Type I interferon-inducible proteins to detect viral infection

Abstract

A method for determining the presence of a viral infection in an animal not known to have been infected with a virus or other disease-causing microbial organism by determining the level of Mx protein or other Type I Interferon-inducible protein in the animal.

1 . A method for screening an animal for being an asymptomatic carrier of a viral infection associated with increased expression of a Type I Interferon-inducible protein comprising determining the level of expression of a Type I Interferon-inducible protein in a first animal not known to have been infected with a virus or other disease-causing microbial organism and not showing any clinical signs consistent with a viral infection, and comparing the level of expression of said protein in the animal to that of a second animal of the same species known to be free of viral infection, and determining the first animal to be viral-infection positive if the level of expression of the Type I Interferon-inducible protein in the first animal is significantly elevated compared to the level of expression of the Type I Interferon-inducible protein in the second animal. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first animal is a mammal. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mammal is a member of the order perissodactyla or artiodactyla. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine, and llamas. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of the protein is detected by a colorimetric assay. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by determining the expression of the protein in a cell of the animal. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by analyzing a bodily fluid of the animal. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by determining the level of mRNA coding for the protein. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the determination of mRNA is by Northern blot analysis, slot-blot analysis, or polymerase chain reaction. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting Mx protein, 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, β2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17). 
   
   
       11 . A kit for determining the viral-infection status of an animal, comprising a container for holding a test sample, one or more reagents which, when combined with the test sample in the container, enable an operator to visually determine the level of a Type I Interferon-inducible protein in the test sample, and instructions for determining the viral-infection status of the animal based upon the level of the protein in the sample. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 11  wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of Mx protein, 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, β2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17). 
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, β2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17). 
   
   
       14 . A kit for determining the viral-infection status of an animal, comprising a test surface that is bound to an antibody that will bind to an epitope of a Type I Interferon-inducible protein, a container housing a second labeled antibody that will bind to a second epitope of the protein, a container housing a standard sample having a baseline concentration of the protein, a reagent that when contacted to the labeled second antibody permits the relative amount of the protein present to be visualized, and instructions for use of the kit to determine whether a test sample contains an amount of the protein indicative of viral infection or lack of viral infection status. 
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of Mx protein, 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, β2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17). 
   
   
       16 . The kit of claim  145  wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase, β2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).