NS5A nucleotide sequence variation as a marker for interferon response

Abstract

Methods and reagents for determining a nucleotide variation at position 937 of the HCV-1a NS5A gene useful in predicting an individual's response to interferon treatment are presented.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A kit useful for predicting response of a human subject infected with HCV-1a to interferon treatment comprising a polymerase and an oligonucleotide that can be used to determine whether nucleotide position 937 of SEQ ID NO:1 is G or not, wherein SEQ ID NO:1 represents the NS5A gene of HCV-1a, wherein the oligonucleotide is between 14 and 35 nucleotides in length and is essentially complementary to either strand in a region of the NS5A gene that includes nucleotide position 937, and wherein the presence of G at nucleotide position 937 indicates an increased likelihood of sustained virologic response to interferon treatment by said human subject. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 26  wherein said oligonucleotide is essentially complementary to either strand in the region of the NS5A gene that ranges from nucleotide position 908 to nucleotide position 957 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27  wherein said oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, and SEQ ID NO:11. 
     
     
         29 . A kit useful for predicting response of a human subject infected with HCV-L a to interferon treatment comprising a polymerase and an oligonucleotide that can be used to determine whether nucleotide position 937 of SEQ ID NO:1 is A or not, wherein SEQ ID NO:1 represents the NS5A gene of HCV-1a, wherein the oligonucleotide is between 14 and 35 nucleotides in length and is essentially complementary to either strand in a region of the NS5A gene that includes nucleotide position 937, and wherein the presence of A at nucleotide position 937 indicates an increased likelihood of virologic non-response to interferon treatment by said human subject. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29  wherein said oligonucleotide is essentially complementary to either strand in the region of the NS5A gene that ranges from nucleotide position 908 to nucleotide position 957 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30  wherein said oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, and SEQ ID NO:11.