Specific TT virus sequences and chimeric TT virus host cell DNA molecules for use in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer and autoimmunity

Abstract

Described are single-stranded new sequences of TT viruses, rearranged TTV sequences and hybrid molecules of a specific TT virus sequence and host cell DNA that are capable of replicating autonomously for use in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases like cancer and autoimmunity. In addition, it relates to the use of such molecules as gene vectors and artificial chromosomes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to single-stranded new sequences of TT viruses and hybrid molecules of a specific TT virus sequence and host cell DNA that are capable of replicating autonomously for use in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases like cancer and autoimmunity. In addition, it relates to the use of such molecules as gene vectors and artificial chromosomes.BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY[0002]Since their discovery in 1997 by Okamoto and colleagues TT viruses (TTV) have been found to be widely spread in all human populations, in domestic animals, and in old world primates (1,2). A large number of types and pseudotypes have been identified in humans, pointing to a remarkable heterogeneity of this virus family now being assigned as a new virus family, Anelloviridae (3). Viral DNA can be demonstrated in sera of almost every human being and some reports even document such DNA in newborn children and cord blood, suggesting prenatal transmission ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The implications of this model are profound. They reach from cancer prevention, early detection into cancer therapy. The important role of TTV infections and of the persistence of TTV HCR is stressed by the available information. Prevention of these infections should reduce the risk for the development of the described recombinants. The diagnosis of specific recombinants would probably contribute to cancer risk assessment. Profound implications would be expected for cancer therapy: the TTV HCR emerges as the prime determinant for the persistence and maintenance of the single-stranded episomes. Since this region appears to be part of an open reading frame, it should be vulnerable to small interfering RNAs or DNAs. Thus, it offers a suitable target for future therapeutic deliberations.

[0014]The models of the present invention for a role of TTV-host cell nucleic acid recombinants is based on the demonstration of the single-stranded chimeric molecules between the TTV HCR and host cell DNA and rearranged autonomously replicating TTV molecules of substantially reduced molecular weights. Both, the TTV oncogene concept and the TTV autoimmunity concept will clearly provide novel approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and in particular to therapy of these conditions and will improve the prognosis of the respective patients.

Problems solved by technology

In spite of the widespread occurrence of these viruses, intensive research performed during more than 10 years failed to demonstrate a pathogenic role of such infections in human disease.

In addition, TT viruses frequently reveal intramolecular rearrangements which lead to subviral DNA genomes in part defective and with novel open reading frames.

Yet, the ubiquity of these infections rendered an interpretation of these results rather difficult and did not permit a linkage of these observations with tumor development.

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