Compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (sars)

Abstract

The present invention relates to the fields of immunochemistry and pharmacology. Methods and compositions are described for the diagnosis and treatment of SARS CoV infection. More specifically, the application discloses nucleic acids and peptides of the spike glycoprotein of SARS CoV that provide prognostic and therapeutic compositions in treatment of individuals contracting, or in danger of contracting SARS CoV. The peptides of the invention are also useful in producing antibodies against the SARS CoV glycoprotein.

1 . A method for detecting the presence of SARS CoV in a sample comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting a sample with an antibody specifically recognizing a peptide comprising at least 6 contiguous amino acids from one of the peptides selected from SEQ ID NOs:2 and 4; and   (b) determining binding of the antibody to the SARS CoV;
 wherein binding of the antibody to SARS CoV indicates presence of SARS CoV in the sample. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is conjugated to a label. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein step (b) comprises detecting the label. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the label is a fluorescent label. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the label is a chemiluminescent label. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the label is a radiolabel. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the label is an enzyme. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein step (b) comprises detecting fluorescence. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein step (b) comprises detecting chemiluminescence. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein step (b) comprises detecting by scintillation counting or autoradiography. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein step (b) comprises providing a substrate for the enzyme and detecting a reaction product produced by the enzyme. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises contacting a secondary antibody to the antibody specifically recognizing a peptide comprising at least 6 contiguous amino acids from one of the peptides selected from SEQ ID NOs:2 and 4, wherein the secondary antibody comprises a label. 
     
     
         13 . he method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises a competitive binding assay. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the competitive binding assay is a hapten inhibition assay. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises using a dipstick assay. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a single-chain antibody, Fab or Fab 2  fragment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody specifically recognizes a peptide comprising more than 12 contiguous amino acids from one of the peptides selected from SEQ ID NOs:2 and 4. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample is a blood sample. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of
 (c) binding the sample to a solid support.