Peptides for detecting antibodies to HTLV-2
AssigneeMaxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsAnders Vahlne, Bo Svennerholm, Lars Rymo, Stig Jeansson, Peter Horal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Peptides corresponding to epitopes of HTLV-2 proteins are provided. These peptides are immunologically reactive with HTLV-2 specific antibodies. Several of the peptides are sufficiently unreactive to antibodies to HTLV-1 to distinguish between antibodies which recognize HTLV-1 and those which recognize HTLV-2. Thus HTLV-1 infections can be distinguished from HTLV-2 infections. The peptides are useful in assays for detection of HTLV-2 infection or exposure. The peptides are also useful as vaccine compositions against HTLV-2. Antibodies generated in response to immunization by the peptides are also provided.
Claims6
A method for detecting antibodies to HTLV-2 in a biological sample, comprising;
- contacting the sample with a peptide having at least one epitope recognized by antibodies specific to HTLV-2, said peptide having the sequence selected from the group consisting of:
- Ile-Thr-Ser-Glu-Pro-Thr-Gln-Pro-Pro-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Pro-Leu-Val-His-Asp-Ser -Asp-Leu-Glu-His-Val;
- Ile-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asn-Ar g-Gln-Gly-Leu-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Asn-Asp-Pro-Cys-Ser-Leu;
- and
- Pro-Leu-Val-His-Asp-Ser-Asp-Leu-Glu-His-Val-Leu-Thr-Pro-Ser-Thr-Ser-Trp-Thr -Thr-Lys-Ile-Leu-Lys;
- under conditions such that an immunological complex will form between the peptides and antibodies to HTLV-2 but not antibodies to HTLV-1 if such antibodies are present in the sample;
- and
- detecting the formation, if any, of the immunological complex to determine the presence of antibodies to HTLV-2 in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.