Abstract: Methods for determination of risk, previous history and/or presence of a betaretrovirus infection in a subject are described herein. Said methods may comprise incubating a biological sample from the subject, the biological sample comprising immune effector-producing cells, with one or more betaretrovirus-specific epitopes, the betaretrovirus-specific epitopes comprising at least 7 contiguous amino acids according to any one of SEQ ID Nos. 1-36, and measuring the production of immune effectors by the immune effector-producing cells, wherein production of the immune effectors by the immune effector-producing cells determines risk and/or presence of betaretrovirus infection in the subject. Isolated peptides and kits for carrying out the methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods for determination of risk, previous history and/or presence of a betaretrovirus infection in a subject are described herein. Said methods may comprise incubating a biological sample from the subject, the biological sample comprising immune effector-producing cells, with one or more betaretrovirus-specific epitopes, the betaretrovirus-specific epitopes comprising at least 7 contiguous amino acids according to any one of SEQ ID Nos. 1-36, and measuring the production of immune effectors by the immune effector-producing cells, wherein production of the immune effectors by the immune effector-producing cells determines risk and/or presence of betaretrovirus infection in the subject. Isolated peptides and kits for carrying out the methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods for determination of risk, previous history and/or presence of a betaretrovirus infection in a subject are described herein. Said methods may comprise incubating a biological sample from the subject, the biological sample comprising immune effector-producing cells, with one or more betaretrovirus-specific epitopes, the betaretrovirus-specific epitopes comprising at least 7 contiguous amino acids according to any one of SEQ ID Nos. 1-36, and measuring the production of immune effectors by the immune effector-producing cells, wherein production of the immune effectors by the immune effector-producing cells determines risk and/or presence of betaretrovirus infection in the subject. Isolated peptides and kits for carrying out the methods are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates first, to the identification of a retrovirus and the novel nucleotide sequences encoding a retroviral polymerase gene (POL nucleotides) associated with the existence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The present invention further relates to methods for using the PSC associated retroviral nucleotides for the detection of PSC, AIH, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in patient samples. The present invention also relates to methods for using and targeting the PSC associated retroviral POL nucleotides in gene therapy protocols for the treatment of PSC, AIH, Crohn's disease or ulcerative disease in patients in need of such treatment. The present invention further relates to diagnostic protocols and kits for the detection of PSC, AIH, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in tissue samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates, first, to the discovery, identification, and characterization of novel nucleic acid molecules, that are associated with PBC, Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma, SLE, autoimmune thyroiditis and various other connective tissue disorders. The novel nucleotide sequences of the present invention are retroviral in origin and are indicative of a PBC retrovirus which bears a strong correlation with PBC. The present invention is based, in part, on the Applicant's data which is the first evidence to suggest that PBC patient's tissue may harbor a transmissible agent. The association of a retroviral infectious agent with PBC was first demonstrated by Applicants in vitro by co-culture of periportal lymph nodes derived from patients at time of transplantation and healthy biliary epithelium cells.