Viral obesity methods and compositions

• US 6,664,050 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Obetech LLC
• Original Assignee: Obetech LLC
• Inventors: Atkinson, Richard L., Dhurandhar, Nikhil V.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALIMI, ALI REZA
• Application Number:
  US09/619,117
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 435/5, 435/7.1, 435/235.1, 435/6, 435/345, 424/233.1, 424/204.1, 536/23.72, 530/328, 530/324
• US Class Current: 435/6.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies materials for immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/12 Viral antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/235 Adenoviridae
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/005 from viruses
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/081 from DNA viruses
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2317/76 Antagonist effect on antigen, e.g. neutralization or inhibition of binding
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2710/10321 Viruses as such, e.g. new isolates, mutants or their genomic sequences
• 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 2710/10334 Use of virus or viral component as vaccine, e.g. live-attenuated or inactivated virus, VLP, viral protein
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 7/00 Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof preparing medicinal viral antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. virus vaccines, A61K39/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6883 for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/701 Specific hybridization probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/075 Adenoviridae
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/044 Hyperlipemia or hypolipemia, e.g. dyslipidaemia, obesity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56983 Viruses

Abstract

source of viral induced obesity has been discovered. A virus known as AD-36P has been found to be associated with obesity in both animals and humans. Diagnostic DNA sequences are presented so that DNA based tests for the presence of the obesity associated virus can be conducted.

Claims

1. A method of determining whether an obese person is suffering from viral obesity caused by adenovirus type 36p, the method comprising the steps of isolating from the person a sample selected from the group consisting of a body fluid, feces, a sample of tissue and a sample of an organ from the person, obtaining an antibody specific to an adenovirus type 36p, and;

assaying the sample using the antibody to test for the presence of the adenovirus type 36p thus testing whether the person has been or is infected with adenovirus type 36p, which causes obesity and reduces cholesterol level in humans.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the substance analyzed is blood.

3. A method for the detection of virally caused obesity in an obese subject comprising the steps of

isolating a sample of biological tissue or fluid from the subject;

providing an antibody specific to adenovirus type 36p;

testing the sample, using the antibody diagnostic for adenovirus type 36p; and

detecting the presence of adenovirus type 36p to determine if the subject has viral induced obesity.