MACROPHAGE DERIVED CHEMOKINE (MDC) AS AN ANTI-VIRAL AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF LENTIVIRUS INFECTIONS

摘要

The present invention relates to therapeutic compositions of macrophage derived chemokine (MDC) and methods for treating and preventing infection by a lentivirus, particularly an immunodeficiency virus, particularly HIV, using MDC proteins, nucleic acids and/or derivatives or analogues thereof. The present invention further relates to methods for detection and prognosis of lentivirus infection, particularly HIV infection using MDC as a prognostic indicator. The present invention further provides MDC proteins, nucleic acids encoding such proteins, that have amino-terminal sequences that differ from other MDC isolates. Recombinant host cells and methods of production are also provided.