a virus associated with multiple sclerosis, said primer comprising at least ten contiguous monomers of the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid, said nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence having a succession of at least 100 contiguous monomers of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 89 and their complementary sequences.  
     
     
         7 . A primer as defined in  claim 6 , having 10 to 100 contiguous monomers of said nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         8 . A process for detecting a pathological and/or infective agent associated with multiple sclerosis, in a biological sample, comprising bringing a probe according to  claim 4  into contact with the biological sample, and detecting hybridization.