Polynucleotide Fragments of an Infectious Human Endogenous Retrovirus

Abstract

Nucleotide sequences and fragments which code for a human endogenous retrovirus which is infectious. “Fragments” according to the present invention relate also to specific fragments of the sequences inserted into the vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as MERV-env, MERV-gag, MERV-prt and MERV-pol as mentioned above. Additionally, methods of using such sequences, polypeptides encoded by such sequences, antibodies directs against such sequences, and methods and compositions relating to the same are all contemplated.

1 - 90 . (canceled)  
     
     
         91 . An antibody or fragment thereof directed against a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide molecule comprising all or a fragment of a nucleotide sequence of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, which sequence is or is complementary to a sequence which: 
 (a) has at least 98% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof;    (b) hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof;    (c) differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises a sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as any of “MERV-env”, “MERV-gag”, “MERV-prt” and “MERV-pol” at the DSMZ on 26 Sep. 2001 or a fragment of such a sequence.    
     
     
         92 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , further defined as attached to the surface of a solid support.  
     
     
         93 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         94 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as comprising a specific fragment with a length of at least 15 bp of SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         95 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as comprising a specific fragment of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the fragment is defined as having a sequence identical to SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         96 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding an env protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 99.5% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-env” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         97 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding a gag protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 99.5% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-gag” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         98 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding a pro protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 98% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:5;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:5;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-prt” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         99 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 91 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding a pol protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 99% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:3;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-pol” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         100 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polynucleotide molecule comprising a base sequence complementary to the sequence of a polynucleotide molecule comprising all or a fragment of a nucleotide sequence of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, which sequence is or is complementary to a sequence which: 
 (a) has at least 98% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof;    (b) hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof;    (c) differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises a sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as any of “MERV-env”, “MERV-gag”, “MERV-prt” and “MERV-pol” at the DSMZ on 26 Sep. 2001 or a fragment of such a sequence;    a vector comprising such a polynucleotide molecule, an infectious or attenuated human endogenous retrovirus encoded by such a polynucleotide molecule, an antibody or antibody fragment directed against a polypeptide encoded by such a polynucleotide molecule or against an infectious or attenuated human endogenous retrovirus, or a PNA molecule comprising a base sequence of such a molecule in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         101 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , further defined as attached to the surface of a solid support.  
     
     
         102 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         103 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as comprising a specific fragment with a length of at least 15 bp of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         104 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as comprising a specific fragment of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the fragment is defined as having a sequence identical to SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         105 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding an env protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 99.5% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-env” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         106 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding a gag protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 99.5% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-gag” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         107 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding a pro protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 98% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:5;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:5;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-prt” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         108 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule is further defined as encoding a pol protein of an infectious human endogenous retrovirus, said polynucleotide molecule comprising a sequence: 
 (a) with at least 99% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;    (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:3;    (c) which differs from the sequences of (a) and/or (b) due to degeneration of the genetic code; and/or    (d) comprises the sequence inserted into a vector pCR4-Topo and deposited as “MERV-pol” or a fragment of that sequence.    
     
     
         109 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , further comprising at least one antiviral substance.  
     
     
         110 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , further defined as a sun cream.  
     
     
         111 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 100 , further defined as a vaccine.