Filovirus fusion proteins and their uses

Abstract

This invention provides fusion proteins comprising a Filovirus glycoprotein segment and an immunoglobulin polypeptide segment. The fusion proteins are useful in immunogenic compositions to protect against infections by Filoviruses, such as Ebola virus, in both humans and non-human animals. The fusion proteins are also useful in diagnostic assays to detect Filovirus infections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting neutralizing antibodies in a biological sample from a patient, the method comprising contacting the biological sample with a cell susceptible to Filovirus infection and a recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) expressing a Filovirus GP. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recombinant VSV further expresses a fluorescent protein. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recombinant VSV expresses an Ebola virus GP. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Ebola virus is Zaire Ebola virus, Mayinga strain. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell susceptible to Filovirus infection is a Vero E6 cell. 
     
     
         6 . A method of detecting anti-Filovirus antibodies in a biological sample from a patient, the method comprising contacting the biological sample with a recombinant VSV bound to a solid support and detecting anti-Filovirus antibodies bound to the recombinant VSV. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-Filovirus antibodies are detected using ELISA, chemiluminescence, or fluorescence.