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 - 111 . (canceled) 
     
     
         112 . An isolated 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment of at least 15 by thereof;   (b) hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment of at least 15 by thereof, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (c) 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 any of “MERV-env”, “MERV-gag”, “MERV-prt” and “MERV-pol” at the DSMZ on 26 Sep. 2001 or a fragment of at least 15 by of such a sequence.   
     
     
         113 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , further defined as attached to the surface of a solid support. 
     
     
         114 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         115 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule comprises a sequence identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         116 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         117 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         118 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:5, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         119 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 112 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         120 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody or fragment thereof directed against a polypeptide encoded by 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment of at least 15 by thereof;   (b) hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment of at least 15 by thereof, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (c) 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 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;   
       in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         121 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , further defined as attached to the surface of a solid support. 
     
     
         122 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         123 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , wherein the polynucleotide molecule comprises a sequence identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         124 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         125 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         126 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:5;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:5, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         127 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , 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 the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3;   (b) which hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of said SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the stringent conditions are defined as 68° C. in saline-sodium citrate (SSC) hybridization buffer containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by washing in a 2×SSC wash buffer at 68° C. followed by washing in a 0.5×SSC wash buffer at 68° C.;   (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.   
     
     
         128 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , further comprising at least one antiviral substance. 
     
     
         129 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , further defined as a sun cream. 
     
     
         130 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 120 , further defined as a vaccine.