Materials and methods for detecting, preventing, and treating retroviral infection

Abstract

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for detecting, preventing and treating retroviral infections in humans and other animals susceptible to infection by retrovirus. It has been discovered that FIV can be transmitted from cats to humans and that the FIV can infect human cells in vivo and that antibodies generated by the infected person cross-react with HIV antigens. Thus, the methods and compositions of the subject invention can be used to detect, prevent and treat FIV infection in humans and other non-feline animals that are susceptible to FIV infection. The methods and compositions of the invention can also be used to prevent and treat infection by HIV in humans.

1 . A composition comprising a polynucleotide that encodes:
 a) an FIV protein, or a fragment thereof; and   b) an HIV protein, or a fragment thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide is provided in a viral vector. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said HIV protein comprises HIV core gag protein and/or HIV envelope protein. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said HIV protein comprises an HIV p24 protein, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said FIV protein and/or said HIV protein comprises an epitope that is evolutionarily conserved between FIV and HIV. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said FIV protein comprises FIV protein from two or more different FIV subtypes. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising a) an FIV protein or fragment thereof, and b) an HIV protein or fragment thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said HIV protein comprises HIV core gag protein and/or HIV envelope protein, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said HIV protein comprises an HIV p24 protein, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said FIV protein and/or said HIV protein comprises an epitope that is evolutionarily conserved between FIV and HIV. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said FIV protein comprises FIV protein from two or more different FIV subtypes. 
     
     
         12 . A method for inducing an immune response to a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in an animal, said method comprising:
 administering to the animal an effective amount of a composition comprising a polynucleotide that encodes:   a) an FIV protein, or a fragment thereof; and   b) an HIV protein, or a fragment thereof; or   administering to the animal an effective amount of a composition comprising a) an FIV protein or fragment thereof; and b) an HIV protein or fragment thereof;   
       whereby said immune response is induced in the animal. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said composition induces a humoral immune response. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said composition induces a cellular immune response. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said composition induces an immune response against more than one subtype of FIV. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said HIV protein comprises HIV core gag protein and/or HIV envelope protein. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said HIV protein comprises an HIV p24 protein. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said composition induces a protective immune response against FIV. 
     
     
         19 . A method for determining whether an animal has been vaccinated with a composition comprising a polynucleotide that encodes:
 a) an FIV protein, or a fragment thereof; and   b) an HIV protein, or a fragment thereof; or   vaccinated with a composition comprising:   a) an FIV protein or fragment thereof; and   b) an HIV protein or fragment thereof;   
       wherein said method comprises obtaining or assessing a biological sample from the animal for the presence of antibodies that bind to said HIV protein, whereby the presence of said antibodies is indicative of vaccination of the animal.