Abstract: A forward primer of a primer set in accordance with the present invention for detecting BLV is a mixture of (1) a first primer consisting of a polynucleotide including 15 or more successive bases including the 16th C in the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and (2) a second primer consisting of a plurality of kinds of polynucleotides including at least the first to 15th bases in the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Two or more of M, N, Y, K, and D which are included in the second primer are each a degenerate base which specifies two or more kinds of bases, and the second primer includes at least 10 kinds of polynucleotides including at least the first to 15th bases in the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 to 12.

Abstract: A kit for detecting Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) according to the present invention includes: a first PCR primer being oligonucleotide including successive 20 bases or more in the base sequence denoted by SEQ ID NO: 1, the first PCR primer being oligonucleotide having 50 bases or less; and second PCR primer being including successive 20 bases or more in the base sequence denoted by SEQ ID NO: 2, the second PCR primer being oligonucleotide having 50 bases or less is included.

Abstract: A forward primer of a primer set in accordance with the present invention for detecting BLV is a mixture of (1) a first primer consisting of a polynucleotide including 15 or more successive bases including the 16th C in the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and (2) a second primer consisting of a plurality of kinds of polynucleotides including at least the first to 15th bases in the base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Two or more of M, N, Y, K, and D which are included in the second primer are each a degenerate base which specifies two or more kinds of bases, and the second primer includes at least 10 kinds of polynucleotides including at least the first to 15th bases in the base sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3 to 12.

Abstract: A kit for detecting Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) according to the present invention includes: a first PCR primer being oligonucleotide including successive 20 bases or more in the base sequence denoted by SEQ ID NO: 1, the first PCR primer being oligonucleotide having 50 bases or less; and second PCR primer being including successive 20 bases or more in the base sequence denoted by SEQ ID NO: 2, the second PCR primer being oligonucleotide having 50 bases or less is included.

Abstract: An apoptosis inducing agent which comprises a protein as being Vpr protein encoded by vpr gene of HIV-1 wherein 15 amino acid residues from the C-terminal are deleted, and an apoptosis inducing gene encoding said protein. The agent induces apoptosis of cells and therefore useful as a medicament for treatment of a cancer or AIDS.

Abstract: A method for judging a resistance to the onset of bovine leukemia caused by bovine leukemia virus BLV, wherein a bovine individual, in which amino acids specified by the amino acid numbers 74, 77 and 78 of &bgr;1 domain of bovine MHC Class II DR&bgr; chain are Glu, Arg and Val, respectively, is judged to have a resistance to the onset of the leukemia.

Abstract: A c143 monoclonal antibody which is used for detecting a bovine individual having a possibility of onset of bovine leukemia; a monoclonal antibody which is used for detecting a bovine individual having a possibility of onset of bovine leukemia, wherein the monoclonal antibody has the substantially same reactivity as the c143 monoclonal antibody to a bovine MHC Class II DR molecule to which a possibility of onset of bovine leukemia is attributable; and an agent for diagnosing a possibility of onset of bovine leukemia which comprises the aforementioned monoclonal antibody. Bovine individuals having a possibility of onset of bovine leukemia can be conveniently and accurately detected.

Abstract: A variant tax gene of bovine leukemia virus enhancing ability to induce replication of bovine leukemia virus or a retrovirus related to the bovine leukemia virus which encodes a variant gene product containing one or more mutations selected from the group consisting of substitution of the 240th Ser for Thr, substitution of the 247th Asp for Gly, substitution of the 251st Thr for Ala, substitution of the 258th Asp for Gly, substitution of the 261st His for Arg, substitution of the 261st His for Tyr, and substitution of the 265th Ser for Gly.

Abstract: A method for judging a resistance to the onset of bovine leukemia caused by bovine leukemia virus BLV, wherein a bovine individual, in which amino acids specified by the amino acid numbers 74, 77 and 78 of &bgr;1 domain of bovine MHC Class II DR&bgr; chain are Glu, Arg and Val, respectively, is judged to have a resistance to the onset of the leukemia.

Abstract: A primer set used in PCR for accurately and rapidly typing polymorphisms of DNA encoding BoLA-DRB3.

Abstract: There is provided a method for convenient judgement of a possibility of the onset of leukemia of an ovine individual caused by the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) by means of genetic engineering techniques. A method for judging a possibility of the onset of ovine leukemia caused by bovine leukemia virus (BLV), wherein an ovine individual, in which an amino acid sequence defined by the amino acid numbers of 70 and 71 of the &bgr;1 domain of the ovine MHC Class II DR&bgr; chain is Ser-Arg or Gln-Thr, is judged to have a risk of the onset of the leukemia, or an ovine individual, in which the amino acid sequence is Arg-Lys, is judged to have resistance to the onset of the leukemia.

Abstract: A method for judging a possibility of the onset of bovine leukemia caused by bovine leukemia virus BLV, wherein a bovine individual, in which an amino acid sequence defined by the amino acid numbers 75 to 78 of the &bgr;1 domain of the bovine MHC Class II DR&bgr; chain is Val-Asp-Thr-Tyr, is judged to have a possibility of the onset of the leukemia; and a method for judging a resistance to the onset of bovine leukemia caused by the bovine leukemia virus BLV, wherein a bovine individual, in which an amino acid defined by the amino acid number 78 of the &bgr;1 domain of the bovine MHC Class II DR&bgr; chain is Val, is judged to have a resistance to the onset of the leukemia.

Abstract: A method for judging a possibility of the onset of bovine leukemia caused by bovine leukemia virus BLV, wherein a bovine individual, in which an amino acid sequence defined by the amino acid numbers 75 to 78 of the .beta.1 domain of the bovine MHC Class II DR.beta. chain is Val-Asp-Thr-Tyr, is judged to have a possibility of the onset of the leukemia: and a method for judging a resistance to the onset of bovine leukemia caused by the bovine leukemia virus BLV, wherein a bovine individual, in which an amino acid defined by the amino acid number 78 of the .beta.1 domain of the bovine MHC Class II DR.beta. chain is Val, is judged to have a resistance to the onset of the leukemia.