INFECTIOUS CLONES OF TORQUE TENO VIRUS
The present invention is directed to novel nucleotide and amino acid sequences of Torque teno virus (“TTV”), including novel genotypes thereof, all of which are useful in the preparation of vaccines for treating and preventing diseases in swine and other animals. Vaccines provided according to the practice of the invention are effective against multiple swine TTV genotypes and isolates. Diagnostic and therapeutic polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are also a feature of the present invention, as are infectious clones useful in the propagation of the virus and in the preparation of vaccines. Particularly important aspects of the invention include polynucleotide constructs that replicate in tissue culture and in host swine. The invention also provides for novel full length TTV genomes that can replicate efficiently in host animals and tissue culture.
1 . An isolated polynucleotide that comprises a full length TTV genome, wherein both ends of the genome are flanked by the same repeated nucleotide sequence, wherein recombination of the repeat sequences permits production of a circular TTV genome that replicates in tissue culture or the cells of a live host.
2 . An isolated polynucleotide that comprises SEQ ID NO: 30.
3 . An isolated polynucleotide that comprises SEQ ID NO:31.
4 . An RNA polynucleotide molecule that is complement of any DNA polynucleotide sequence according to claim 1 .
5 . A vector or plasmid that comprises a polynucleotide according to claim 1 .
6 . A host cell that comprises a vector or plasmid according to claim 5 .
7 . A virus that be expressed from a polynucleotide sequence according to claim 1 , wherein said virus is live, or fully or partially attenuated.
8 . A vaccine comprising a virus according to claim 7 .
9 . A DNA vaccine that comprises a polynucleotide sequence of claim 1 .