Assay of anti-Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen antibodies with synthetic polypeptides

Abstract

Antigens, immunogens, inocula, antibodies, and particularly diagnostic methods and systems relating to Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA) are disclosed. The diagnostic methods and systems utilize a synthetic, random copolymer polypeptide containing about 8 to about 40 amino acid residues that includes the overlapping five and six amino acid residue sequences --Gly--R.sup.1 --Gly--R.sup.2 --Gly-- (i) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are amino acid residues selected from Ala, Asn, Arg, Gly, Leu, Pro, Ser, and Thr with the provision that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are not both Gly; and --Gly--Ala--Gly--Gly--Ala--Gly--. (ii) The polypeptide contains at least 50 mole percent Gly residues. The diagnostic method and system are particularly useful for assaying for the stage of mononucleois disease, and the presence of nasopharynegeal carcinoma. Assaying for anti-Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen antibodies is carried out by mixing a body sample with the synthetic polypeptide, allowing antibodies in the sample to immunoreact with the polypeptide to form an immunoreactant and determin This invention was made with the support of the United States Government, and the United States Government has certain rights in the invention.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.