Immunological methodology for discerning human papillomavirus contemplating peptides from the E7 early coding region of HPV 16

Abstract

The invention provides peptides designed to be highly reactive with antibodies from patients infected with oncogenic HPV. Also disclosed is a method for their use in an immunoassay to detect HPV infection and HPV associated epithelial cell abnormalities, most notably those associated with premalignant and malignant epithelial cell lesions. The peptides and the disclosed method are particularly useful for diagnosing carcinomas of the uterine cervix, or pre-stages thereof, or those at risk of development of carcinoma. The detection can be effected on blood samples, or other bodily fluid or tissue, by ascertaining the presence of IgA or IgG antibodies against HPV 16 and/or 18.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 828,645, filed Apr. 5, 2001, and entitled “IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODOLOGY FOR DISCERNING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS,” which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 194,796, filed Apr. 5, 2000, and entitled “IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODOLOGY FOR DISCERNING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS,” which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of peptides reactive with antibodies directed against HPV. Some have termed this type of peptide as antigenic or immunoreactive. More particularly, the invention relates to peptides derived from the early coding region of the E2, E6, and E7 oncoproteins of human papillomavirus [HPV] and a method for their use for the diagnosis of HPV associated epithelial cell abnormalities via an immunoassay.

[0004] 2. The Background Art

[0005] The hu...

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