Retrovirus isolated from mantle histiocytes in mantle cell lymphoma

An isolated MHRV particle wherein the particle:

• is isolatable from a human lymphoma;
• has a particle diameter of from about 90 nm to 110 nm;
• has a membrane lipid bilayer;
• has an RNA genome visible by electron microscopy as a conical eccentric nucleoid;
• and
• has a GAG envelope polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1-22 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.

An isolated MHRV particle wherein the particle:

• is isolatable from a human lymphoma;
• has a particle diameter of from about 90 nm to 110 nm;
• has a membrane lipid bilayer;
• and
• has an RNA genome visible by electron microscopy as a conical eccentric nucleoid;
• and
• wherein the RNA genome comprises a nucleic acid sequence corresponding to nucleotide residues 1-66 of SEQ ID NO:7 or a complement thereof.

A method for detecting mantle histiocyte retrovirus (MHRV) in a sample, the method comprising:

• contacting a biological sample suspected of containing MHRV with an MHRV-specific probe, said contacting being for a time sufficient for binding of the MHRV-specific probe to the sample to form complexes between the probe and a probe target;
• and
• detecting the presence or absence of complexes of the MHRV-specific probe and the probe target in the sample;
• wherein detection of complexes in the sample indicates MHRV is present in the sample.

A method for detecting a mantle histiocyte retrovirus (MHRV) in a sample, the method comprising:

• contacting a biological sample suspected of containing MHRV with a first MHRV-specific nucleic acid probe and with a second MHRV-specific nucleic acid probe, wherein the first probe and the second probe each comprise at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 or a complement thereof, said contacting being under conditions effective to produce an amplified DNA product;
• and
• detecting the presence or absence amplified DNA product;
• wherein detection of amplified DNA product corresponding to an amplified DNA product expected from a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:7 or a complement thereof indicates the MHRV is present in the sample.

A kit for detection of mantle histiocyte retrovirus (MHRV), the kit comprising an MHRV-specific probe, wherein the probe is:

• an MHRV-specific nucleic acid probe that specifically hybridizes to a sequence encoding an MHRV GAG polypeptide;
• an MHRV-specific GAG antibody;
• or
• an MHRV polypeptide that specifically binds an anti-MHRV GAG antibody.

A method of screening for anti-MHRV antiviral agents, the method comprising:

• contacting a candidate agent with a culture comprising a mammalian cell infected with MHRV, which cell produces viral particles;
• and
• detecting MHRV viral particles in supernatant of the culture;
• wherein a decrease in MHRV viral particles in the supernatant indicates that the candidate agent as activity as an anti-MHRV antiviral agent.

A method for detecting an MHRV-associated disease, the method comprising:

• contacting a biological sample with an MHRV-specific probe, wherein the biological sample was obtained from a subject suspected of having an MHRV-associated disease, said contacting being for a time sufficient for binding of the MHRV-specific probe to the sample to form complexes between the probe and a probe target;
• and
• detecting complexes of the MHRV-specific probe and the probe target in the sample;
• wherein detection of complexes in the sample indicates MHRV is present in the sample, which indicates the subject may have an MHRV-associated disease.