Molecular sequence of swine retrovirus and methods of use

Abstract

Purified nucleic acid which can specifically hybridize with the sequence of swine retroviruses.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for screening a tissue for the presence or expression of a swine or miniature swine retrovirus, the method comprising:
 contacting a tissue sample with an antibody specific for a retroviral polypeptide, wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having at least 95% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:   (a) nucleotides 2-1999 of SEQ ID NO:1 (env);   (b) nucleotides 2452-4839 of SEQ ID NO:1 (gag);   (c) nucleotides 4871-8060 of SEQ ID NO:1 (pol);   (d) nucleotides 598-2169 of SEQ ID NO:2 (gag);   (e) nucleotides 2320-4737 of SEQ ID NO:2 (pol);   (f) nucleotides 4738-6722 of SEQ ID NO:2 (env);   (g) nucleotides 585-2156 of SEQ ID NO:3 (gag);   (h) nucleotides 2307-5741 of SEQ ID NO:3 (pol); and   (i) nucleotides 5620-7533 of SEQ ID NO:3 (env);   thereby determining whether the retroviral polypeptide is present, the presence of the retroviral polypeptide being indicative of the presence or expression of a swine or miniature swine retrovirus.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 2-1999 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 2452-4839 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 4871-8060 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 598-2169 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 2320-4737 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 4738-6722 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 585-2156 of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 2307-5741 of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by nucleotides 5620-7533 of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of: heart, lung, liver, bone marrow, kidney, brain, neural tissue, pancreas, thymus, and intestine. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method comprises an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
     
     
         39 . An antibody specific for a retroviral polypeptide, wherein the retroviral polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having at least 95% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) nucleotides 2-1999 of SEQ ID NO:1 (env);   (b) nucleotides 2452-4839 of SEQ ID NO:1 (gag);   (c) nucleotides 4871-8060 of SEQ ID NO:1 (pol);   (d) nucleotides 598-2169 of SEQ ID NO:2 (gag);   (e) nucleotides 2320-4737 of SEQ ID NO:2 (pol);   (f) nucleotides 4738-6722 of SEQ ID NO:2 (env);   (g) nucleotides 585-2156 of SEQ ID NO:3 (gag);   (h) nucleotides 2307-5741 of SEQ ID NO:3 (pol); and   (i) nucleotides 5620-7533 of SEQ ID NO:3 (env).   
     
     
         40 . The antibody of  claim 39 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         41 . The antibody of  claim 39 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         42 . A method of producing an antibody specific for a retroviral polypeptide, the method comprising:
 immunizing an animal with a purified polypeptide encoded by a sequence comprising at least 100 nucleotides of a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 95% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:   (a) nucleotides 2-1999 of SEQ ID NO:1 (env);   (b) nucleotides 2452-4839 of SEQ ID NO:1 (gag);   (c) nucleotides 4871-8060 of SEQ ID NO:1 (pol);   (d) nucleotides 598-2169 of SEQ ID NO:2 (gag);   (e) nucleotides 2320-4737 of SEQ ID NO:2 (pol);   (f) nucleotides 4738-6722 of SEQ ID NO:2 (env);   (g) nucleotides 585-2156 of SEQ ID NO:3 (gag);   (h) nucleotides 2307-5741 of SEQ ID NO:3 (pol); and   (i) nucleotides 5620-7533 of SEQ ID NO:3 (env),   thereby producing an antibody.