Hepatitis .delta. diagnostics and vaccines
AssigneeChiron Corporation
InventorsMichael Houghton, Kang-Sheng Wang, Qui-Lim Choo, Amy J. Weiner, Lacy R. Overby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The entire genome of the hepatitis D virus has been shown to be a circular single-stranded RNA of 1679 bases. Several open reading frames in both the genomic and complementary strands indicate possible protein products. The products encoded in one open reading frame, ORF5, are identified as viral polypeptides p24.sup..delta. and p27.sup..delta., of which the nuclear .delta. antigens in HDV infected liver is comprised. These products, as well as others encoded in ORFs 1, 2, 6, and 7 are produced in recombinant expression systems. The ORF5 products, in particular, are useful for HDV diagnosis and vaccines.
Claims34
An isolated DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide immunologically identifiable as a component of the .delta.-antigen, said DNA sequence comprising a sequence of open reading frame (ORF) 5 of the HDV genome or its complement, as depicted in FIG. 3.
An isolated DNA sequence comprising, DNA corresponding to the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome or its complement, as represented in FIG. 2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.