# US 7,964,341 B2 · Human endogenous retrovirus K102 with foamy-virus-like properties and uses thereof

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,964,341 B2
- Document ID: US7964341B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/909,001
- Filed: 2006-03-20
- Published: 2009-01-15
- Granted: 2011-06-21
- Earliest claimed: 2005-03-18
- Inventors: Marian Laderoute; Antonio Giulivi; Francisco Diaz-Mitoma; Louise Larocque
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7964341B2

## CPC

- C12N 15/86: Viral vectors
- C07K 14/005: from viruses
- C12N 7/00: Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof (preparing medicinal viral antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. virus vaccines, A61K39/00)
- C12N 2740/10021: Viruses as such, e.g. new isolates, mutants or their genomic sequences
- C12N 2740/10022: New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes
- C12N 2740/10043: viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)

## Abstract

The invention relates to the discovery of a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) family, Type I HERV-K (HML-2) which appear to be active in vitro and in vivo, infectious, and which have the have the salient features and properties of foamy retroviruses. Based on its natural replication in humans, and that it protects the host from viral and tumor transformation, this non-pathogenic endogenous virus could be developed as a replication competent gene therapy vector. It also is expected to have much higher efficacy than other vectors as it crosses the bloodbrain barrier and infects almost all cell types in the host (proliferating or not). It may naturally lyse tumor cells or infected cells, and thus could even be used without genetic modification. Of course, this vector could be used in traditional ways with it ability to replicate genetically removed. In addition to its value as a vector, as it is reactivated with infection, its detection could also be used to monitor the safety of gene therapy (irrespective of vector type used), as well as other biological therapies including vaccination, blood transfusion, transplantation and xenotransplantation. Finally it may be used to screen for new therapeutic and prophylactic treatments for a wide variety of diseases.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of detecting human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) K102 activation in a human comprising:
providing a sample from the human suspected of containing activated HERV K102;
adding a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6 to the sample;
incubating the sample and the peptide under conditions promoting interaction between the peptide and the antibodies to HERV K102 Env if present;
detecting an interaction between the peptide and the antibodies, wherein a positive signal indicates that the antibodies are present in the sample and a negative signal indicates that the antibodies are not present in the sample, wherein the presence of the antibodies indicates HERV K102 activation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the peptide is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No. 5.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the peptide is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No. 6.