Vascular endothelial growth factor-like protein from ORF viruses binds and activates mammalian VEGF receptor-2, and uses thereof

摘要

The invention is based on the discovery that a viral VEGF-like protein from the orf virus strain NZ2 and from the orf virus strain NZ10 is capable of binding to the extracellular domain of the VEGF receptor-2 to form bioactive complexes which mediate useful cellular responses and/or antagonize undesired biological activities. Disclosed are methods which stimulate or inhibit these biological activities, methods for therapeutic applications and antagonists of ORFV2-VEGF and/or NZ10.