COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ORTHOPOXVIRUSES

摘要

In particular aspects, the invention provides a novel approach for the systematic analysis and identification of biologically relevant epitopes (SABRE). SABRE-identified polypeptides have diagnostic (e.g., polypeptide arrays, etc.) and/or therapeutic (e.g., vaccines, etc.) utility, and utility for developing monoclonal antibodies having diagnostic and/or therapeutic utility (e.g. for detecting and/or preventing orthopoxvirus infection). Preferred aspects provide high-throughput assays for detecting specific orthopoxvirus infection, for detecting orthopoxvirus-specific immune response, or for dual (parallel) determination of both orthopoxvirus immune response and orthopoxvirus infection. Additional preferred and surprising aspects provide novel high-throughput methods for detecting 'protective immunity' against orthopoxviruses (e.g., for detecting protective immunity against smallpox virus and monkeypox virus), based on anti-vaccinia virus serum antibody levels. The inventive diagnostic assays are rapid, high-throughput and suitable for 'point-of-care' implementations.