Patent ID: 8032309
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: A61P,G16B,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying a combination of motifs which do not mutate simultaneously in a set of RNA virus sequences comprising: a) selecting a set of RNA virus sequences from a databank of viral polypeptides, b) aligning the set of RNA virus sequences of ordered motifs represented by a single-character code on a programmed computer using a multiple sequence alignment program, c) comparing a reference RNA virus sequence with the set of RNA virus sequences aligned in step (b) by forming a first numerical matrix A of dimensions N×M in which N designates a number of RNA virus sequences and M designates a number of motifs of one RNA virus sequence of said alignment, with value A forming two analysis matrices B and C of mutations in which: a matrix B of unmutated couples, of couples which do not mutate simultaneously, of dimension M×M, value B a matrix C of mutated couples of dimension M×M, value C determining for a set E of positions a coefficient R determining for a set F of positions, a coefficient R d) identifying motifs not having mutated simultaneously or motifs having mutated simultaneously at least once on at least one sequence of the set and not having mutated on another sequence of said set, e) selecting a combination of the motifs identified in step (d) which are in non-linear spatial proximity in a three-dimensional structure of the RNA virus polypeptide, and f) identifying the selected combination of motifs, wherein the selected combination of motifs is a combination of amino acid residues; whereby said method allows the identification of motifs corresponding to a potential vaccine target on a viral polypeptide.