Paramyxovirus and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel feline paramyxovirus. The paramyxovirus of the present invention is a (−)ssRNA virus and has in one aspect a genome which is complementary to the nucleic acid according to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8. The invention further relates to corresponding nucleic acids and polypeptides, antibodies and vaccines. Further, the invention relates to medical uses and diagnostic methods concerning the paramyxovirus of the invention.

1 . A nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:8;   (b) a nucleotide sequence being at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 95%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8;   (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14;   (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2, at least 76% identical to SEQ ID NO:3, at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO:4, at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:5, at least 86% identical to SEQ ID NO:6 or at least 91% identical to SEQ ID NO:7; and   (e) the complementary strand of any of the nucleotide sequences of (a) to (d).   
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises
 (i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2,   (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 76% identical to SEQ ID NO:3,   (iii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO:4,   (vi) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:5,   (v) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 86% identical to SEQ ID NO:6, and   (vi) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which is at least 91% identical to SEQ ID NO:7.   
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a paramyxovirus. 
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid according to  claim 3 , wherein said paramyxovirus is able to induce an infection, particularly an infection of the urogenital system in a human or non-human mammal, preferably a feline, more preferably a domestic cat ( Felis silvestris catus ). 
     
     
         5 . A paramyxovirus the genome of which comprises a ribonucleic acid complementary to the nucleic acid according to claim  1 (a) to (d) or  claim 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The paramyxovirus which is deposited under accession no. CNCM I-5123 or any descendant thereof, whereby said descendant may be attenuated or non-attenuated. 
     
     
         7 . The paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6  wherein the paramyxovirus is attenuated. 
     
     
         8 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 . 
     
     
         9 . A host cell comprising the vector according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence
 (a) selected from the group consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14; or   (b) an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2,   (c) an amino acid sequence which is at least 76% identical to SEQ ID NO:3,   (d) an amino acid sequence which is at least 92% identical to SEQ ID NO:4,   (e) an amino acid sequence which is at least 89% identical to SEQ ID NO:5,   (f) an amino acid sequence which is at least 86% identical to SEQ ID NO:6, or   (g) an amino acid sequence which is at least 91% identical to SEQ ID NO:7.   
     
     
         11 . An antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . An immunogenic composition comprising
 (a) the paramyxovirus of any one of  claim 5 ,  6  or  7 ;   (b) a nucleic acid according to any one of  claim 1  or  2 ;   (c) a polypeptide according to  claim 10 ;   (d) an antibody according to  claim 11 ;   (e) a polypeptide according to  claim 10 , which is fused to a heterologous or autologous (poly-)peptide   and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, preferably said carrier is suitable for intradermal or intramuscular application, optionally said vaccine further comprises an adjuvant.   
     
     
         13 . A vaccine comprising
 (a) the paramyxovirus of any one of  claim 5 ,  6  or  7 ;   (b) a nucleic acid according to any one of  claim 1  or  2 ;   (c) a polypeptide according to  claim 10 ;   (d) an antibody according to  claim 11 ;   (e) a polypeptide according to  claim 10 , which is fused to a heterologous or autologous (poly-)peptide   and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, preferably said carrier is suitable for intradermal or intramuscular application, optionally said vaccine further comprises an adjuvant.   
     
     
         14 . The immunogenic composition or the vaccine of  claim 12  or  13  for use in a method of reducing or preventing the clinical signs or disease caused by an infection with a pathogenic paramyxovirus in a subject, or for use in a method of treating or preventing an infection with a pathogenic paramyxovirus in a subject, preferably said subject is a feline. 
     
     
         15 . A method of immunizing a subject, preferably a feline, against a clinical disease caused by a paramyxovirus, preferably the paramyxovirus of  claim 5  or  6 , in a subject, said method comprising the step of administering to the subject, preferably a feline, an immunogenic composition or vaccine according to  claim 12  or  13 , whereby said virus fails to cause clinical signs of paramyxovirus infection but is capable of inducing an immune response that immunizes the subject, preferably the feline, against pathogenic forms of paramyxovirus, preferably the paramyxovirus of  claim 5  or  6 . 
     
     
         16 . A kit for vaccinating a feline against a disease associated with and/or reducing the incidence or the severity of one or more clinical signs associated with or caused by a paramyxovirus, preferably the paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6 , in a subject comprising:
 (a) a dispenser capable of administering a vaccine to the subject, preferably a feline; and 
 (b) the immunogenic composition or the vaccine according to  claim 12  or  13 , and 
 (c) optionally an instruction leaflet. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method for detecting the paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6  in a sample, comprising the steps of
 (i) contacting the sample with one or more oligonucleotide primers and/or probes which are specific for a nucleic acid according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , and 
 (ii) detecting binding between said paramyxovirus and said one or more oligonucleotide primers and/or probes. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for detecting the paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6  in a sample, comprising the steps of
 (i) contacting the sample with an antibody according to  claim 11 , and 
 (ii) detecting binding between said paramyxovirus and said antibody. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method for detecting the paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6  in a sample, comprising detecting the presence or absence of an antibody against said paramyxovirus in said sample. 
     
     
         20 . A method for diagnosing an infection with the paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6  in a sample from a subject, preferably a feline, comprising a method for detecting the paramyxovirus according to  claims 17  to  19 , wherein the presence of said paramyxovirus is indicative for an infection. 
     
     
         21 . A method for diagnosing an infection with the paramyxovirus according to  claim 5  or  6  in a sample from a subject, preferably a feline, comprising a method for detecting an antibody against said paramyxovirus according to  claims 17  to  19 , wherein the presence of said antibody is indicative for an infection with said paramyxovirus.