Genomic DNA encoding a polypeptide capable of inducing the production of interferon-gamma

Abstract

Disclosed is a genomic DNA encoding a polypeptide capable of inducing the production of interferon-γ by immunocompetent cells. The genomic DNA efficiently expresses the polypeptide with high biological activities of such as inducing the production of interferon-γ immunocompetent cells, enhancing killer cells' cytotoxicity and inducing killer cells' formation, when introduced into mammalian host cells. The high biological activities of the polypeptide facilitate its uses to treat and/or prevent malignant tumors, viral diseases, bacterial infectious diseases and immune diseases without serious side effects when administered to humans.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition, comprising: 
 (i) isolated DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, where Xaa is isoleucine or threonine; and    (ii) a carrier capable of introducing the isolated DNA molecule into a mammalian cell, wherein said nucleotide sequence is of a fragment of human genomic DNA.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises an exon having the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises an intron having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 9, 10, 11, or 12.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence is of SEQ ID NO:13, 14 or 15.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a virus or liposome.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated DNA molecule is linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the heterologous sequence is of a virus vector.