Feline leukemia virus trans-membrane protein p15e for diagnosis of felv infection

Abstract

The invention provides for a method for the detection of FeLV infection in a patient, wherein a sample obtained from the patient is contacted in-vitro with a recombinant transmembrane p15E protein in a p15 (E) antibody binding step.

1 . A method for the detection of past or present FeLV infection in a patient, wherein a sample obtained from said patient is contacted with a transmembrane p15E protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID 001, or a sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID 001, and the binding of antibodies to said transmembrane p15E protein is detected. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is an isolated recombinant protein. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting the presence of FeLV p27 protein in the sample. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 a. binding of antibodies to said transmembrane p15E protein and the presence of said p27 protein in said sample indicates FeLV viremia and   b. binding of antibodies to said transmembrane p15E protein and an absence of said p27 protein in said sample indicates immunity to FeLV.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting the presence of antibodies against FeLV p45 protein in the sample. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A surface comprising an isolated recombinant protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID 001, or a sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ II) 001. 
     
     
         8 . The surface of  claim 7 , wherein the surface is the surface of a nitrocellulose membrane, a glass fibre membrane, a microliter plate cavity, a plasmon resonance chip or a quartz microbalance. 
     
     
         9 . A kit or the serological detection of FeLV, comprising an isolated recombinant p15E protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID 001, or a sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ. ID 001. 
     
     
         10 . The kit according to  claim 9 , further comprising anti-cat immunoglobulin antibodies comprising a label. 
     
     
         11 . The kit according to  claim 10 , wherein the label is a chromogenic enzyme, a luminescent protein or a fluorescent protein or a dye. 
     
     
         12 . The kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the kit further comprises a ligand to FeLV p27 protein. 
     
     
         13 . The kit according to  claim 9 , further comprising an isolated FeLV p45 protein. 
     
     
         14 . The kit according to  claim 13 , wherein said isolated recombinant p15E protein, said ligand to FeLV p27 and/or said isolated FeLV p45 protein is attached to a surface. 
     
     
         15 . The kit according to  claim 14 , wherein the ligand is a gamma immunoglobulin.