Nucleic sequence and deduced protein sequence family with human endogenous retroviral motifs, and their uses

Abstract

The present invention provides a translational product encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, which corresponds to the gag gene of an endogenous human retrovirus named HERV-7q. The present invention also provides methods for diagnosing a neurological or autoimmune disease in a patient.

1 . A translational product encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, corresponding to the gag gene of an endogenous human retrovirus named HERV-7q. 
     
     
         2 . The translational product according to  claim 1 , which is selected from the group consisting of the sequences SEQ ID NOs: 29 to 34, 36, and 58. 
     
     
         3 . A method for diagnosing a neurological or autoimmune disease in a patient, comprising the detection of a translation product according to  claim 1  in a biological sample containing proteins obtained from said patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said neurological or autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said detection is an immunodetection. 
     
     
         6 . A method for diagnosing a neurological or autoimmune disease in a patient, comprising comparative analysis of the expression of the translational product according to  claim 1  between a biological sample containing proteins obtained from said patient and a sample from a normal individual used as a reference. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said neurological or autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         8 . A method for diagnosing a neurological or autoimmune disease in a patient, comprising comparing the protein sequences present in a biological sample from said patient with the sequence of the translation product according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said neurological or autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis.