Thought it couldn’t get any worse? Think again, the good old scientists of the USA, know exactly what they are doing with this Ebola virus. They are releasing it into the public. The US patents the Ebola Virus! The location where the Ebola victim is in Georgia is exactly where they patented the Ebola Virus. It has become clear that this Ebola virus is going to be a false flag released among the population of the United States. This is the deadliest streak Ebola has been on ever, and now it has gone airborne! Please watch the video for more information.
Here is all the information on the Ebola Virus, created by the USA. This has become so clear who we are at war with. The facts come out to that they plan to use the Rabies vaccine on the population after Ebola breaks out. What a genius idea, the risks of this vaccine are truly catastrophic and will also cause mass chaos. Their agenda has sped up 7 fold. Please read below for information on the patents.
Patents
To read the original posting of this click here!
Publication number CA2741523 A1
Publication type Application
Application number CA 2741523
PCT number PCT/US2009/062079
Publication date Apr 29, 2010
Filing date Oct 26, 2009
Priority date Oct 24, 2008
Also published as EP2350270A2, 4 More »
Inventors Jonathan S. Towner, 4 More »
Applicant Jonathan S. Towner, 5 More »
Export Citation BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
Classifications (21)
External Links: CIPO, Espacenet
Human ebola virus species and compositions and methods thereof
CA 2741523 A1
Abstract
Compositions and methods including and related to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus (EboBun) are provided.
Compositions are provided that are operable as immunogens to elicit and immune response or protection from EboBun challenge in a subject such as a primate. Inventive methods are directed to detection and treatment of EboBun infection.
Claims(30)
1. An isolated hEbola virus comprising a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence of:
a) a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10;
b) a nucleotide sequence hybridizing under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NOS:
1 or 10; or c) a nucleotide sequence of at least 70%-99% identity to the SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10.
2. An isolated hEbola virus having Centers for Disease Control Deposit Accession No.
200706291.
3. The hEbola virus of any one of claims 1 or 2 which is killed.
4. The hEbola virus of claim 1 which is an attenuated hEbola virus.
5. The virus of claim 4 wherein at least one property of the attenuated hEbola virus is reduced from among infectivity, replication ability, protein synthesis ability, assembling ability or cytopathic effect.
6. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ
ID
NOS: 1 or 10 or a complement thereof.
7. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence of between 4 and 4900 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof; with the proviso that said nucleotide sequence is not comprised by the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 20; or between 5500 and 6600 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof.
8. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2-9, 59, or SEQ ID NO: 11-19 or a complement of said nucleotide sequence.
9. An isolated RNA or DNA nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID
NOS: 1 or 10 or a complement thereof.
10. An isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of any one of claims 7-9.
11. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid of:
a) an amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOS: 2-19, or 59; or b) an amino acid sequence that has 70% – 99% homology to the amino acid sequence of (a).
12. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence having to 250 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NOS: 5 or 18 (VP24);
5 to 280 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 6 or 17 (VP30);
5 to 320 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 8 or 13 (VP40);
5 to 340 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 7 or 12 (VP35);
5 to 370 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 4 or 15 (SGP);
5 to 370 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 59 or 16 (SSGP);
5 to 670 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 14 (GP);
5 to 730 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 3 or 11 (NP); or 5 to 2200 contiguous residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 19 (L).
13. An isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to the hEbola virus of any one of claims 1or 2 or neutralizes the virus.
14. An isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to the polypeptide of any one of claims 11 or 12 or neutralizes an hEbola virus.
15. A method for detecting the presence of a the hEbola virus or a nucleic acid molecule derived therefrom of claim 1 in a biological sample, said method comprising:
(a) contacting the sample with an agent that selectively binds to the virus or the nucleic acid molecule derived therefrom; and (b) detecting whether the compound binds to the virus or the nucleic acid molecule derived therefrom in the sample.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the agent is an antibody.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the agent is a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having between 4 and 6600 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof.
18. A method for detecting the presence of the polypeptide of claim 11 in a biological sample, said method comprising:
(a) contacting the biological sample with an agent that selectively binds to said polypeptide; and (b) detecting whether the compound binds to said polypeptide in the sample.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the agent is an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
20. A formulation comprising the hEbola virus of any one of claims 3 or 4, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
21. A formulation comprising an amount of a protein extract of the hEbola virus of claim 3 or 4 or a subunit thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
22. A formulation comprising an amount of a nucleic acid molecule of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10 or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
23. A formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of the nucleic acid molecule of claim 9 or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
24. A vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the hEbola virus of claim 3 or 4 or a protein extract therefrom, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
25. A vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 10 or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
26. A vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule of claim 9 or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
27. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of an anti-hEbola agent of an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to the hEbola virus of Deposit Accession No.
200706291, or polypeptides or protein derived therefrom and optionally has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID
NOS: 1 or 10, or a fragment thereof.
28. A kit comprising a container containing the formulation of any one of claims 24-26.
29. A method for identifying a subject infected with the virus of claim 1 or 2, comprising:
(a) obtaining total RNA from a biological sample obtained from the subject;
(b) reverse transcribing the total RNA to obtain cDNA; and (c) amplifying the cDNA using a set of primers derived from a nucleotide sequence of the virus of claim 1 or 2.
30. A primer that has the nucleotide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOS: 24-57.
Description (OCR text may contain errors)
HUMAN EBOLA VIRUS SPECIES AND COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS THEREOF
DEPOSIT STATEMENT
[0001] The invention provides the isolated human Ebola (hEbola) viruses denoted as Bundibugyo (EboBun) deposited with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”;
Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) on November 26, 2007 and accorded an accession number 200706291. This deposit was not made to an International Depository Authority (IDA) as established under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, and is a non-Budapest treaty deposit. The deposited organism is not acceptable by American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Virginia, an International Depository Authority (IDA) as established under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. Samples of the stated Deposit Accession No. 200706291 will be made available to approved facilities for thirty years from the date of deposit, and for the lifetime of the patent issuing from, or claiming priority to this application.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/108,175 filed 24 October 2008; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention is related to compositions and methods directed to a novel species of human Ebola (hEbola) virus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The family Filoviridae consists of two genera, Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus, which have likely evolved from a common ancestor’. The genus Ebolavirus includes four species: Zaire, Sudan, Reston and Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) ebolaviruses, which have, with the exception of Reston and Cote d’Ivoire ebolaviruses, been associated with large hemorrhagic fever (HF) outbreaks in Africa with high case fatality (53-90%)2.
[0005] Viruses of each species have genomes that are at least 30-40% divergent from one another, a level of diversity that presumably reflects differences in the ecologic niche they occupy and in their evolutionary history. Identification of the natural reservoir of ebolaviruses remains somewhat elusive, although recent PCR and antibody data suggest that three species of arboreal fruit bats may be carriers of Zaire ebolavirus3. No data has yet been published to suggest reservoirs for the Sudan, Reston and Cote d’Ivoire ebolavirus species. However, a cave-dwelling fruit bat has been recently implicated as a natural host for marburgvirus4′ s, supporting the hypothesis that different bat species may be the reservoir hosts for the various filoviruses.
[0006] Filovirus outbreaks are sporadic, sometimes interspersed by years or even decades of no apparent disease activity. The last new species of ebolavirus was discovered 14 years ago (1994), in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and involved a single non-fatal case, a veterinarian who performed an autopsy on an infected chimpanzee found in the Tai Forest6. No further disease reports have been associated with Cote d’Ivoire ebolavirus, in contrast to Zaire and Sudan ebolaviruses which have each caused multiple large outbreaks over the same time period.
[0007] In late November 2007, HF cases were reported in the townships of Bundibugyo and Kikyo in Bundibugyo District, Western Uganda. The outbreak continued through January 2008, and resulted in approximately 149 cases and 37 deaths. Laboratory investigation of the initial 29 suspect-case blood specimens by classic methods (antigen capture, IgM and IgG
ELISA) and a recently developed random-primed pyrosequencing approach identified this to be an Ebola HF
outbreak associated with a new discovered ebolavirus species. These specimens were negative when initially tested with highly sensitive real-time RT-PCR assays specific for all known Zaire and Sudan ebolaviruses and Marburg viruses. This new species is referred to herein as “the Bundibugyo species”, abbreviated “EboBun”.
[0008] Accordingly, compositions and methods directed to the new Ebola virus species are described herein and the most closely related Ebola Ivory Coast species, which compositions and methods are useful for diagnosis and prevention of human Ebola virus infection; including related vaccine development, and prevention of hemorrhagic fever in a human population.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is based upon the isolation and identification of a new human Ebola virus species, EboBun. EboBun was isolated from the patients suffering from hemorrhagic fever in a recent outbreak in Uganda. The isolated virus is a member of the Filoviridae family, a family of negative sense RNA viruses. Accordingly, the invention relates to the isolated EboBun virus that morphologically and phylogenetically relates to known members filoviridae.
[0010] In one aspect, the invention provides the isolated EboBun virus deposited with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”; Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) on November 26, 2007 and accorded an accession number 200706291, as stated in the paragraph entitled “DEPOSIT STATEMENT” supra.
[0011] In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated hEbola EboBun virus comprising a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: a) a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; b) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions; and c) a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identity to the SEQ ID NO:
1. In another aspect, the invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hEbola virus EboBun.
[0012] In a related aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules isolated from EboBun, or fragments thereof.
[0013] In another aspect, the invention provides proteins or polypeptides that are isolated from the EboBun, including viral proteins isolated from cells infected with the virus but not present in comparable uninfected cells; or fragments thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the amino acid sequences of the proteins or polypeptides are set forth in SEQ ID
NOS: 2-9 and 59, or fragments thereof.
[0014] In a related aspect, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of the inventive hEbola EboIC (Sequence ID No. 10) virus described above.
[0015] In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated hEbola EboIC
virus comprising a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: a) a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10; b) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10 under stringent conditions; and c) a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identity to the SEQ ID NO:
10. In another aspect, the invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hEbola virus EboIC.
[0016] In a related aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules isolated from EboIC, or fragments thereof.
[0017] In another aspect, the invention provides proteins or polypeptides that are isolated from the EboIC, including viral proteins isolated from cells infected with the virus but not present in comparable uninfected cells; or fragments thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the amino acid sequences of the proteins or polypeptides are set forth in SEQ ID
NOs: 11-19, or fragments thereof.
[0018] In a related aspect, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of the inventive hEbola EboIC virus described above.
[0019] In other aspects, the invention relates to the use of the isolated hEbola virus for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on EbBun, EboIC, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of detecting in a biological sample an antibody immunospecific for the genus of West Afrin Ebola Species constituting hEbola EbBun and EboIC
virus using at least one the inventive isolated hEbola virus described herein, or any of the inventive proteins or polypeptides as described herein. In another specific embodiment, the invention provides a method of screening for an antibody which immunospecifically binds and neutralizes hEbola EboBun. Such an antibody is useful for a passive immunization or immunotherapy of a subject infected with hEbola.
[0020] In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to the hEbola virus of the invention described above.
[0021] In other aspects, the invention provides methods for detecting the presence, activity or expression of the Glade of Bundibungyo-Ivory Coast hEbola virus in a biological material, such as cells, blood, saliva, urine, feces and so forth; and specifically at least one of EbBun or EboIC.
[0022] In a related aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of the inventive hEbola virus described above in a biological sample, the method includes (a) contacting the sample with an agent that selectively binds to a West African hEbola virus; and (b) detecting whether the compound binds to the West African hEbola virus in the sample.
[0023] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of the inventive polypeptide described above, in a biological sample, said method includes (a) contacting the biological sample with an agent that selectively binds to the polypeptide;
and (b) detecting whether the agent binds to the polypeptide in the sample. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of a first nucleic acid molecule derived from the inventive hEbola virus described above in a biological sample, the method comprising: (a) contacting the biological sample with an agent that selectively binds to the polypeptide; and (b) detecting whether the agent binds to the polypeptide in the sample.
[0024] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for propagating the hEbola virus in host cells comprising infecting the host cells with the inventive isolated hEbola virus described above, culturing the host cells to allow the virus to multiply, and harvesting the resulting virions.
Also provided by the present invention are host cells infected with the inventive hEbola virus 5 described above.
[0025] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting in a biological sample the presence of an antibody that immunospecifically binds hEbola virus, the method comprising: (a) contacting the biological sample with the inventive host cell host described above; and (b) detecting the antibody bound to the cell.
[0026] In another aspect, the invention provides vaccine preparations, comprising the inventive hEbola virus, including recombinant and chimeric forms of the virus, nucleic acid molecules comprised by the virus, or protein subunits of the virus. The invention also provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the inventive hEbola virus described above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a protein extract of the inventive hEbola virus described above, or a subunit thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising any of inventive the nucleotide sequences as described above, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0027] In a related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of the inventive hEbola virus described above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a protein extract of the inventive hEbola virus described above or a subunit thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the inventive nucleotide sequence as described above or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of any of the inventive polypeptides described above.
[0028] In another aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising antiviral agents of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a specific embodiment, the antiviral agent of the invention is an antibody that immunospecifically binds hEbola virus or any hEbola epitope. In another specific embodiment, the antiviral agent is a polypeptide or protein of the present invention or nucleic acid molecule of the invention.
[0029] In a related aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of an anti-hEbola EboBun agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0030] The invention also provides kits containing compositions and formulations of the present invention. Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising a container containing the inventive immunogenic formulation described above. In another aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising a container containing the inventive vaccine formulation described above. In another, the invention provides a kit comprising a container containing the inventive pharmaceutical composition described above. In another, the invention provides a kit comprising a container containing the inventive vaccine formulation described above. In another, the invention provides a method for identifying a subject infected with the inventive hEbola virus described above, comprising: (a) obtaining total RNA from a biological sample obtained from the subject; (b) reverse transcribing the total RNA to obtain cDNA; and (c) amplifying the cDNA using a set of primers derived from a nucleotide sequence of the inventive hEbola virus described above.
[0031] The invention further relates to the use of the sequence information of the isolated virus for diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
[0032] In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for screening antiviral agents that inhibit the infectivity or replication of hEbola virus or variants thereof.
[0033] The invention further provides methods of preparing recombinant or chimeric forms of hEbola.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 represents a Phylogenetic tree comparing full-length genomes of Ebolavirus and Marburg virus by Bayesian analysis;
[0035] FIG. 2 represents an alignment of genomes of novel hEbola EboBun (SEQ
ID NO: 1) referred to below as “Ebola Bundibugyo” or “EboBun”, and hEbola Zaire (SEQ ID
NO: 20);
referred to below as “Ebola Zaire `76″ or “EboZ” and hEbola Ivory Coast (SEQ
ID NO: 10) also referred to below as “EboIC”.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.
[0037] Due to the sequence divergence of EboBun relative to all previously recognized ebolaviruses, the present invention has utility in design of diagnostic assays to monitor Ebola HF
disease in humans and animals, and develop effective antivirals and vaccines.
[0038] The EboBun virus of the present invention is genetically distinct, differing by more than 30% at the genome level from all other known ebolavirus species. The unique nature of this virus created challenges for traditional filovirus molecular based diagnostic assays and genome sequencing approaches. Instead, over 70% of the virus genome was sequenced using a recently developed random-primed pyrosequencing approach which allowed the rapid development of molecular detection assay which were deployed in the disease outbreak response. This random-primed pyrosequencing draft sequence allowed faster completion of the whole genome sequence using traditional primer walking approach and confirmation that the EboBun virus represented a new ebolavirus species.
Definitions [0039] The definitions herein provided are operative throughout the entire description of the invention set forth herein, including the Summary of the Invention.
[0040] The term “an antibody or an antibody fragment that immunospecifically binds a polypeptide of the invention” as used herein refers to an antibody or a fragment thereof that immunospecifically binds to the polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 (EboBun), or a fragment thereof, and does not non-specifically bind to other polypeptides. An antibody or a fragment thereof that immunospecifically binds to the polypeptide of the invention may cross-react with other antigens. Preferably, an antibody or a fragment thereof that immunospecifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention does not cross-react with other antigens.
An antibody or a fragment thereof that immunospecifically binds to the polypeptide of the invention can be identified by, for example, immunoassays or other techniques known to those skilled in the art, or otherwise as described herein.
[0041] An “isolated” or “purified” peptide or protein is substantially free of cellular material or other contaminating proteins from the cell or tissue source from which the protein is derived, or substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. The language “substantially free of cellular material” includes preparations of a polypeptide/protein in which the polypeptide/protein is separated from cellular components of the cells from which it is isolated or recombinantly produced. Thus, a polypeptide/protein that is substantially free of cellular material includes preparations of the polypeptide/protein having less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2.5%, or 1% (by dry weight) of contaminating protein. When the polypeptide/protein is recombinantly produced, it is also preferably substantially free of culture medium, i.e., culture medium represents less than about 20%, 10%, or 5% of the volume of the protein preparation.
When polypeptide/protein is produced by chemical synthesis, it is preferably substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals, i.e., it is separated from chemical precursors or other chemicals which are involved in the synthesis of the protein. Accordingly, such preparations of the polypeptide/protein have less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% (by dry weight) of chemical precursors or compounds other than polypeptide/protein fragment of interest.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, polypeptides/proteins are isolated or purified.
[0042] An “isolated” nucleic acid molecule is one which is separated from other nucleic acid molecules which are present in the natural source of the nucleic acid molecule. Moreover, an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule, such as a cDNA molecule, can be substantially free of other cellular material, or culture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides/proteins of the invention are isolated or purified. The term “isolated” nucleic acid molecule does not include a nucleic acid that is a member of a library that has not been purified away from other library clones containing other nucleic acid molecules.
[0043] The term “portion” or “fragment” as used herein includes the specified fragment lengths, and all integers in between, inclusive of the specified end points in a specified range, and inclusive of any length up to the full length of a protein, polypeptide, or nucleic acid.
[0044] The term “having a biological activity of the protein” or “having biological activities of the polypeptides of the invention” refers to the characteristics of the polypeptides or proteins having a common biological activity, similar or identical structural domain, and/or having sufficient amino acid identity to the polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1 (EboBun).
Such common biological activities of the polypeptides of the invention include antigenicity and immunogenicity.
[0045] The term “under stringent condition” refers to hybridization and washing conditions under which nucleotide sequences having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95% identity to each other remain hybridized to each other. Such hybridization conditions are described in, for example but not limited to, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6.; Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., NY (1986), pp. 75-78, and 84-87; and Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY (1982), pp. 387-389, and are well known to those skilled in the art. A preferred, non-limiting example of stringent hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6 x sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC), 0.5% SDS at about 68 C followed by one or more washes in 2 x SSC, 0.5% SDS at room temperature. Another preferred, non-limiting example of stringent hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6 x SSC at about 45 C, followed by one or more washes in 0.2 x SSC, 0.1% SDS at about 50-65 C.
[0046] The term “variant” as used herein refers either to a naturally occurring genetic mutant of hEbola EboBun, or hEbola EboIC, or a recombinantly prepared variation of these hEbola species, each of which contain one or more mutations in its genome compared to the hEbola of SEQ ID NO:
1 or 10. The term “variant” may also refer either to a naturally occurring variation of a given peptide or a recombinantly prepared variation of a given peptide or protein in which one or more amino acid residues have been modified by amino acid substitution, addition, or deletion.
[0047] “Homology” refers to sequence similarity or, alternatively, sequence identity, between two or more polynucleotide sequences or two or more polypeptide sequences.
[0048] The terms “percent identity” and “% identity,” as applied to polynucleotide sequences, refer to the percentage of identical nucleotide matches between at least two polynucleotide sequences aligned using a standardized algorithm. Such an algorithm may insert, in a standardized and reproducible way, gaps in the sequences being compared in order to optimize alignment between two sequences, and therefore achieve a more meaningful comparison of the two sequences.
[0049] Percent identity between polynucleotide sequences may be determined using one or more computer algorithms or programs known in the art or described herein. For example, percent 5 identity can be determined using the default parameters of the CLUSTAL V
algorithm as incorporated into the MEGALIGN version 3.12e sequence alignment program. This program is part of the LASERGENE software package, a suite of molecular biological analysis programs (DNASTAR, Madison, Wis.). CLUSTAL V is described in Higgins, D. G. and P. M.
Sharp (1989;
CABIOS 5:151-153) and in Higgins, D. G. et al. (1992; CABIOS 8:189-191). For pairwise 10 alignments of polynucleotide sequences, the default parameters are set as follows: Ktuple=2, gap penalty=5, window=4, and “diagonals saved”=4. The “weighted” residue weight table is selected as the default.
[0050] Alternatively, a suite of commonly used and freely available sequence comparison algorithms which can be used is provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) (Altschul, S. F. et al.
(1990) J. Mol. Biol.
215:403-410), which is available from several sources, including the NCBI, Bethesda, Md., and on the NCBI World Wide Web site available on the Internet. The BLAST software suite includes various sequence analysis programs including “blastn,” that is used to align a known polynucleotide sequence with other polynucleotide sequences from a variety of databases. Also available is a tool called “BLAST 2 Sequences” that is used for direct pairwise comparison of two nucleotide sequences. “BLAST 2 Sequences” can be accessed and used interactively on the Internet via the NCBI World Wide Web site as well. The “BLAST 2 Sequences” tool can be used for both blastn and blastp (discussed below). BLAST programs are commonly used with gap and other parameters set to default settings. For example, to compare two nucleotide sequences, one may use blastn with the “BLAST 2 Sequences” tool Version 2Ø12 (Apr. 21, 2000) set at default parameters. Such default parameters may be, for example: Matrix:BLOSUM62; Reward for match: 1;
Penalty for mismatch: -2; Open Gap: 5 and Extension Gap: 2 penalties; Gap x drop-off: 50;
Expect: 10; Word Size: 11; Filter: on.
[0051] Percent identity may be measured over the length of an entire defined sequence, for example, as defined by a particular SEQ ID number, or may be measured over a shorter length, for example, over the length of a fragment taken from a larger, defined sequence, for instance, a fragment of at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 70, at least 100, or at least 200 contiguous nucleotides. Such lengths are exemplary only, and it is understood that any fragment length supported by the sequences shown herein, in the tables, figures, or sequence listing, may be used to describe a length over which percentage identity may be measured.
[0052] The phrases “percent identity” and “% identity”, as applied to polypeptide sequences, refer to the percentage of identical residue matches between at least two polypeptide sequences aligned using a standardized algorithm. Methods of polypeptide sequence alignment are well known. Some alignment methods take into account conservative amino acid substitutions. Such conservative substitutions, explained in more detail above, generally preserve the charge and hydrophobicity at the site of substitution, thus preserving the structure (and therefore function) of the polypeptide. The phrases “percent similarity” and “% similarity”, as applied to polypeptide sequences, refer to the percentage of residue matches, including identical residue matches and conservative substitutions, between at least two polypeptide sequences aligned using a standardized algorithm. In contrast, conservative substitutions are not included in the calculation of percent identity between polypeptide sequences.
[0053] Percent identity between polypeptide sequences may be determined using the default parameters of the CLUSTAL V algorithm as incorporated into the MEGALIGN
version 3.12e sequence alignment program (described and referenced above). For pairwise alignments of polypeptide sequences using CLUSTAL V, the default parameters are set as follows: Ktuple=l, gap penalty=3, window=5, and “diagonals saved”=5. The PAM250 matrix is selected as the default residue weight table.
[0054] Alternatively the NCBI BLAST software suite may be used. For example, for a pairwise comparison of two polypeptide sequences, one may use the “BLAST 2 Sequences”
tool Version 2Ø12 (Apr. 21, 2000) with blastp set at default parameters. Such default parameters may be, for example: Matrix: BLOSUM62; Open Gap: 11 and Extension Gap: 1 penalties; Gap x drop-off: 50;
Expect: 10; Word Size: 3; Filter: on.
[0055] Percent identity may be measured over the length of an entire defined polypeptide sequence, for example, as defined by a particular SEQ ID number, or may be measured over a shorter length, for example, over the length of a fragment taken from a larger, defined polypeptide sequence, for instance, a fragment of at least 15, at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 70 or at least 150 contiguous residues. Such lengths are exemplary only, and it is understood that any fragment length supported by the sequences shown herein, in the tables, figures or sequence listing, may be used to describe a length over which percentage identity may be measured.
[0056] The term “agent” encompasses any chemical, biochemical, or biological molecule; such as small molecules, proteins, polypeptides, antibodies, nucleic acid molecules including DNA or RNA, and the like.
Methods and compositions related to the inventive hEbola [0057] The present invention is based upon the isolation and identification of a new human Ebola virus species, EboBun and the sequencing of the only other known West African Ebola species EboIC. EboBun was isolated from the patients suffering from hemorrhagic fever in a recent outbreak in Uganda. The isolated virus is a member of the Filoviridae family, a family of negative sense RNA viruses. Accordingly, the invention relates to the isolated EboBun or EBOIC virus that morphologically and phylogenetically relates to known members filoviridae.
[0058] In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated hEbola virus including a nucleic acid molecule with a nucleotide sequence that is preferably: a) a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; b) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions; or c) a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identity to the SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hEbola virus is killed. In another, the virus is attenuated. In another, the infectivity of the attenuated hEbola virus is reduced. In another, the infectivity is reduced by at least 5-fold, 10-fold, 25-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 250-fold, 500-fold, or 10,000-fold. In another, the replication ability of the attenuated hEbola virus is reduced. In another, the replication ability of the attenuated virus is educed by at least 5-fold, 10-fold, 25-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 250-fold, 500-fold, 1,000-fold, or 10,000-fold. In another, the protein synthesis ability of the attenuated virus is reduced. In another, the protein synthesis ability is reduced by at least 5-fold, 10-fold, 25-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 250-fold, 500-fold, 1,000-fold, or 10,000-fold. In another, the assembling ability of the attenuated hEbola virus is reduced. In another, the assembling ability of the attenuated virus is reduced by at least 5-fold, 10-fold, 25-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 250-fold, 500-fold, 1,000-fold, or 10,000-fold. In another, the cytopathic effect of the attenuated hEbola virus is reduced. In another, the cytopathic effect is reduced by at least 5-fold, 10-fold, 25-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 250-fold, 500-fold, 1,000-fold, or 10,000-fold.
[0059] In another aspect, the invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hEbola virus EboBun or EboIC. In a specific embodiment, the virus includes a nucleotide sequence of SEQ
ID NOs: 1 or 10, respectively.
[0060] In a related aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules isolated from EboBun, EboIC, or fragments thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the isolated nucleic acid molecule includes the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof. In another, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence having at least 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 4600, 4700, 4800, or 4900 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a complement thereof;
with the proviso that the nucleotide sequence is not comprised by the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 20 (Ebola Zaire nucleotide sequence); or at least 5000, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 6000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6400, 6500, or 6600 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof. In another embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence that encodes the EboBun amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 2-9 or 59, the EboIC amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 11-19, or a complement of the nucleotide sequence that encodes the EboBun amino acid sequences of SEQ
ID NOs: 2-9 or 59 or the EboIC amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 11-19. In another, the isolated nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10 or a complement thereof, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an amino acid sequence which has a biological activity exhibited by a polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10. In another, nucleic acid molecule is RNA. In another, nucleic acid molecule is DNA.
[0061] In another aspect, the invention provides proteins or polypeptides that are isolated from the EboBun, including viral proteins isolated from cells infected with the virus but not present in comparable uninfected cells. In one embodiment of the present invention, the amino acid sequences of the proteins or polypeptides are set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 2-9, 59, or 11-19, or fragments thereof.
In one embodiment, polypeptides or proteins of the present invention have a biological activity of the protein (including antigenicity and/or immunogenicity) encoded by the sequence of SEQ ID
NOs: 1 or 10. In another, the polypeptides or the proteins of the present invention have a biological activity of at least one protein having the amino acid sequence (including antigenicity and/or immunogenicity) set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 2-9, 59, or 11-19, or a fragment thereof.
[0062] In a related aspect, the invention provides an isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of the invention described above. In one embodiment of the present invention, the isolated polypeptide includes the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: a) an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19; and b) an amino acid sequence that has 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% homology to the amino acid sequence according to a). In another, the isolated polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence having at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240 or 250 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 5 or 18 (VP24); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 6 or 17 (VP30); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 310, or 320 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ
ID NOs: 8 or 13 (VP40); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 310, 320, 330, or 340 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 7 or 12 (VP35); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, or 370 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID
NOs: 4 or 15 (SGP); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, or 370 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 59 or 16 (SSGP); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 450, 500, 550, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, or 670 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 9 or 14 (GP); 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 710, 720, or 730 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ
ID NOs: 3 or 11 (NP); or 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300, 1350, 1400, 1450, 1500, 1550, 1600, 1650, 1700, 1750, 1800, 1850, 1900, 1950, 2000, 2050, 2100, 2150, 2160, 2170, 2180, 2190, or 2200 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 2 or 19 (L).
[0063] In other aspects, the invention relates to the use of an isolated West African hEbola virus for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of detecting in a biological sample an antibody immunospecific for the hEbola virus using the inventive isolated hEbola virus described herein, or any of the inventive proteins or polypeptides as described herein. In another specific embodiment, the invention provides a method of screening for an antibody which immunospecifically binds and neutralizes hEbola EboBun or EboIC
or a combination thereof. Such an antibody is useful for a passive immunization or immunotherapy of a subject infected with hEbola.
[0064] In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to a West African genus hEbola virus of the 5 invention described above, and illustratively including EboBun or EboIC. In one embodiment of the present invention, the isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof neutralizes a West African genus hEbola virus. In another, the isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof immunospecifically binds to the inventive polypeptide described above. The invention further provides antibodies that specifically bind a polypeptide of the invention encoded by the nucleotide 10 sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 (EboBun) or 10 (EboIC), a fragment thereof, or encoded by a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 (EboBun) or 10 (EboIC) and/or any hEbola EboBun epitope, having one or more biological activities of a polypeptide of the invention. These polypeptides include those shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2-9, 59, and 11-19. Such antibodies include, but are not limited to, 15 polyclonal, monoclonal, bi-specific, multi-specific, human, humanized, chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab’)2 fragments, disulfide-linked Fvs, intrabodies and fragments containing either a VL or VH domain or even a complementary determining region (CDR) that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention.
[0065] In other aspects, the invention provides methods for detecting the presence, activity or expression of the hEbola virus of the invention in a biological material, such as cells, blood, saliva, urine, and so forth. The increased or decreased activity or expression of the hEbola virus in a sample relative to a control sample can be determined by contacting the biological material with an agent which can detect directly or indirectly the presence, activity or expression of the hEbola virus.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the detecting agents are the antibodies or nucleic acid molecules of the present invention. Antibodies of the invention can also be used to treat hemorrhagic fever.
[0066] In a related aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of the inventive hEbola virus described above in a biological sample, the method comprising:
(a) contacting the sample with an agent that selectively binds to the hEbola virus; and (b) detecting whether the compound binds to the hEbola virus in the sample. In one embodiment of the present invention, the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of cells; blood; serum; plasma;
feces; rectal, vaginal and conjunctival swabs In another, the agent that binds to the virus is an antibody. In another, the agent that binds to the virus is a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complement thereof. In another, the agent that binds to the virus is a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 4600, 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 6000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6400, 6500, or 6600 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof.
[0067] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of the inventive polypeptide described above, in a biological sample, the method comprising:
(a) contacting the biological sample with an agent that selectively binds to the polypeptide; and (b) detecting whether the agent binds to the polypeptide in the sample. In one embodiment of the present invention, the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of cells; blood; serum;
plasma; feces; rectal, vaginal and conjunctival swabs. In another, the agent that binds to the polypeptide is an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
[0068] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the presence of a first nucleic acid molecule derived from the inventive hEbola virus described above in a biological sample, the method includes (a) contacting the biological sample with an agent that selectively binds to the nucleic acid; and (b) detecting whether the agent binds to the nucleotide in the sample. In one embodiment of the present invention, the agent that binds to the first nucleic acid molecule is a second nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
1 or a complement thereof. In another, the second nucleic acid molecule comprises at least 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 4600, 4700, 4800, 4900, 5000, 5500, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 6000, 6100, 6200, 6300, 6400, 6500, or 6600 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof.
[0069] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for propagating the hEbola virus in host cells comprising infecting the host cells with an inventive isolated West African hEbola virus described above, culturing the host cells to allow the virus to multiply, and harvesting the resulting virions. Also provided by the present invention are host cells infected with the inventive hEbola virus described above. In one embodiment of the present invention, the host cell is a primate cell.
[0070] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting in a biological sample the presence of an antibody that immunospecifically binds hEbola virus, the method includes: (a) contacting the biological sample with the inventive host cell described above;
and (b) detecting the antibody bound to the cell.
[0071] In another aspect, the invention provides vaccine preparations, including the inventive hEbola virus, including recombinant and chimeric forms of the virus, nucleic acid molecules comprised by the virus, or protein subunits of the virus. In one embodiment, the vaccine preparations of the present invention includes live but attenuated hEbola virus with or without pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, including adjuvants. In another, the vaccine preparations of the invention comprise an inactivated or killed hEbola EboBun virus, EboIC
virus, or a combination thereof, with or without pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, including adjuvants. Such attenuated or inactivated viruses may be prepared by a series of passages of the virus through the host cells or by preparing recombinant or chimeric forms of virus. Accordingly, the present invention further provides methods of preparing recombinant or chimeric forms of the inventive hEbola viruses described herein.
[0072] In another specific embodiment, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the inventive hEbola virus described above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a protein extract of the inventive hEbola virus described above, or a subunit thereof;
and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising any of inventive the nucleotide sequences as described above, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a protein extract of the inventive hEbola virus described above, or a subunit thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another, the invention provides a vaccine formulation comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising any of inventive the nucleotide sequences as described above, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0073] In yet another specific embodiment, the vaccine preparations of the present invention comprise a nucleic acid or fragment of the hEbola virus, e.g., the virus having Accession No.
200706291, or nucleic acid molecules having the sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a fragment thereof. In another, the vaccine preparations comprise a polypeptide of the invention encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10 or a fragment thereof. In a specific embodiment, the vaccine preparations comprise polypeptides of the invention as shown in SEQ ID
NOs: 2-9, 59, or 11-19, or encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a fragment thereof.
[0074] Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for treating, ameliorating, managing or preventing hemorrhagic fever by administering the vaccine preparations or antibodies of the present invention alone or in combination with adjuvants, or other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for treating, ameliorating, managing, or preventing hemorrhagic fever by administering the inventive compositions and formulations including the vaccine preparations or antibodies of the present invention alone or in combination with antivirals [e.g., amantadine, rimantadine, gancyclovir, acyclovir, ribavirin, penciclovir, oseltamivir, foscamet zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddl), lamivudine (3TC), zalcitabine (ddC), stavudine (d4T), nevirapine, delavirdine, indinavir, ritonavir, vidarabine, nelfinavir, saquinavir, relenza, tamiflu, pleconaril, interferons, etc.], steroids and corticosteroids such as prednisone, cortisone, fluticasone and glucocorticoid, antibiotics, analgesics, bronchodilators, or other treatments for respiratory and/or viral infections.
[0075] In a related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of the inventive hEbola virus described above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0076] In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a protein extract of the inventive hEbola virus described above or a subunit thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0077] In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, a combination thereof, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0078] In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the inventive nucleotide sequence as described above or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0079] In another related aspect, the invention provides an immunogenic formulation comprising an immunogenically effective amount of any of the inventive polypeptides described above.
[0080] In another aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising antiviral agents of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a specific embodiment, the antiviral agent of the invention is an antibody that immunospecifically binds hEbola virus or any hEbola epitope. In another specific embodiment, the antiviral agent is a polypeptide or protein of the present invention or nucleic acid molecule of the invention.
[0081] In a related aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of an anti-hEbola EboBun agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment of the present invention, the anti-hEbola EboBun agent is an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to the hEbola virus of Deposit Accession No. 200706291, or polypeptides or protein derived therefrom. In another, the anti-hEbola agent is a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, a combination thereof, or a fragment thereof.
In another, the anti-hEbola agent is a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10, a combination thereof, or a fragment thereof having a biological activity of the polypeptide.
[0082] The invention also provides kits containing compositions and formulations of the present invention. Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising a container containing the inventive immunogenic formulation described above.
[0083] In another aspect, the invention provides a kit includes a container containing the inventive vaccine formulation described above.
[0084] In another aspect, the invention provides a kit including a container containing the inventive pharmaceutical composition described above.
[0085] In another aspect, the invention provides a kit including a container containing the inventive vaccine formulation described above.
[0086] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for identifying a subject infected with the inventive hEbola virus described above, including: (a) obtaining total RNA
from a biological sample obtained from the subject; (b) reverse transcribing the total RNA to obtain cDNA; and (c) amplifying the cDNA using a set of primers derived from a nucleotide sequence of the inventive 5 hEbola virus described above.
[0087] In one embodiment of the present invention, the set of primers are derived from the nucleotide sequence of the genome of the hEbola virus of Deposit Accession No.
200706291. In another, the set of primers are derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID
NOs: 1 or 10 or any of the inventive nucleotide sequences as described above, or a complement thereof.
10 [0088] The invention further relates to the use of the sequence information of the isolated virus for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules which are suitable for use as primers consisting of or including the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 or 10, or a complement thereof, or at least a portion of the nucleotide sequence thereof. In another specific embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules 15 which are suitable for hybridization to the inventive hEbola nucleic acid;
including, but not limited to PCR primers, Reverse Transcriptase primers, probes for Southern analysis or other nucleic acid hybridization analysis for the detection of hEbola nucleic acids, e.g., consisting of or including the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 10 a combination thereof, a complement thereof, or a portion thereof. The invention further encompasses chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded in 20 whole or in part by the nucleotide sequences.
[0089] In another aspect, the present invention provides methods for screening antiviral agents that inhibit the infectivity or replication of hEbola virus or variants thereof.
[0090] The invention further provides methods of preparing recombinant or chimeric forms of hEbola.
[0091] In another aspect, the invention provides vaccine preparations including the hEbola virus, including recombi