Use of histones for the early diagnosis and/or preventive therapy of virally-infected living cells and a biochip for carrying out said diagnosis

Abstract

There is provided a biologically-active agent, in particular, for the early diagnosis and/or preventative therapy of virally-infected living cells, the efficacy of which is selective for the cell membranes of the virally-infected cells, which are modified after viral infection. The agent includes at least one component, selected from a group of materials, including recombinant human histone H1 or at least an H1 subtype or the active portion thereof. The appropriate biological activity for killing a virally-infected cell at the modified cell membrane thereof through cooperation with similarly or differently active agent components may be achieved, which together form a biologically-effective complex with increased biological activity.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating a viral infection in a mammal, said method comprising:
 administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a biologically active agent comprising a member selected from histone proteins, covalently modified histone proteins, histone-like polypeptides and histone-like peptides;   thereby killing a virus-infected cell and treating said viral infection.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said biologically active agent is histone H1 or a biologically active part thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said biologically active agent is recombinant histone H1 or a recombinant human histone H1-subtype H1.0, H1.1, H1.2, H1.3, H1.4, H1.5, H1.t, H1.x, or a biologically active part thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said virus-infected cell is a cell from the immune system. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said virus-infected cell is a member selected from a T-lymphocyte and a B-lymphocyte. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the virus is an RNA virus. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the virus is a retrovirus; and   said virus-infected cell is a cell from the immune system.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said retrovirus is a member selected from a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the virus is a DNA virus. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the virus is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said viral infection causes a disease selected from infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said biologically active agent is administered in combination with one or more antiviral drugs. 
     
     
         29 . A method of killing a virus-infected cell, said method comprising:
 contacting said virus-infected cell with a therapeutically effective amount of a biologically active agent comprising a member selected from histone proteins, covalently modified histone proteins, histone-like polypeptides and histone-like peptides.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said biologically active agent is histone H1 or a biologically active part thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein said biologically active agent is recombinant histone H1 or a recombinant human histone H1-subtype H1.0, H1.1, H1.2, H1.3, H1.4, H1.5, H1.t, H1.x, or a biologically active part thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said virus-infected cell is a cell from the immune system. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein said virus-infected cell is a member selected from a T-lymphocyte and a B-lymphocyte. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the virus is an RNA virus. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein
 the virus is a retrovirus; and   said virus-infected cell is a cell from the immune system.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein said retrovirus is a member selected from a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the virus is a DNA virus. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the virus is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).