TYPE I INTERFERON-INDUCIBLE PROTEINS TO DETECT VIRAL INFECTION
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) TitleTYPE I INTERFERON-INDUCIBLE PROTEINS TO Db I bCT VIRAL INFECTION (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) CI A method for determining the presence of a viral infection in an animal not known to have been infected with a virus or other disease-causing microbial organism by determining the level of Mx protein or other Type I Interferon-inducible protein in the animal. Claims:1. A method for determining the presence of a viral infection in an animal comprising determining the level of expression of Mx protein in a test animal and comparing the level of expression of said protein in the animal to that of an animal of the same species of which the viral-infection status is known, wherein the test animal is not known to have been infected with a virus or other disease-causing microbial organism.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the test animal is not showing any clinical signs consistent with a viral infection.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the test animal is a mammal.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mammal is a member of the order perissodactyla or artiodactyla.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine, and llamas.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the mammal is a carnivore. <Desc/Clms Page number 19> 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the carnivore is a member of the family of canidae or felidae.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the mammal is a primate.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the primate is a human.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of expression of Mx protein is determined by determining the level of mRNA coding for Mx protein.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the determination of mRNA is by Northern blot analysis, slot-blot analysis, or polymerase chain reaction.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of expression of Mx protein is determined by determining the level of Mx protein.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determination of the level of Mx protein is by evaluating the binding of an antibody to the protein or by an assay based on a function of the protein. <Desc/Clms Page number 20> 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the level of Mx protein is detected by a colorimetric assay.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by determining the expression of the protein in a cell of the animal.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by analyzing a bodily fluid of the animal.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is determined to be viral-infection negative if the level of expression of the protein in the animal is not significantly elevated compared to the level of expression of the protein in an animal of the same species known not to be infected by a virus.
18. A kit for determining the viral-infection status of an animal, comprising a container for holding a test sample, one or more reagents which, when combined with the test sample in the container, enable an operator to visually determine the level of Mx protein in the test sample, and instructions for determining the viral-infection status of the animal based upon the level of Mx protein in the sample. <Desc/Clms Page number 21> 19. A kit for determining the viral-infection status of an animal, comprising a test surface that is bound to an antibody that will. bind to an epitope of Mx protein, a container housing a second labeled antibody that will bind to a second epitope of the protein, a container housing a standard sample having a baseline concentration of the protein, a reagent that when contacted to the labeled second antibody permits the relative amount of the protein present to be visualized, and instructions for use of the kit to determine whether a test sample contains an amount of the protein indicative of viral infection or lack of viral infection status.
20. A method for determining the presence of a viral infection in an animal comprising determining the level of expression of a Type I Interferon-inducible protein in a test animal and comparing the level of expression of said protein in the animal to that of an animal of the same species of which the viral-infection status is known, wherein the test animal is not known to have been infected with a virus or other disease-causing microbial organism.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the test animal is not showing any clinical signs consistent with a viral infection. <Desc/Clms Page number 22> 22. The method of claim 20 wherein the test animal is a mammal.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the mammal is a member of the order perissodactyla or artiodactyla.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine, and llamas.
25. The method of claim 22 wherein the mammal is a carnivore.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the carnivore is a member of the family of canidae or felidae.
27. The method of claim 22 wherein the mammal is a primate.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the primate is a human.
29. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by determining the level of mRNA coding for the protein. <Desc/Clms Page number 23> 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the determination of mRNA is by Northern blot analysis, slot-blot analysis, or polymerase chain reaction.
31. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by determining the level of the protein.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the determination of the level of Mx protein is by evaluating the binding of an antibody to the protein or by an assay based on a function of the protein.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the level of the protein is detected by a colorimetric assay.
34. The method of claim 20 wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by determining the expression of the protein in a cell of the animal.
35. The method of claim 20 wherein the level of expression of the protein is determined by analyzing a bodily fluid of the animal.
36. The method of claim 20 wherein the animal is determined to be viral-infection negative if the level of <Desc/Clms Page number 24> expression of the protein in the animal is not significantly elevated compared to the level of expression of the protein in an animal of the same species known not to be infected by a virus.
37. The method of claim 20 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of Mx protein, 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase, ss2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).
38. The method of claim 37 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase, ss2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).
39. The method of claim 38 wherein the protein is ISG- 17.
40. A kit for determining the viral-infection status of an animal, comprising a container for holding a test sample, one or more reagents which, when combined with the test sample in the container, enable an operator to visually determine the level of a Type I Interferon-inducible protein in the test sample, and instructions for determining the viral-infection status of the animal based upon the level of the protein in the sample. <Desc/Clms Page number 25> 41. The kit of claim 40 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of Mx protein, 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase, ss2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).
42. The kit of claim 41 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase, 2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).
43. The kit of claim 42 wherein the protein is ISG-17.
44. A kit for determining the viral-infection status of an animal, comprising a test surface that is bound to an antibody that will bind to an epitope of a Type I Interferoninducible protein, a container housing a second labeled antibody that will bind to a second epitope of the protein, a container housing a standard sample having a baseline concentration of the protein, a reagent that when contacted to the labeled second antibody permits the relative amount of the protein present to be visualized, and instructions for use of the kit to determine whether a test sample contains an amount of the protein indicative of viral infection or lack of viral infection status. <Desc/Clms Page number 26> 45. The kit of claim 44 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of Mx protein, 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase, 2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).
46. The kit of claim 45 wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of 2', 5' oligoadenylate synthetase, ss2-microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor 1, and ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG-17).
47. The kit of claim 46 wherein the protein is ISG-17.