METHODS FOR DETECTION OF KAPOSI'S SARCOMA-ASSOCIATED HERPESVIRUS-LIKE VIRUS

摘要

The present invention discloses methods for the detection and identification of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-like Virus (KSHV)-specific nucleic acid sequences or proteins in biological samples derived from patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). KSHV-specific nucleic acid sequences are detected in these patients by the utilization of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify viral-specific sequences indigenous to the tissue/cells of theses aforementioned patients. The present invention also discloses several methods for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of patients with MM or MGUS. Potential treatment modalities disclosed in the present invention include, but are not limited to: (1) the use of inhibitory nucleic acids (INAs), such as "anti-sense" oligonucleotides, to inhibit various viral processes (e.g., DNA replication, mRNA transcription, and/or protein translation); (2) the use of viral-specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, or biologically-active fragments or derivatives thereof, the binding of which may be used to inhibit initial viral infection, replicative/protein synthetic processes, or for the "delivery" of anti-viral agents conjugated to a portion of the immunoglobulin; (3) the utilization of systemic anti-viral chemotherapeutic agents which inhibit viral infection or replicative/protein synthetic processes; and/or (4) the use of a KSHV-specific vaccine to inoculate individuals and elicit a prophylactic or therapeutic immune responses through the utilization of KSHV-specific nucleic acid sequences or recombinant proteins as inoculates to elicit such immune response(s).