Abstract: The present invention relates generally to molecules such as peptides, polypeptides and proteins which carry epitopes and in particular B cell epitopes from antigenic proteins encoded by Hepatitis E Virus. These molecules are selectively immunoreactive to convalescent and/or acute phase circulating antibodies to the Hepatitis E Virus and are useful in the development of diagnostic therapeutical and prophylactic agents for Hepatitis E Virus.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 1998
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2003
Assignee:
The Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research
Limited
Inventors:
Fan Li, Zhuang Hui, David Andrew Anderson, Stephen Alistair Logarnini, Joseph Torresi
Abstract: The present invention is directed toward immunologic- and nucleic acid-based methodologies for the detection of non-pathogenic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains in the body fluids of HIV-infected individuals. A blood donor infected with HIV-1 and a cohort of six blood or blood product recipients infected from this donor were studied. These patients, who remained free of HIV-1-related disease and displayed stable and normal CD4 lymphocyte counts 10 to 14 years after infection, were termed long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs). The molecular characterization of HIV-1 sequences obtained from either virus isolates or patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of LTNPs identified similar deletions in the nef gene and in the region of overlap of nef and the U3 region of the long terminal repeat (LTR). These deletions corresponded to amino acids 166-206, or nucleotides 9281 to 9437, of the HIV-1.sub.NL43 nef/LTR region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 1995
Date of Patent:
January 18, 2000
Assignee:
The Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research Limited
Inventors:
Nicholas John Deacon, Dale Alan McPhee, Suzanne Crowe
Abstract: This invention is directed toward non-pathogenic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains containing deletions in the nef gene and U3 region of the long terminal repeat (LTR). A blood donor infected with HIV-1 and a cohort of six blood or blood product recipients infected from this donor were identified. These individuals, who remained free of HIV-1-related disease with stable and normal CD4.sup.+ lymphocyte counts 10 to 14 years after infection, were termed long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs). The molecular characterization of HIV-1 sequences obtained from either virus isolates or patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of LTNPs identified similar deletions in the nef gene and in the region of overlap of nef and the U3 region of the LTR. Full-length sequencing of one isolate genome and amplification of selected HIV-1 genome regions from other cohort members revealed no other abnormalities of obvious functional significance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 1995
Date of Patent:
January 4, 2000
Assignees:
Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research Limited, Australian Red Cross Society
Inventors:
Nicholas John Deacon, Jennifer Catherine Learmont, Dale Alan McPhee, Suzanne Crowe, David Cooper