Patent ID: 7169581

Claim:
An isolated nucleic acid comprising at least one first oligonucleotide encoding one first polypeptide that binds IL-18, linked to at least one second oligonucleotide encoding one second polypeptide, wherein said first oligonucleotide is a DNA selected from the group consisting of: a) DNA comprising the coding region of the nucleotide sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:3; b) DNA that is complementary to DNA capable of hybridizing to the DNA of (a) under highly stringent conditions (hybridizing at 68° C. followed by washing in 0.1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 63–68° C.; and, c) DNA that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:4; and, wherein said second oligonucleotide is a DNA selected from the group consisting of: a′) DNA comprising the coding region of the nucleotide sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:1; b′) DNA that is complementary to DNA capable of hybridizing to the DNA of (a′) under highly stringent conditions hybridizing at 68° C. followed by washing in 0.1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 63–68° C.; and c′) DNA that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein a protein encoded by said nucleic acid binds IL-18 with an affinity greater than that of the first polypeptide.