Patent ID: 7060810

Claim:
A polynucleotide encoding a protease comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, (ii) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:56, (iii) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:58, (iv) an amino acid sequence that shares at least 98% amino acid sequence identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, and (v) an amino acid sequence that shares at least 96% amino acid sequence identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:56, wherein the encoded protease is capable of inducing the expression of one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of chemokines RANTES, IL-8, cytokine 1L-6, cell surface receptor CD40, and p75TNFR when the encoding polynucleotide is expressed in A549 lung epithelial cells.