Circovirus sequences associated with piglet weight loss disease (pwd)

Abstract

The genome sequences and the nucleotide sequences coding for the PWD circovirus polypeptides, such as the circovirus structural and non-structural polypeptides, vectors including the sequences, and cells and animals transformed by the vectors are provided. Methods for detecting the nucleic acids or polypeptides, and kits for diagnosing infection by a PWD circovirus, also are provided. Method for selecting compounds capable of modulating the viral infection are further provided. Pharmaceutical, including vaccine, compositions for preventing and/or treating viral infections caused by PWD circovirus and the use of vectors for preventing and/or treating diseases also are provided.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for the prophylaxis and treatment of a sub-clinical PCVB infection in an individual animal or a group of animals, comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of PCVB antigen or an immunogenic composition comprising a PCVB antigen to an animal in need of such administration. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the sub-clinical PCVB infection is characterized by a virus persistence in the group of animals of at least 6 weeks. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the sub-clinical PCVB infection is characterized by no morbidity or a low morbidity rate of less than 25% of the PCVB positive animals within the group of animals. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the sub-clinical PCVB infection is further characterized by low mortality rate of less than 20% of the PCVB positive animals within the group of animals. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said PCVB antigen comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 i) a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:58, or combinations thereof;   ii) a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iii) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iv) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   v) a polypeptide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   vi) a polypeptide that is encoded by a DNA comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25; SEQ ID NO:27, or combinations thereof;   vii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   viii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   ix) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi); and   x) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi).   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said PCVB antigen is a recombinant baculovirus expressed ORF′2 of PCVB. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the animal is swine. 
     
     
         25 . A method for the reduction of: an impact of PCVB sub-clinical infection, said impact being selected from the group consisting of growth impairment, nasal shedding, duration of viremia, and combinations thereof; or the number of animals with viral load above 10 6  genomic copies per ml serum in a group of animals (herds) sub-clinically infected with PCVB; said method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of PCVB antigen or an immunogenic composition comprising a PCVB antigen to an animal in need of such administration. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said PCVB antigen comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 i) a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:58, or combinations thereof;   ii) a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iii) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iv) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   v) a polypeptide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   vi) a polypeptide that is encoded by a DNA comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25; SEQ ID NO:27, or combinations thereof;   vii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   viii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   ix) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi); and   x) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi).   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said PCVB antigen is a recombinant baculovirus expressed ORF′2 of PCVB. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the animal is swine. 
     
     
         29 . Use of PCVB antigen or an immunogenic composition comprising PCVB antigen for the preparation of a medicament for the prophylaxis and treatment of a sub-clinical PCVB infection in an individual animal or a group of animals, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of said medicament is administered to an animal in need of such administration. 
     
     
         30 . The use according to  claim 29 , wherein the sub-clinical PCVB infection is characterized by a virus persistence in the group of animals of at least 6 weeks. 
     
     
         31 . The use according to  claim 29 , wherein the sub-clinical PCVB infection is characterized by no morbidity or a low morbidity rate of less than 25% of the PCVB positive animals within a the group of animals. 
     
     
         32 . The use according to  claim 29 , wherein the sub-clinical PCVB infection is further characterized by low mortality rate of less than 20% of the PCVB positive animals within a herd. 
     
     
         33 . The use according to  claim 29 , wherein said PCVB antigen comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 i) a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:58, or combinations thereof;   ii) a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iii) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iv) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   v) a polypeptide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   vi) a polypeptide that is encoded by a DNA comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25; SEQ ID NO:27, or combinations thereof;   vii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   viii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   ix) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi); and   x) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi).   
     
     
         34 . The use according to  claim 29 , wherein said PCVB antigen is a recombinant baculovirus expressed ORF′2 of PCVB. 
     
     
         35 . The use according to  claim 29 , wherein the animal is swine. 
     
     
         36 . Use of PCVB antigen or an immunogenic composition comprising PCVB antigen for the preparation of a medicament for the reduction of: an impact of PCVB sub-clinical infection, said impact being selected from the group consisting of growth impairment, nasal shedding, duration of viremia, and combinations thereof; or the number of animals with viral load above 10 6  genomic copies per ml serum in a group of animals (herds) sub-clinically infected with PCVB; wherein a therapeutically effective amount of said medicament is administered to an animal in need of such administration. 
     
     
         37 . The use according to  claim 36 , wherein said PCVB antigen comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of
 i) a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:58, or combinations thereof;   ii) a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iii) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   iv) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   v) a polypeptide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polypeptide of i);   vi) a polypeptide that is encoded by a DNA comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25; SEQ ID NO:27, or combinations thereof;   vii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   viii) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi);   ix) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 95% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi); and   x) a polypeptide that is encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 98% sequence homology with the polynucleotide of vi).   
     
     
         39 . The use according to  claim 36 , wherein said PCVB antigen is a recombinant baculovirus expressed ORF′2 of PCVB. 
     
     
         40 . The use according to  claim 36 , wherein the animal is swine.