New neurovirulent strain of West Nile virus, useful in diagnosis and screening for antiviral agents, also related nucleic acids, proteins and antibodies

摘要

Isolated strain (I) of West Nile virus (WNV) in which the genome comprises a 11029 base pairs sequence (S1), reproduced. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a nucleic acid (II) that is (S1), its fragments of at least 15 nucleotides (nt) or their complements or antisense sequences, excluding the fragment of Genbank AF205882; (2) a recombinant vector (III) containing (II); (3) eukaryotic cells (IV) transformed by (II), (III) or (I); (4) a protein or polypeptide (V) encoded by (II); (5) a mono- or poly-clonal antibody (VI) obtained by immunizing a non-human animal with (I), the (III) or (V); (6) a model (VII) for studying sensitivity/resistance to infection by Flaviviridae comprising at least one (I); (7) detecting (M1) infection by Flaviviridae, especially WNV; (8) screening (M2) for cellular genes implicated in mammalian resistance to Flaviviridae; (9) selecting (M3) molecules active against Flavivirus infection; and (10) a variant (VIII) of (I) in which the genome contains at least one mutation in the sequence encoding the NS5 protein.