Latent phase viral interleukin-10-(vii-10) and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a purified nucleic acid sequence encoding a homologue of human interleukin 10 (IL-10), wherein said IL-10 homologue is expressed during the latent phase of infection by a virus of the herpesvirideae group. The present invention also relates to uses of this polypeptide, in particular for diagnosing disease states and screening for modulator and inhibitor compounds of such polypeptides and in turn the virus itself, screening for infection in vertebrates and biological tissue, cleansing of infected biological tissues, and in the treatment and/or prophylaxis and/or diagnosis of disease caused by a virus of the herpesvirideae group.

1 . An isolated homologue of human interleukin 10 (IL-10) polypeptide, wherein said IL-10 homologue is expressed during the latent phase of infection by a virus of the herpesvirideae group, and wherein said IL-10 homologue has the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10, or the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10 including one or more conservative amino acid substitutions. 
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein said homologue is the product of alternative splicing of the primary RNA transcript. 
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein said IL-10 homologue is from the UL111.5A region of the cytomegalovirus genome. 
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein said virus of the herpesvirideae group is selected from the group consisting of: Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7, HHV-8, varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 and cytomegalovirus. 
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is a component in a kit. 
     
     
         6 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is a component in a vaccine. 
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide of  claim 6 , wherein the vaccine further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant and/or diluent. 
     
     
         8 . A recombinant host cell capable of expressing the polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method of immunosuppression in a subject, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the virus of the herpesvirideae group is selected from the group consisting of: Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7, HHV-8, varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 and cytomegalovirus. 
     
     
         11 . A method of diagnosing a disease state, or predisposition to a disease state, in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) obtaining a biological sample from the subject; and   (b) assaying for expression of the polypeptide of  claim 1  in the sample, wherein detecting the expression of said polypeptide is indicative of said disease state or predisposition to said disease state.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said assay for the expression of the polypeptide comprises contacting the biological sample with a compound capable of selectively interacting with the polypeptide such that the interaction can be detected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the compound is capable of selectively interacting with the polypeptide is an antibody or fragment thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said virus of the herpesvirideae group is selected from the group consisting of: Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7, HHV-8, varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 and cytomegalovirus. 
     
     
         15 . A method for inducing an immune response in a vertebrate against disease associated with infection by a virus of the herpesvirideae group, comprising administering to said vertebrate an immunologically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said method is for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of disease associated with infection by a virus of the herpesvirideae group. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said virus of the herpesvirideae group is selected from the group consisting of: Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7, HHV-8, varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 and cytomegalovirus. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polypeptide is simultaneously administered with cytokines. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polypeptide is sequentially administered with cytokines. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cytokines are selected from the group consisting of: G-CSF, GM-CSF and interleukins. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cytokines are selected from the group consisting of: G-CSF, GM-CSF and interleukins.