GLYCOPROTEIN B OF THE RFHV/KSHV SUBFAMILY OF HERPES VIRUSES

This invention relates to polynuclelotides encoding Glycoprotein B from the RFHV/KSHV subfamily of gamma herpes viruses, three members of which are characterized in detail. DNA extracts were obtained from Macaque nemestrina and Macaque mulatta monkeys affected with retroperitoneal fibromatosis (RF), and human AIDS patients affected with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The extracts were amplified using consensus-degenerate oligonucleotide probes designed from known protein and DNA sequences of gamma herpes viruses. The nucleotide sequences of a 319 base pair fragment are about 76 percent identical between RFHV1 and KSHV, and about 60-63 percent identical with the closest related gamma herpes viruses outside the RFHV/KSHV subfamily. Protein sequences encoded within these fragments are about 91 percent identical between RFHV1 and KSHV, and < ~ 65 percent identical to that of other gamma herpes viruses. The full-length KSHV Glycoprotein B sequence comprises a transmembrane domain near the N-terminus, and a plurality of potentially antigenic sites in the extracellular domain. Materials and methods are provided to characterize Glycoprotein B encoding regions of members of the RFHV/KSHV subfamily, including but not limited to RFHV1, RFHV2, and KSHV Peptides, polynucleotides, and antibodies of this invention can be used for diagnosing infection, and for eliciting an immune response against Glycoprotein B. eliciting an immune response against Glycoprotein B. La invencion se refiere a polinucleotidos que codifican la glicoproteína B de la sub-familia RFHV/KSHV de los virus de herpes gama, cuyos tres miembros son caracterizados en detalle. Extractos de ADN fueron obtenidos de monos Macaque nemestrina y Macaque mulatta afectados por fibromatosis retroperitoeal (RF) y pacientes humanos de SIDA afectados por sarcoma de Kaposi (KS). Los extractos fueron amplificados usando sondas de oligonucleotidos degenerados en el consenso diseñadas a partir de proteínas y secuencias de ADN conocidas de virus de herpes gama. Las secuencias de nucleotidos de un fragmento de 319 pares de bases son alrededor de 76% idénticas entre RHFV1 y KSHV, y alrededor de 60-63% idénticas a los virus de herpes gama más estrechamente relacionados fuera de la sub-familia RFHV/KSHV. Secuencias de proteínas codificadas dentro de estos fragmentos son alrededor de 91% idénticas entre RFHV1/KSHV, y menos o aproximadamente 65% idénticas a las de otros virus de herpes gama. Las secuencias de proteínas codificadas dent