ADENOVIRUS STATUS AS A PREDICTOR OF BODY COMPOSITION CHANGE, DISEASE STATUS, AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES

• US 20090220946A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Obetech LLC
• Original Assignee: Obetech LLC
• Inventors: Dhurandhar, Nikhil V., ATKINSON, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US12/406,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20090220946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/005 from viruses
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2710/10322 New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2710/10332 Use of virus as therapeutic agent, other than vaccine, e.g. as cytolytic agent
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6883 for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/70 involving virus or bacteriophage immunoassay for viruses G01N33/56983

Abstract

Infection with obesifying adenoviruses in animals and humans may be used to predict changes in body weight and disease status. More particularly, infection with certain adenoviruses, such as adenovirus type 36 (Ad-36) and adenovirus type 37 (Ad-37) may cause removal of the normal equilibrium factors that control fat cell metabolism and may make individuals more responsive than normal individuals to perturbations, which cause body composition change including weight gain or weight loss.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether a subject will have an increased likelihood of an increased change in weight and/or body fat composition on a regimen, said method comprising the step of:

assaying a sample obtained from the subject for the presence of obesifying adenovirus nucleic acid sequences wherein the presence of the obesifying adenovirus nucleic acid sequences indicates an increased likelihood of an increased change in weight and/or body fat composition in the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obesifying adenovirus if adenovirus type 36.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the obesifying nucleic acid sequence comprises SEQ ID NO.:

1.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assaying step comprises one of a non-PCR based screening method or a PCR based screening method.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the increased change in weight and/or body fat composition is one of an increased loss in weight and/or body fat and an increased gain in weight and/or body fat.