Claims
- 1. A method for identifying the presence of a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in a biological sample comprising detecting the presence or absence of a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in a biological sample.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the presence or absence of a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in the biological sample comprises detecting the presence or absence of myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus reverse transcriptase activity, wherein the presence of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus reverse transcriptase activity indicates that the biological sample is infected with the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the presence or absence of a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in the biological sample comprises detecting the presence or absence of myelodysplastic syndrome associated viral nucleic acid specific to the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in the biological sample, wherein the presence of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated viral nucleic acid specific to the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus indicates that the biological sample is infected with the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the presence or absence of a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in the biological sample comprises visually identifying the presence or absence of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in the biological sample, wherein the presence of viral particles indicates that the biological sample is infected with the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the presence or absence of a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus in the biological sample comprises contacting the biological sample with a fragment of an antibody which is capable of detecting the presence of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus and determining whether the antibody detected the presence of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the antibody capable of detecting the presence of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus is capable of detecting a gene product of the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus.
- 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the biological sample from an individual.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the individual is suspected of having myelodysplastic syndrome or chronic leukemia.
- 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-retroviral agent to the individual when the myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus is detected in the biological sample.
- 10. A human myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus isolated from ATCC Deposit No. PTA-2733 or PTA-2734.
- 11. An isolated myelodysplastic syndrome associated retrovirus comprised of a viral particle size ranging from 40 to 60 nm and a density of 1.14 to 1.16 as measured by a sugar density gradient with the proviso that the virus is not HIV, HTLV or MMTV.
- 12. A method for isolating myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus comprising:
(a) culturing cells infected with myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus; (b) collecting supernatant of said cultured cells; (c) separating the components in the supernatant on a sucrose density gradient; and (d) isolating the separated components that have retroviral activity.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the cultured cells are infected with the virus of claim 10 or 11.
- 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the cultured cells are stromal fibroblasts.
- 15. A myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus isolated according to the method of claim 12.
- 16. An antibody that binds to the virus of claim 10, 11 or 14 or a gene product thereof.
- 17. A kit for detecting a myelodysplastic syndrome associated virus comprising instructions for carrying out the method of any one of claims 1-6, 12 or 14.
- 18. The kit of claim 17 further comprising one or more reagents for performing the method set forth in the instructions.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a national stage application of International Application PCT/US01/44263, filed Nov. 27, 2001, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/253,591, filed Nov. 28, 2001, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/44263 |
11/27/2001 |
WO |
|