Msbi sequences as an early marker for the future development of cancer and diseases of the cns and as a target for the treatment and prevention of these diseases

Abstract

Described are MSBI (Multiple Sclerosis Brain Isolate) nucleotide sequences as well as probes and primers comprising part of said nucleotide sequences and antibodies against polypeptides encoded by said nucleotide sequences. Said compounds are useful as early markers for the future development of cancer and diseases of the CNS (Multiple sclerosis MS, Prion-linked diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, transmissible spongiforme encephalitis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer disease) and should represent targets for treatment and prevention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expression vector comprising a Multiple Sclerosis Brain isolate (MSBI) polynucleic acid comprising:
 a nucleotide sequence depicted in  FIG. 1(A)  or (F),   wherein the vector is adenoviral, vaccinia virus, avipox virus, herpes virus, or a retrovirus vector.   
     
     
         2 . The expression vector of  claim 1  wherein the retrovirus vector is Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMuLV), Harvey murine sarcoma virus (HaMuSV), murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV), Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV). 
     
     
         3 . A host cell transformed with an expression vector according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . A host cell transformed with an expression vector according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The host cell of  claim 3 , wherein the cell is a Chinese hamster cell, a monkey cell, a baby hamster kidney cell, a pig kidney cell, a rabbit kidney cell, a human osteosarcoma cell, a HeLa cell a human hepatoma cell, or an insect cell. 
     
     
         6 . The host cell of  claim 4 , wherein the cell is a Chinese hamster cell, a monkey cell, a baby hamster kidney cell, a pig kidney cell, a rabbit kidney cell, a human osteosarcoma cell, a HeLa cell a human hepatoma cell, or an insect cell. 
     
     
         7 . The host cell of  claim 5 , wherein the monkey cell is a COS or Vero cell, the pig kidney cell is a PK15 cell, the rabbit kidney cell is a RK13 cell, the human osteosarcoma cell is a 143B cell line cell, the human heptoma cell is a Hep G2 cell, and the insect cell is a  Spodoptera frugiperda  cell. 
     
     
         8 . The host cell of  claim 6 , wherein the monkey cell is a COS or Vero cell, the pig kidney cell is a PK15 cell, the rabbit kidney cell is a RK13 cell, the human osteosarcoma cell is a 143B DM2\9779291.1 cell line cell, the human heptoma cell is a Hep G2 cell, and the insect cell is a  Spodoptera frugiperda  cell. 
     
     
         9 . An antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof specifically binding to a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleic acid depicted in any one of  FIG. 1(A)  or (F).