Viral obesity methods and compositions

Abstract

A source of viral induced obesity has been discovered. A virus known as AD-36Padenovirus type 36 has been found to be associated with obesity in both animals and humans. Diagnostic DNA sequences are presented so that DNA based tests for the presence of the obesity associated virus can be conducted.

1. A method of determining whether an obese person is suffering from viral obesity caused by adenovirus type  36 p, the method comprising the steps of isolating from the person a sample selected from the group consisting of a body fluid, feces, a sample of tissue and a sample of an organ from the person, obtaining an antibody specific to an adenovirus type  36 p, and; assaying the sample using the antibody to test for the presence of the adenovirus type  36 p thus testing whether the person has been or is infected with adenovirus type 36p, which causes obesity and reduces cholesterol level in humans. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the substance analyzed is blood. 
     
     
       3. A method for the detection of virally caused obesity in an obese subject comprising the steps of:
 isolating a sample of biological tissue or fluid from the subject;    providing an antibody specific to adenovirus type 36p;    testing the sample, using the antibody diagnostic for adenovirus type  36 p; and    detecting the presence of adenovirus type  36 p to determine if the subject has viral induced obesity.    
     
     
       4. A method for preventing an adenovirus type  36  (Ad- 36 ) infection in a subject, said method comprising the step of:
 administering a vaccine composition including a immunogenically effective dose of an active compound selected from the group consisting of a killed Ad- 36 , an inactivated Ad- 36 , a protein or peptide sequence including an Ad- 36  coat protein encoded by SEQ. ID. No:  1  or fragment thereof, and an Ad- 36  E 1 A protein or a fragment thereof to the subject thereby stimulating the production of Ad- 36  neutralizing antibodies in the subject such that the Ad- 36  neutralizing antibodies prevent Ad- 36  infection in the subject.   
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaccine composition in said administering step is administered by one of intranasal administration, intramuscular injection, oral administration, intravenous administration, subcutaneous administration, and peritoneal administration. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is a non-human animal. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the administration of the vaccine composition is a primary vaccination. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of administering at least one booster vaccination after the primary vaccination to maintain protective immunity against Ad- 36  in the vaccinated subject._L  
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaccine composition is a solution having a volume in the range of about  0 . 1  ml to about  10  ml. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaccine composition is a solution having a volume in the range of about  0 . 1  ml to about  10  ml and wherein the active compound is present in an amount in the range of about  1  ng/ml to about  10  ml/ml. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaccine composition is a solution having a volume in the range of about  0 . 1  ml to about  10  ml and wherein the active ingredient is an Ad- 36  coat protein or fragment thereof in an amount in the range of about  1  ng/ml to about  10  mg/ml. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the Ad- 36  coat protein fragment comprises a peptide having a length of about  6  amino acids to about  30  amino acids. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the Ad- 36  coat protein comprises an Ad- 36  fiber protein or fragment thereof encoded by a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.  1 , SEQ ID No.  2 , SEQ ID No.  3 , and SEQ ID No.  4 . 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaccine composition is in a tablet form. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaccine composition prevents Ad- 36  induced obesity in the subject. 
     
     
       17. An adenovirus type  36  (Ad- 36 ) vaccine composition suitable for administration to a subject comprising:
 an active ingredient capable of stimulating the production of Ad- 36  neutralizing antibodies in the subject, wherein the active compound is selected from the group consisting of a killed Ad- 36 , an inactivated Ad- 36 , a protein or peptide sequence including an Ad- 36  coat protein encoded by SEQ. ID. No.  1  or fragment thereof, and an Ad- 36  E 1 A protein or a fragment thereof; and    a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
       18. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein the Ad- 36  coat protein fragment is encoded by one or more nucleic acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.  2 , SEQ ID No.  3 , and SEQ ID No.  4 . 
     
     
       19. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein said active compound has a concentration in the range of about  1  ng/ml to about  1  mg/ml. 
     
     
       20. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein said vaccine composition is in one of a solution, a capsule form, or a tablet form. 
     
     
       21. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
       22. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein the subject is a non-human animal. 
     
     
       23. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein said vaccine composition is suitable for administration by a route selected from the group consisting of intranasally, orally, intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, and peritoneally. 
     
     
       24. The vaccine of  claim 17 , wherein said vaccine composition prevents Ad- 36  induced obesity in the subject.