Methods of diagnosing cervical cancer

Abstract

The invention provides reagents and methods for detecting pathogen infections in human samples. This detection utilizes specific proteins to detect the presence of pathogen proteins or abnormal expression of human proteins resulting from pathogen infections. Specific methods, compositions and kits are disclosed herein for the detection of oncogenic Human papillomavirus E6 proteins in clinical samples.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting the presence of an oncogenic HPV E6 protein in a sample, said method comprising:
 contacting a sample suspected of containing an oncogenic HPV E6 protein with a PDZ domain polypeptide; and   detecting any binding of said oncogenic HPV E6 protein in said sample to said PDZ domain polypeptide;   wherein binding of said oncogenic HPV E6 protein to said PDZ domain polypeptide indicates the presence of an oncogenic HPV E6 protein in said sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said PDZ domain polypeptide comprises the amino acids sequence of Magi-I PDZ domain 2. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said PDZ domain peptide binds to HPV E6 protein encoded by HPV strains 16, 18 and 45. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sample is contacted with multiple PDZ domain polypeptides. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said PDZ protein is a fusion protein. 
     
     
         6 . A method for determining if a subject is infected with an oncogenic strain of HPV, said method comprising:
 detecting the presence of oncogenic HPV E6 protein in a sample from said subject using an oncogenic HPV E6 protein-binding PDZ protein,   wherein the presence of oncogenic HPV E6 protein indicates that the subject is infected with an oncogenic strain of HPV.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said detecting step further comprises detecting the presence of said oncogenic HPV E6 protein using an antibody that specifically binds to said oncogenic HPV E6 protein. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said sample is a cervical scrape, biopsy, or lavage. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said method is an ELISA or a sandwich assay. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said sample is prepared in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said method is a performed as part of a test for cervical cancer.