Soluble rubella E1 envelope protein variants

US7604935B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Barbara Upmeier · Iffeldorf, DE
• Ralf Bollhagen · Penzberg, DE
• Alfred Engel · Tutzing, DE
• Elke Faatz · Huglfing, DE
• Peter Schaarschmidt · Ulm, DE
• Christian Scholz · Penzberg, DE
• Toralf Zarnt · Penzberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 23, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 20, 2009
• Expiry date: Jul 15, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S530/826
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A soluble rubella E1 antigen variant is disclosed that comprises amino acids 334-409 of the native rubella E1 peptide, but lacks the C-terminal end and at least the transmembrane region and the anchor segment as well as at least the amino acids 143 to 164. Also described is a recombinant DNA molecule encoding the rubella E1 antigen variants which are recombinantly expressed as a chaperone fusion protein, refolded into a soluble and immunoreactive conformation, and further used for the serological detection of anti-rubella antibodies. In addition, also disclosed is a method for the detection, determination and quantification of anti-rubella antibodies of IgG and/or IgM subclass in a sample wherein the rubella E1 antigen is used as a capture reagent and/or binding partner for the antibodies.