Mammalian genes involved in viral infection and tumor suppression

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of identifying cellular genes necessary for viral growth and cellular genes that function as tumor suppressors. Thus, the present invention provides nucleic acids related to and methods of reducing or preventing viral infection or cancer. The invention also provides methods of producing substantially virus-free cell cultures and methods for screening for additional such genes.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 877,807, filed Jun. 25, 2004 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 509,712, filed Mar. 31, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,177) which is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT / US98 / 21276, filed Oct. 8, 1998 which is a continuation of U.S. Application No. 60 / 062,021, filed Oct. 10, 1997 and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 228,794 filed Aug. 27, 2002 which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 171,209 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,000) filed Mar. 8, 1999 which is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT / US97 / 06067 filed Apr. 11, 1997, which is a continuation of U.S. Application No. 60 / 015,334 filed Apr. 15, 1996 which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.[0002]This invention was made with partial government support under National Institutes of Health Grant No. CA68283 and a grant from the Department of Veteran...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides methods for identifying genes that are involved in viral infection or tumor progression. These methods allow for the isolation of nucleic acids that are necessary for viral growth or tumor progression, but not essential for cell survival. This makes these genes ideal targets for therapeutic intervention, as they can be inhibited without causing harmful side effects on the cell. The invention also provides methods for screening for additional such genes. Overall, this invention provides a more effective and specific way to identify and treat viral infections and tumors.

Problems solved by technology

However, most methodologies provide nucleotide sequences for which no function is linked or even suggested, thus limiting the immediate usefulness of such data.

Viral infections are significant causes of human morbidity and mortality.

For example, evidence suggests that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is more lytic for T cells than for monocytes / macrophages, and therefore can result in a productive infection of T cells that can result in cell death, whereas HIV-infected mononuclear phagocytes may produce virus for considerable periods of time without cell lysis.

However, the current methods have several limitations and drawbacks which include high rates of viral mutations which render anti-viral pharmaceuticals ineffective.

For immune modulators, limited effectiveness, limiting side effects, a lack of specificity all limit the general applicability of these agents.

Also the rate of success with current antivirals and immune-modulators has been disappointing.