Synthetic peptide compositions with immunoreactivities to antibodies to HTLV and as vaccines

A peptide composition comprising a peptide selected from the group consisting:

• Y.sub.c -[HNSLILPPFSLSPVPTLGSRSRRA]AA.sub.15 -AA.sub.38 --Z (vi)
• wherein Y.sub.c is an amino acid sequence of 1 to 14 amino acids, from the C-terminus to the N-terminus, corresponding to [CFDPQIQAIVSSPC-]AA.sub.1 -AA.sub.14, with AA.sub.1 -AA.sub.14 and AA.sub.15 -AA.sub.38 corresponding to the amino acids of CFDPQIQAIVSSPCHNSLILPPFSLSPVPTLGSRSRRA-Z (SEQ ID NO:6) (VI), and Z is --OH or --NH.sub.2 ;
• an analogue of the peptide having an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HTLV in a region corresponding to the peptide;
• a conjugate of the peptide or its analogue with carrier proteins;
• and
• a polymer of the peptide or its analogue.

An immunoassay method for the detection of antibodies to HTLV and diagnosis of ATL conditions comprising:

• A. coating a solid support with an effective amount of peptide composition comprising a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptides (iv), (v), (vi), wherein (iv) is Y.sub.a -AA.sub.6 -AA.sub.21 -B.sub.a --Z and wherein AA.sub.6 -AA.sub.21 corresponds to amino acids 6-21 of APPLLPHSNLDHILEPSIPWKSKLLTLVOLTLOS-Z (SEQ ID NO:4) (IV), Y.sub.a is an amino acid sequence of 1 to 5 amino acids, from the C-terminus to the N-terminus, corresponding to AA.sub.1 -AA.sub.5 of peptide IV, B:
• os an amino acid sequence of 1 to 12 amino acids corresponding to AA.sub.22 -AA.sub.34 of peptide IV;
• an analogue of any of the above peptides which is an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HTLV in a region corresponding to the peptide;
• a mixture of the above peptides or analogues of the peptides;
• a conjugate of any of the peptides with carrier proteins;
• and
• a polymer of any of the peptides;
• B. adding a test specimen diluted with a buffer wherein the antibodies to HTLV-I and/or HTLV-II in the test specimen form a peptide-antibody complex with the peptide composition;
• C. incubating the mixture;
• and
• D. detecting the presence of the peptide-antibody complex.

A test kit for the detection of antibodies to HTLV and the diagnosis of ATL, HTLV infection comprising:

• a. solid support;
• b. coating onto the solid support an effective amount of peptide composition comprising a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptides (iv), (v), (vi);
• an analogue of any of the above peptides which is an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HTLV in a region corresponding to the peptide;
• a mixture of the above peptides or analogues of the peptides;
• a conjugate of any of the peptides with carrier proteins;
• and
• a polymer of any of the peptides;
• c. a sample of normal serum as negative control;
• d. a sample of serum containing antibodies to HTLV-I/HTLV-II as positive control;
• and
• e. a buffer for diluting the serum samples.

A peptide composition having specific immunoreactivities to antibodies to HTLV and HIV comprising:

• A. at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of peptides (iv), (v), (vi);
• an analogue of any of the above peptides which is an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HTLV in a region corresponding to the peptide;
• a mixture of the above peptides or analogues of the peptides;
• a conjugate of any of the peptides with carrier proteins;
• and
• a polymer of any of the peptides;
• B. and at least one peptide selected from the group consisting:
• RILAVERRYLKDQQLLGIWGCS-Z (SEQ ID NO:13) (XIII)
• IWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNAS-Z (SEQ ID NO:14] (XIV)
• IVRMYSPTSIL-Z (SEQ ID NO:15) (XV)
• DQARLNSWGCAFRQVC-Z (SEQ ID NO:16) (XVI)
• wherein Z is --OH or --NH.sub.2 ;
• or an analogue of any of peptides XIII, XIV, XV and XVI wherein each analogue is an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HIV in a region corresponding respectively to each of the peptides.

An immunoassay method for the simultaneous detection of antibodies to HTLV and HIV comprising:

• A. coating a solid support with an effective amount of a peptide composition comprising:
• a. a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptides (iv), (v), (vi);
• an analogue of any of the above peptides which is an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HTLV in a region corresponding to the peptide;
• a mixture of the above peptides or analogues of the peptides;
• a conjugate of any of the peptides with carrier proteins;
• a polymer of any of the peptides;
• and
• b. at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of:
• RILAVERRYLKDQQLLGIWGCS-Z (SEQ ID NO:13) (XIII)
• IWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNAS-Z (SEQ ID NO:14) (XIV)
• IVRMYSPTSIL-Z (SEQ ID NO:15) (XV)
• DQARLNSWGCAFRQVC-Z (SEQ ID NO:16) (XVI) wherein Z is --OH or --NH.sub.2 ;
• or an analogue of any of peptides XIII, XIV, XV and XVI which is having an amino acid sequence derived from a strain/isolate of HIV in a region corresponding respectively to each of the peptides;
• B. adding a test specimen diluted with a buffer wherein the antibodies to HTLV-I and/or HTLV-II and HIV in the test specimen form a peptide-antibody complex with the peptide composition.

An immunoassay method for distinguishing the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I from the presence of antibodies to HTLV-II in body fluids by:

• A. coating a solid support with an effective amount of a peptide having the amino acid sequence:
• APPLLPHSNLDHILEPSIPWKSKLLTLVQLTLQS-Z (SEQ ID NO:4) (IV) wherein Z is --OH or --NH.sub.2 and peptide II;
• B. adding a test sample diluted with a buffer wherein the antibodies to HTLV-I in the test sample form a peptide-antibody complex with the peptide composition;
• C. incubating the mixture;
• and
• D. detecting the presence of the peptide-antibody complex.

An immunoassay method for distinguishing the presence of antibodies to HTLV-II from the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I in body fluids by:

• A. coating a solid support with an effective amount of a peptide having the amino acid sequence:
• SPPLVHDSDLEHVLTPSTSWTTKILKFIQLTLQS-Z (SEQ ID NO:10) (X). wherein Z is --OH or --NH.sub.2 and peptide II;
• B. adding a test sample diluted with a buffer wherein the antibodies to HTLV-I in the test sample form a peptide-antibody complex with the peptide composition;
• C. incubating the mixture;
• and
• D. detecting the presence of the peptide-antibody complex.