Picornaviruses, vaccines and diagnostic kits

Abstract

(I) SEQ ID NO: 1 (Ljungan 87-012) AGTCTAGTCT TATCTTGTAT GTGTCCTGCA CTGAACTTGT TTCTGT CTCT 50  GGAGTGCTCT ACACTTCAGT AGGGGCTGTA CCCGGGCGGT CCCACT CTTC 100 ACAGGAATCT GCACAGGTGG CTTTCACCTC TGGACAGTGC ATTCCA CACC 150 CGCTCCACGG TAGAAGATGA TGTGTGTCTT TGCTTGTGAA AAGCTT GTGA 200 AAATCGTGTG TAGGCGTAGC GGCTACTTGA GTGCCAGCGG ATTACC CCTA 250 GTGGTAACAC TAGC A new group of picornaviruses is disclosed. The picornaviruses of the invention comprise in the non-coding region of their viral genome a nucleotide sequence which corresponds to cDNA sequence (1) or homologous sequences having at least 75% homology to the SEQ ID NO:1, and they cause mammalian disease. Further aspects of the invention comprise a protein corresponding to a protein of the picornaviruses, antiserum or antibody directed against a protein of the picornaviruses, antigen comprising a protein of the picornaviruses, diagnostic kits, vaccines, use of the picornaviruses in medicaments, particularly for the treatment or prevention of Myocarditis, Cardiomyopathia, Guillain Barré Syndrome, and Diabetes Mellitus, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Spontaneous Abortion, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and methods of treatment of diseases caused by the picornaviruses.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A Ljungan picornavirus comprising in a non-coding region of the viral genome an RNA sequence corresponding to a cDNA sequence shown in Seq ID No:1 or a cDNA sequence having at least 75% sequence identity to Seq ID No:1. whereby said virus causes mammalian disease.  
     
     
         16 . The virus according to  claim 15 , wherein said homologous sequences are selected from the group consisting essentially of Seq ID NO:2 and Seq ID NO:3.  
     
     
         17 . The virus according to  claim 15  for use in a medicament for treating disease.  
     
     
         18 . The virus according to  claim 17 , wherein said medicament comprises at least a portion of said virus and is administered for treating disease.  
     
     
         19 . The virus according to  claim 18 , wherein said virus is in a form selected from the group consisting essentially of attenuated, live, and killed.  
     
     
         20 . The virus according to  claim 15 , wherein said cDNA sequences have at least 80% identity to Seq ID No:1.  
     
     
         21 . The virus according to  claim 15 , wherein said cDNA sequences have at least 85% identity to Seq ID No:1.  
     
     
         22 . The virus according to  claim 15 , wherein said cDNA sequences have at least 90% identity to Seq ID No:1.  
     
     
         23 . A medicament for the treatment of disease, said medicament comprising the virus according to  claim 15  in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         24 . The medicament according to  claim 23 , wherein said medicament comprises at least a portion of said virus and is administered for treating disease.  
     
     
         25 . The medicament according to  claim 24 , wherein said virus is in a form selected from the group consisting essentially of attenuated, live, and killed.  
     
     
         26 . The medicament according to  claim 23 , further comprising an adjuvant.  
     
     
         27 . The medicament according to  claim 23 , wherein said medicament is a vaccine.  
     
     
         28 . Use of the Ljungan picornavirus according to  claim 15  for treating disease caused by said virus.  
     
     
         29 . A diagnostic kit comprising at least one primer for priming a sequence that encodes a cDNA sequence shown in Seq ID No:1 or a cDNA sequence having at least 75% sequence identity to Seq ID No:1.