NZ263985A

NZ263985A - Oligonucleotide complementary to an essential amino acid sequence of influenza virus

Info

Publication number: NZ263985A
Application number: NZ263985A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Sudhir Agrawal; Jin-Yan Tang; Abeysinghe Padmapriya
Original assignee: Hybridon Inc
Priority date: 1993-03-31
Filing date: 1994-03-30
Publication date: 1997-07-27
Also published as: EP0693123A1; WO1994023028A3; WO1994023028A2; JPH08510900A; CA2159350A1; CN1124980A; AU6527094A

Description

New Zealand No. 263985 International No. PCT/US94/03454 Priority Date(s): Complete Specification Fi'id: Class: afeU^ll.lo Publication Daie:...?..?.. 1 M.J??? P.O. Journal No: .Ihir.L? NO DRAWINGS NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Modified oligonucleotides having improved anti-influenza activity Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: HYBRIDON INC, of One Innovation Drive, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States of America A Co—f '/• Pa I 'cj by p^^<2. //Q WO 94/23(28 FCI7US94ttMS4 MODXFXED OLIGONUCLEOTIDES HAVING IMPROVED AHTX-XNFL0EN2A ACTIVITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tl«ld Of Th« Invntien The invention relatee to anti-eense oligonucleotides. More particularly, the invention relates to modified oligonucleotides that are cepable of inhibiting replication or propagation of influence virus. fflminr QT Ttii Rtlattfl Art Xnfluenxa A virus is a membrane-enclosed virus whose 9HMM is a segmented minus strand of RNA. The ten influenza virus genes are present on eight segments of the single-stranded MA of strains A and B, and on seven segments of strain C. The segments are of varying sises (ranging from 890 to 2341 nucleotides in length) and each is a template for synthesis for a different mXNA. The influenza virus virion contains virus-specific ska polymerases necessary for mRHA synthesis from these templates and, in the absence of such specific polymerases/ the minus strand of influenza virus RNA is not infectious. Initiation of transcription of the mRNAs occurs when the influenza virus mRNA polymerase takes 12 to 15 nucleotides from the 5* end of a cellular mRNA or mRNA precursor and uses the borrowed oligonucleotide as a primer. Generally/ the mRNAs made through this process encode only one protein. The M RNA and the NS RNA also encode spliced mRNAs, which results in production of two different proteins for eacn of these two segments.

Influenza viruses infect humans and animals (e.g., pigs, birds, horses) and may cause acute respiratory disease. There have been numerous attempts to produce vaccines effective against influenza virus. None, however, have been completely successful, particularly on a long-term basis. This may be due, at least in part, to the segmented characteristic of the influenza virus genome, which makes it possible, through reassortment of the segments, for numerous forms to exist. For example, it has been suggested that there could be an interchange of RNA segment between animal and human influenza viruses, which would result in the introduction of new antigenic subtypes into both populations. Thus, a long-term vaccination approach has failed, due to the emergence of new subtypes (antigenic "shift"). In addition, the surface proteins of the virus, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, constantly undergo minor antigenic changes (antigenic "drift"). This high degree of variation explains why specific immunity developed against a particular influenza virus does not establish protection against new variants. Hence, alternative antiviral strategies are needed. Although influenza B and C viruses cause less clinical disease than the A types, chemical antivirals should also be helpful in curbing infections caused by these agents.

Consequently, there is considerable interest in the development of anti-sense oligonucleotides that are capable of inhibiting the replication or propagation of influenza virus. Such anti-sense oligonucleotides hold the promise of providing broader protection against different strains of influenza, because they can be designed to hybridize to conserved regions of the influenza genome that are present in multiple strains of influenza virus.

Agrawal et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,194,428 the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses oligonucleotides having certain modified internucleotide linkages that are capable of inhibiting influenza replication by hybridizing to the influenza PBl polymerase gene. Cowsert et al., W092/03454 (1992) discloses antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit influenza virus propagation by hybridizing to the influenza polymerase 1, 2 or 3, or the hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, neuraminidase, matrix protein, or nonstructural WOMOMtt FCT/US94/034M protein gene, or to various aplice junction aitas or packaging ■•quancaa.

Pederaon at al., U.S. Patent Noa. 5,149,797 and 5,220,007. the taachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference, diacloaes chiaeric mixed phosphate backbone oligonucleotides having HMaae B activating aegaents adjacent to KNase H inactivating aegaenta.

Thus, anti-aenae oligonucleotidea 'ihow promise aa anti-influanza tlierapeutic agenta. Aa with any such agents, however, there reaains a need for improved agents that have even greater efficacy in inhibiting influenza virus replication or propagation. Such improved anti-sense oligonucleotidea would be useful for studying which regiona of the influenza virua genoae are the beat candidatae for broad cross-strain inhibition as vail as for use, and as anti-influensa therapeutic agenta. ' r >^T OFFICE ^ MAY 1997 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides modified oligonucleotides having greater efficacy in inhibiting the replication or propagation of influenza virus than previously known oligonucleotides. These modified oligonucleotides are characterized by having a nucleotide sequence sufficiently complementary to an essential nucleic acid of influenza virus origin to hybridize -o such influenza virus nucleic acid in a cell. In preferred embodiments, the essential nucleic acid is a portion of the PB1, 2 or 3 polymerase gene or to the hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, neuraminidase, matrix protein, or nonstructural protein gene of influenza or to the various influenza splice junction sites or packaging sequences.

In various embodiments, modified oligonucleotides according to the invention have one or more type of modified internucleotide linkage. In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the modified internucleotide linkages are phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages. In certain preferred embodiments, phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages are present in a modified oligonucleotide that also contains other modified, i.e. nonphosphodiester, linkages. Preferably these other modified internucleotide linkages are alkylphosphonate or alkylphosphonothioate linkages. Most preferably, these other modified internucleotide linkages are present at or near one or both ends of the oligonucleotide.

In additional preferred embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention, phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages are present in an oligonucleotide having one or more modified nucleoside. Preferably, such modified nucleoside is a 2'-0 alkyl nucleoside. Host preferably, at least some modified nucleosides are present at or near one or both ends of the oligonucleotide.

In yet additional preferred embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention, j >sphorothioate or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages are present in an oligonucleotide having an exonuclease resistance-conferring cap structure at one or both ends. Preferably, such a cap structure is present at least at the 3' end of the molecule. Such cap structures may also be present at one or both ends of all embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention and preferably are present at least at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide.

In further preferred embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention, phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages are present in an oligonucleotide that is self-stabilized by having a self-complementary region involving nucleotides at or near one or both ends, and preferably at least at or near the 3' end, whereby the oligonucleotide forms a hairpin-like structure.

Each of these modified oligonucleotides according to the invention provides greater efficacy in inhibiting replication or propagation of influenza than any Jcnown oligonucleotide or modified oligonucleotide that hybridizes to the same gene. Each of these modified oligonucleotides according to the invention may optionally also contain other modifications to the sugars or bases of the oligonucleotide and may also optionally have additional internucleotide linkages other than phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, alkylphosphonate or alkylphosphonothioate linkages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the nucleotide sequence of an influenza virus PB1 (polymerase 1) gene, against which complementary antisense oligonucleotides can be prepared.

Figure 2 shows a self-stabilized anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows an alternative form of a self-stabilized anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows certain preferred cap structures that confer exonucle&se resistance upon oligonucleotides.

Figure 5 shows in vivo nucleolytic degradation patterns for 5'-capped, 3'-capped and uncapped oligonucleotides.

Figure 6 shows DNA Polymerase I 31-exonuclease degradation patterns for self-stabilized and non-self-stabilized oligodeoxynucleotide phosphodiesters.

Figure 7 shows DNA Polymerase I 31-exonuclease degradation patterns for self-stabilized and non-self-stabilized oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioates. ?6 3 9 P - WO 94/2M24 FCT/USMAB4M DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TBB PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Tha invention relates to anti-aenaa oligonucleotidea having antl-influenca activity. Modified oligonucleotides having in vivo activity against influanza are referred to harain as anti-influanza modified ollgonuclaotidas. Tha invantion provides anti-influanza modified oligonucleotides that hava graatar efficacy in Inhibiting replication or propagation of influanza virus than known ollgonuclaotidas or modified oligonucleotides that hybridize to tha eame gene. Modified oligonucleotidea according to tha invention have specific preferred characteriatice that are discussed in greater detail for each preferred embodiaent below. In addition to these characteristics, aodifiad oligonucleotidea according to the invention may optionally have additional ribonucleotide, 2'-substituted ribonucleotide, and/or deoxyribonucleotide monomers, any of which are connected together via 5* to 3' linkages which may include any of the internucleotide linkages known in the art. Preferably, such modified oligonucleotides aay optionally contain pbosphodiester, phosphotriestar, phosphoramidate, siloxane, carbonate, carboxyaethylestar, acataaidate, carbamate, thioether, bridged phosphoramidate, bridged methylene phoaphonate, bridged phosphoramidate, bridged methylene phosphonate, bridged phosphorothioate and/or sulfone internucleotide linkages. Those skilled in the art win WO 94/23028 PCT/US94/03454 recognize that the synthesis of oligonucleotides containing any of these internucleotide linkages is well known to those skilled in the art, as is illustrated by articles by Uhlmann and Peyman, Chemical Reviews jj)0:543-584 (1990) and Schneider and Banner, Tetrahedron Lett. 31:335 (1990). Preferably, modified oligonucleotides according to the invention should contain from about 6 to about 100 monomers in total. Such modified oligonucleotides may also optionally contain modified nucleic acid bases and/or sugars, as well as added 10 substituents, such as diamines, cholesteryl or other lipophilic groups.

Various preferred embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention are illustrated in Table I, below. Although these embodiments all have a 15 nucleotide sequence from the same region of the influenza PB1 ^ polymerase gene, those skilled in the art will recognize that the anti-influenza efficacy of oligonucleotides having nucleotide sequences complementary to other essential nucleic acid sequences of influenza virus can also be enhanced by 20 ^ incorporating into such oligonucleotides the structural features of preferred embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention. For purposes of the invention, complementary means having a sequence that hybridizes to the essential nucleic acid sequence under physiological 25 conditions. An essential nucleic acid sequence of influenza virus means a nucleic acid sequence that is required for replication or propagation of influenza virus. Such essential nucleic acid sequences can be from any known strain of influenza virus. For example such oligonucleotides can have ether sequences from the influenza PB1 polymerase gene (polymerase 1), as shown in Table I of U.S. Patent No. 5,194,428, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Indeed, any sequence from the influenza PB1 (polymerase 1) gene [SEQ. ID. No. 1] (see Figure 1) should serve as the basis for modified oligonucleotides according to the invention. Alternatively, sequences from other influenza sequences or genes can be used (see Table II) . As a practical matter, the structural features of preferred embodiments of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention should enhance the anti-influenza activity of any antisense oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes in a cell with any essential nucleic acid sequence of influenza virus.

Each preferred embodiment of modified oligonucleotides according to the invention is separately discussed in greater detail below. - 12 -TABLE I Modified Oliaonucleo-tides Having Superior Anti-Influenza Activity Compound Sequence and Identification Structure TSEQ. ID NO. 1 CMPD A CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA1 [SEQ. ID NO. 2] CMPD B CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA8 [SEQ. ID NO. 3] CMPD C CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA3 TSEQ. ID NO. 4] CMPD D CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA8 [SEQ. ID NO. 53 CMPD E CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA2 [SEQ. ID NO. 6] CMPD F CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA3 [SEQ. ID NO. 7] CMPD G CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA8 [SEQ. ID NO. 8] CMPD H CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA3 [SEQ. ID NO. 9] CMPD I CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA-C124 [SEQ. ID NO.

] CMPD J AGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAG5 [SEQ. ID NO. 12] CMPD K GAGCAAAATCATCAGAA3 [SEQ. ID NO. 14] CMPD L CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA3 [SEQ. ID NO.

] CMPD M CAGAGCAAAATCA^CAGAAGATTCTGATGA5 [SEQ. ID NO. 16] 6 3 WO 94/ZM2S FCT/USP4/I8454 0 All sequences shown 5' to 3'; nonunderlined regions are oligonucleotide phoophorothioataa. 1 Underscoring raprasants.nuclaotidaa connected by aethylphoaphonate lntamuclaotida llnlcaga. 2 Undaracoring rapraaants nucleotides connected by aathylphosphonothioata linkage. 3 Undaracoring raprasants 2'-OMa nucleotides. 4 Cj, raprasants a 3' cap structure.

Self-etabilixed.

TABLE II Additional Anti-Influenza Oligonucleotide Potential Sequences Sequence CTT TCC ATA TTG AAT ATA AT ACA TCC ATT CAA ATG GTT TG TCT TCC ATT TTG GAT CAG TA GCC TTC ATT TTG GTT GTT TT GAC GCC ATG ATT TTG ATG TC GGA TTC ATT TTA AAC CCC TG AGA CTC ATC TTT CAA TAT CT GAT AGA GAG AAC GTA CGT TT TCT GAT AGG CCT GCA AAT TT GGA TCC ATT ATG TCT TTG TC CAT GTC GGT TAG GTA ACG CG GCA ATC TAC CTG AAA GCT TG AGC AGT ATG TCC TGG AAG AG AAA ACG ACC TTG TTT CTA CT Target rSEO. ID. No.1 AUG segment 1 [SEQ. ID. No. 17] polymerase 3 AUG segment 2 [SEQ. ID. No. 18] polymerase 1 AUG segment 3 [SEQ. ID. No. 19] polymerase 2 AUG segment 4 [SEQ. ID. No. 20] hemagglutinin AUG segment 5 [SEQ. ID. No. 21] nucleoprotein AUG segment 6 [SEQ. ID. No. 22] neuraminidase AUG segment 7 [SEQ. ID. No. 23] matrix protein left splice [SEQ. ID. No. 24] junction segment 7 right splice [SEQ. ID. No. 25] junction segment 7 AUG segment 8 [SEQ. ID. No. 26] nonstructural protein splice branch [SEQ. ID. No. 27] segment 8 right splice [SEQ. ID. No. 28] junction segment 8 l«ft splice [SEQ. ID. No. 29] junction segment 8 packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 30] sequence segment 1 AAA AAT GCC TTG TTC CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 31] sequence segment 2 - 15 -• AAA AGT ACC TTG: TTT CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 32] sequence segment 3 AAA ACA CCC TTG TTT CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 33] sequence segment 4 AAA ATA CCC TTG TTT CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 34] sequenc segment 5 AAA AAC TCC TTG TTT CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 35] sequence segment 6 AAA ACT ACC TTG TTT CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 36] sequence segment 7 AAA ACA CCC TTG TTT CTA CT packaging [SEQ. ID. No. 37] sequence segment 8 In a first preferred embodiment, anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention are in the form of a mixed backbone chimeric oligonucleotide having one or more regions of nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages ("phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region") as well as one or more regions of nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonate internucleotide linkages ("alkylphosphonate region"). In this embodiment, at least one alkylphosphonate region preferably includes nucleotides at or near the 5' end and/or the 3' end of the oligonucleotide. For purposes of the invention, "at or near the 5' or the 3' end of the oligonucleotide" means involving at least one nucleotide within about 5 nucleotides from the 5• or 3' end of the oligonucleotide. Preferably, the alkylphosphonate region comprises from about 2 to about io contiguous nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonate linkages. Preferably, the phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises at least 3, and up to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages. An example of an anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide according to this embodiment of the invention is shown in Table I as CMPD A.

Anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are synthesized by solid phase methods, alternating H-phosphonate chemistry and sulfur oxidation for phosphorothioate regions, and alkylphosphonamidate chemistry for alkylphosphonate regions. A preferred H-phosphonate approach is taught by Agrawal et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,149,798, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Alkylphosphonamidite chemistry is well known in the art, as illustrated by Agrawal and Goodchild, Tetrahedron Lett. 211:3539-3542 (1987). Synthesis of phosphorodithioate-containing oligonucleotides is also well known in the art, as illustrated by U.S. Patent No. 5,151,510, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference (See also, e.g.. Marshall and Caruthers, Science 259: 1564-1570 (1993) and references cited thertin).

In a second preferred embodiment, anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention are in the form of a mixed backbone chimeric oligonucleotide having one or more region of nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages ("phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region*1) , as well as one or more region of nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonothioate or arylphosphonothioate internucleotide linkages ("alkylphosphonothioate region"). In this embodiment, at least one alkylphosphonothioate region preferably includes nucleotides at or near the 5 • end and/or the 31 end of the oligonucleotide. Preferably, the alkylphosphonothioate region 10 comprises from about 2 to about 10 contiguous nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonothioate linkages. Preferably, the phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises at least 3, and up to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages. Examples 15 _ of anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are shown in Table I as CMPD B, CMPD E and CMPD F.

Anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are synthesized by solid 20 ^ phase methods, alternating chemistries for each region to be synthesized. Phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate regions are synthesized as described for the first embodiment. Alkylphosphonothioate regions are synthesized by coupling together two or more nucleosides via alkylphosphite linkages, 25 then oxidatively thiolating the alkylphosphite linkages to produce alkylphosphonothioate linkages. This synthesis procedure is set forth in detail in Example 1.

In a third preferred embodiment, anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention are in the form of a hybrid oligonucleotide having regions of deoxyribonucleotides ("deoxyribonucleotide regions") and regions of ribonucleotides or 21-substituted ribonucleotides ("ribonucleotide regions"). Preferably, from about one to about all of the internucleotide linkages are phosphorothioate 10 or phosphorodithioate linkages. Preferred 21-substituted ribonucleotides are halo, amino, alkyl, aryl or lower alkyl (1-6 carbon atoms) substituted ribonucleotides, especially 2*-OMe-ribonucleotides. Preferably, at least some of the ribonucleotide regions include nucleotides present at or near 15 the 5* end and/or the 3' end of the oligonucleotide. Host preferably, the ribonucleotide regions each comprise from about 2 and preferably from about 4 to about 100 contiguous ribonucleotides and/or 2•-substitute oligonucleotides. The deoxyribonucleotide regions are optional, and when present may 20 contain from albout 1 to about 100 contiguous deoxyribo nucleotides. Examples of anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are shown in Table I as CMPD C, CMPD D, CMPD G, CMPD H, CMPD K, CMPD M and CMPD N.

Anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are typically synthesized by solid phase methods, preferably by the H-phosphonate approach, using deoxynucleotide H-phosphonates for deoxyribonucleotide regions, and ribonucleotide or 2•-substituted ribonucleotide H-phosphonates for ribonucleotide regions.

In a fourth preferred embodiment, anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention are in the form of an oligonucleotide having at its 5 • and/or 3' end a cap structure that confers exonuclease resistance to the oligonucleotide. Such modified oligonucleotides preferably also have from 1 to about all modified (non-phosphodiester) internucleotide linkage. Preferred cap structures include those shown in Figure 4, as well as lower alkyl (C1-C12) or alcohol groups. Preferred modified internucleotide linkages includephosphotriester, phosphoramidate, siloxane, carbonate, carboxymethylester, acetamidate, carbamate, thioether, bridged phosphoramidate, bridged methylene phosphonate, bridged phosphorothioate, sulfone, phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate linkages.

Anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are synthesized according to procedures well known in the art (see e.g.. Uhlmann and Peyman, Chemical Reviews ££:543-584 (1990); Schneider and Banner, Tetrahedron Lett. 21:335 (1990)). For oligonucleotides having cap structures at the 3' end, the cap structure is reversibly attached to the solid support and is then coupled to the first nucleotide monomer in the synthesis scheme. For oligonucleotides having cap structures at the 5' end, the cap structure is coupled to the end of the oligonucleotide after addition of the last nucleotide monomer in the synthesis scheme.

In a fifth embodiment, anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides are self-stabilized by having a self-complementary region that hybridizes intramolecularly with the oligonucleotide to form em exonuclease resistant hairpin-like structure. Anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to this embodiment of the invention are generally characterized by having two regions: an influenza hybridizing region and a self-complementary region. The influenza hybridizing region has a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to am essential nucleic acid sequence of influenza virus. Preferably, this region has from about 6 to about 100 nucleotides. One form of this embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2. In this form, the influenza hybridizing region is shown as connected rectangular squares, and the self-complementary region is shown as connected circles. The complementary nucleic acid sequence in a target influenza messenger RNA molecule is represented by connected diamonds. Hydrogen bonding between nucleotides is indicated by dots. The oligonucleotide is stabilized, i.e.. rendered resistant to exonucleolytic degradation by base-pairing between the target hybridizing region and the self-complementary region and/or by base-pairing between complementary sequences within the self-complementary region. When the oligonucleotide encounters an influenza nucleic acid molecule having a complementary nucleic acid sequence, base-pairing between the influenza hybridizing region and the self-complementary region of the oligonucleotide is disrupted and replaced by base-pairing between the influenza hybridizing region of the oligonucleotide and the complementary nucleic acid sequence of the nucleic acid molecule. This disruption and replacement of base-pairing takes place because the intermolecular base-paired structure formed by the hybrid between the target nucleic acid sequence and the target hybridizing region is more thermodynamically stable than the intramolecular base-paired structure formed by the self-complementary oligonucleotide.

A second form of an oligonucleotide according to this embodiment of the invention operates in a similar way as the first form, but forms a different structure upon self-complementary base-pairing. This alternative form forms a hammer-like structure as shown in Figure 3. In this form, the self-complementary region contains oligonucleotide sequences that can base pair with other oligonucleotide sequences within the self-complementary region. The self-complementary region may also contain oligonucleotide sequences that are complementary to the influenza hybridizing region.

The second significant region of self-stabilized oligonucleotides according to the invention is the self-complsmentary region. The self-complementary region contains oligonucleotide sequences that are complementary to other oligonucleotide sequences within the oligonucleotide. These other oligonucleotide sequences may be within the influenza hybridizing region or within the self-complementary region, or they may span both regions. The complementary sequences form base pairs, resulting in the formation of a hairpin structure, as shown in Figure 2, or a hammer-like structure, as shown in Figure 3. Either the hairpin structure or the hammer-like structure can have loops resulting from non-base-paired nucleotides, as shown in Figure 2 for the hairpin structure, or can be devoid of such loops, as shown in Figure 3 for the hammer-like structure. The number of base-pairs to be formed by intra-molecular hybridization involving the self-complementary region may vary, but should be adequate to maintain a double-stranded structure so that the 3' end is not accessible to endonucleases. Generally, about 4 or more base-pairs will be necessary to maintain such a double-stranded structure. In a preferred embodiment, there are about 10 intramolecular base-pairs formed in the self-stabilized oligonucleotide, with the 10 base pairs being consecutive and involving the 3'-most nucleotides. Of course, the intramolecular base-pairing can be so extensive as to involve every nucleotide of the oligonucleotide. Preferably, this will involve a self-complementary region of about 50 nucleotides or less.

Oligonucleotides according to this embodiment may have from 1 to about all modified internucleotide linkages, as described for the fourth embodiment. Preferably, at least 10 either the influenza hybridizing region or the self- complementary region, and most preferably both, will contain from about 2 to about all nucleotides being coupled by phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate linkages.

An example of an anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide 15 according to this embodiment of the invention is shown in Table I as CMPD O.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the features of the various preferred embodiments described above can be combined to produce additional embodiments that may have even 20 w greater anti-influenza activity. Thus, the invention contemplates anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides having every possible combination of chimeric features, hybrid features, cap structures and self-stabilizing character, all as described herein.

Each of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has greater ability to inhibit influenza replication or propagation than anti-sense oligonucleotides of the prior art that hybridize to the same influenza mRNA. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,194,428, teaches modified oligonucleotides that inhibit influenza virus replication. Among those modified oligonucleotides are oligonucleotide phosphorothioates that hybridize to the influenza PB1 (polymerase 1) gene. In the present study, an oligonucleotide phosphorothioate that hybridizes to the influenza PB1 polymerase gene was tested for its ability to inhibit influenza virus replication in comparison with various preferred embodiments of the present invention. Each embodiment of the present invention tested demonstrated surprisingly improved efficacy in anti-influenza activity, relative to the oligonucleotide phosphorothioate that binds to the same site on the same gene. As shown in Table III, below, anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention gave a reduction in the 50 per cent inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 2 to nearly fifteen fold. - 25 -TABLE III Anti-Influenza Activity Of Oligonucleotide Oligonucleotide fill/1"1) X r—1!—2—1—d Improvement CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA1 317 2 CMPD A N.T.

CMPD B 34 9.3 CMPD C 55 5.8 CMPD D 582 5.5 CMPD E N.T.

CMPD F 178 1.8 CMPD G 147 2.2 CMPD H 59 5.4 CMPD I 45 7.0 CMPD J 272 11.7 CMPD K 222 14.4 CMPD L 61 5.2 CMPD M 175 1.8 CMPD N 104J 3.0 CMPD O 23J 13.8 1 oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioate control 2 average of two experiments Such oligonucleotides are useful for a variety of purposes. First, they can be uped in studies to determine which influenza genes and sites within such genes provide the best basis for anti-sense oligonucleotides having broad effectiveness against multiple strains of influenza virus. Second, they can be used to determine what structural features or combination of structural features provide the greatest effectiveness against influenza in vitro and in vivo. Finally, such oligonucleotides are useful as therapeutic agents for treating influenza infections. For such treatment, oligonucleotides may be administered intraperitoneally, intranasally, orally or anally. Preferably, such oligonucleotides will be administered at a concentration of from about 1 to about 50 mg/kg body weight.

The following examples are intended to further illustrate certain preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to be limiting in nature.

EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis Of A Chimeric Oligonucleotide Having MethvlPhosohonate And Phosphorothioate Regions Chimeric oligonucleotides having methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate regions were synthesized using methylphosphonamindites for methylphosphonate regions and nucleoside H-phosphonates for phosphorothioate regions.

Methylphosphonamidite synthesis was as follows: Methylchloro-N, N-diisopropylaminosphophine was prepared by reaction of methyldichlorophosphine (51 mmol) with diisopropylamine (102 mmol) in ether at 15* under nitrogen. After removal of salt by filtration and evaporation of solvent, methylchloro-NjN-diisopropylaminophosphine was obtained as an oil (48 mmol, 95% of theory) that was characterized by *H and S1P NMR and was stable at -20* for at least eight weeks. The product was reacted with the usual protected nucleosides in dichloromethane containing N, N-diisopropylethylamine at room temperature for 10-20 min. Aqueous work up and precipitation from ethyl acetate using pentane at -30* to -40* gave product as white solids in 80-90% yield. Products were pure by tic on silica in CH3Cl3:EtOAc:EtsN(9:9:2) and were characterized by 1H and S1P NMR.

These products were used in automated DNA synthesizer using the same conditions and program used for standard phosphoramidite reagents. Nucleotides were dissolved in acetonitile at a concentration of 33 mg/ml emd activated with tetrazole. Synthesis on prepacked CPG support was performed using a coupling time of 1 minute.

Coupling efficiency was followed by the dmethoxytrityl assay and was found to be the same as for control syntheses run in parallel using phosphoreunidites.

After coupling, the product was detriylated then cleaved from the support with NH4OH at room temperature for 2 hrs and deblocked using ethylenediamine: ethanol (1:1) at room temperature for 4 hrs. This basic treatment caused about 1% degradation of the intemucldoside phosphonate group in a model study assayed by HPLC.

H-phosphonate synthesis was as exemplified in U.S. Patent No. 5,149,798, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Then, the H-phosphonates were converted to phosphorthioates by oxidation with 0.2 M sulfur in carbon disulfide/pyridine/triethylamine (9:9:1 vol/vol).

EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis Of A Chimeric Oligonucleotide Having Methvlphosphonothioate And Phosphorothioate Regions For preparing a modified oligonucleotide having regions of four contiguous nucleotide methylphosphonothioates at either end and a region of 12 contiguous oligonucleotide phosphorothioates in the middle, the following procedure on 8 micromole scale was used. A first monomer was pre-bound to a control pore glass (CP6) solid support. A second monomer, which was a deoxynucleotide methylphosphonamidite, was coupled to the first monomer using a standard amidite coupling cycle (see e.g.. Agrawal and Goodchild, Tetrahedron Lett. 28:3539-3542 (1987)). In separate cycles, three more deoxynucleotide methylphoshonanddites were sequentially coupled to the growing chain. Then oxidative thiolation was carried out, using 1% Beaucage reagent (3H-l,2-benzodithiole-2-one) in acetonitrile for 5 minutes at ambient temperature to generate a CPG-bound pentanucleotide methylphosphonothioate. The next 12 monomers were added sequentially by the H-phosphonate approach of Agrawal and Zamecnik, U.S. Patent No. 5,149,798, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Then, the H-phosphonates were converted to phosphorothioates by oxidation with 0.2 M sulfur in carbon disulfide/pyridine/ triethylamine (9:9:1 vol/vol). The final four monomers, which were deoxynucleotide methylphosphonothioates, were added, then oxidatively thiolated as described above. The resulting oligonucleotide was deprotected at room temperature for 30 minutes in C.5 ml ethylene diamine, then kept at room temperature for 6 hours with occasional stirring. Finally, the mixture was filtered and evaporated in vacuo to obtain a solid mass and the mass was dissolved in water and desalted on Sep Pak C18.

EXAMPLE ? Resistance Of Oligonucleotides Having Methvlphosphonothioate Linkages To Nucleolvtic Degradation Oligonucleotides having 2-4 contiguous deoxynucleotide methylphosphonates at 31 ends and otherwise having all deoxynucleotide phosphodiesters were tested for their relative resistance to 3' exonucleolytic degradation compared with an oligonucleotide phosphodiester. For each oligonucleotide, 0.4 Aro, units of oligonucleotide was lyophilized, dissolved in 0.5 ml buffer (10 mM Tris, 10 mM MgCl,, pH 8.5) and mixed with 5 til (1.5 milliunits) of snake venom phosphodiesterase. The mixture was incubated at 37°c in a thermally regulated cell and Ajgo was plotted against tine. Increase in hyperchromicity was used as the indicator for oligonucleotide degradation. The results are shown in Table IV, below.

These results demonstrate that oligonucleotides having methylphosphonothioate linkages near the 3 1 end were far more stable than the oligonucleotide lacking such linkages. In addition, oligonucleotide stability increased with increasing numbers of methylphosphonothioate linkages (4 linkages»3 linkages> >2 linkages).

TABLE IV Resistance Of Oligonucleotides To Nucleolvtic Degradation % increase in Oligonucleotide t 1/2 fseconds1 hvperchromicitv Oligonucleotide phosphodiester Oligonucleotide with 2 3' terminal deoxynucleotide methylphosphonothioates Oligonucleotide with 3 3' terminal deoxynucleotide methy lphosphonothioates Oligonucleotide with 4 3' terminal deoxynucleotide methy lphosphonothioates 44 210 264 401 22.56 24.58 18 .54 - 31 -EXAMPLE 4 Synthesis Of A Hybrid Oligonucleotide Phosphorothioate Having Deoxyribonucleotide And 2'-OMe-Ribonucleotide Regions Hybrid oligonucleotide phosphorothioates were synthesized on CP6 on a 5-6 jimole scale on an automated synthesizer (model 8700, Millipore, Milford, HA) using the H-phosphonate approach described in U.S. Patent No. 5,149,798, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Deoxyribonucleoside H-phosphonates were obtained from Millipore. 2'-OMe ribonucleotide H-phosphonates were synthesized by standard procedures. Segments of oligonucleotides containing 2'-OMe nucleoside were assembled by using 2'-0Me ribonucleoside H-phosphonates for the desired cycles. Similarly, segments of oligonucleotides containing deoxyribonucleosides were assembled by using deoxynucleoside H-phosphonates for the desired cycles. After assembly, CP6 bound oligonucleotide H-phosphonate was oxidized with sulfur as described in Example 2 to generate the phosphorothioate linkage. Oligonucleotides were then deprotected in concentrated NH4OH at 40°C for 48 hours.

Crude oligonucleotide (about 500 A^ units) was analyzed on reverse low pressure chromatography on a CI8 reversed phase medium. The DMT group was removed by treatment with 80% aqueous acetic acid, then the oligonucleotides were dialyzed against distilled water and lyophilized. - 32 -EXAMPLE 5 Relative Nuclease Resistance Of Hybrid Oligonucleotide Phosphorothioates To test the relative nuclease resistance of various hybrid oligonucleotide phosphorothioates, the oligonucleotides were treated with snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD) . About 0.2 Ajbq units of oligos having no 2'-OMe-RNA region, or having 3 and 4 contiguous 2'-OMe ribonucleotides at 5' and 3' ends, respectively, or having all 2'-OMe nucleotides, were dissolved in 500 jil buffer (40 mM NH4C03, pH 4.0 + 20 mM MgCl2) , and mixed with 0.1 units SVPD. The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 420 minutes. After 0, 200 and 420 minutes, 165 ^1 aliquots were removed and analyzed using ion exchange HPLC. The oligonucleotide having all 2' -OMe-ribonucleotides was very resistant to SVPD, whereas the oligonucleotide having no 2'-OMe-ribonucleotides was digested almost to completion and the oligonucleotide having 5' and 3' terminal 2'-OMe-RNA regions was digested to 50%. An oligonucleotide phosphodiester was digested to about 80% in one minute using one tenth of the concentration of SVPD.

These results indicate that the presence of 2•-OMe ribonucleotides in an oligonucleotide phosphorothioate enhances resistance to exonucleolytic digestion and that this enhanced resistance increases when a larger proportion of 2'-OMe ribonucleotides are used. Due to the similar character WO 94/2302JB and behavior of ribonucleotides, other 2'-substituted ribonucleotides and 2'-OMe ribonucleotides, these results also suggest that similar enhancement of nuclease resistance would be obtained for hybrid oligonucleotide phosphorothioates and/or phosphorodithioates having ribonucleotides, 21-substituted ribonucleotides, or a mixture of ribonucleotides and 2'-substituted ribonucleotides.

EXAMPLE 6 Synthesis Of An Oligonucleotide Phosphorothioate Having A 3' Cap Structure Oligonucleoside phosphorothioates were synthesized on a Model 8700 automated synthesizer (Milligen-Biosearch, Burlington, MA) using H-phosphonate chemistry on controlled pore glass (CPG), followed by oxidation with 0.2 H sulfur in carbon disulfide/pyridine/triethylamine (9:9:1 vol/vol). Synthesis was carried out on a 5-10 micromolar scale. Oligonucleoside phosphorothioates were purified by low pressure ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose, DE-50 Whatman), followed by reverse phase chromatography (Cl8) and dialysis. 5'-capped oligonucleoside phosphorothioates were prepared toy carrying out the last coupling, after the assembly of the required sequence, with N-Fmoc-01 -DMTr-3-amino-l,2-propanediol-H-phosphonate. The 5' -capped oligonucleoside H-phosphonate was then oxidized with sulfur. 3*-capped oligonucleoside phosphorothioates were assembled on N-Fmoc-01- DMTr-3-amino-l, 2-propanediol-CPG, followed by sulfur oxidation. Combination of these procedures was used to produce 3',5'-capped oligonucleoside phosphorothioates.

Alternatively, oligonucleoside phosphorothioates having other 3' or 5 1 cap structures, (see e.g. . Figure 4), are prepared by substituting the phosphonate or CPG-derivatized cap structures for the N—Fmoc-o • -DMTr-3-amino-l, 2-propanediol-H phosphonate or CPG in the capping procedure. Similarly, capped modified oligonucleotides other than oligonucleotide phosphorothioates are prepared in an analogous manner by appending the capping procedure to the appropriate synthetic procedure.

EXAMPLE 7 In Vivo Stability Of Oligonucleotide Phosphorothioates Having Terminal Cat? Structures Male CDC2F1 mice (average weight 20 grams) were treated by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection with a 30 mg/kg dose of r&diolabelled oligonucleotides dissolved in 200 microlitres physiological saline. Each capped or uncapped oligonucleotide was administered to three mice. Urine was collected separately from each animal up to 24 hours post-dosing, then extracted with proteinase K. (2 mg/ml, final concentration) in 0.5% SDS, 10 mjj 20 mM Tris CI (pH 7.6), 10 mM EDTA for one hour at 37°C, followed by phenol-chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation. Recovered oligonucleotides were then analyzed by PAGE (20% polyacrylamide/7 M urea) followed by autoradiography. Radioactivity was also measure from cage rinse to account for urine spill.

Twenty-four hours after dosing, about 30% of oligonucleoside phosphorothioates were excreted, whether capped or uncapped. Excreted uncapped and 5'-capped oligonucleoside phosphorothioates were extensively degraded, as shown in Figure 5. Excreted 31-capped and 3•,5'-capped oligonucleoside phosphorothioates, in contrast, demonstrated virtually no degradation. This indicates that jji vivo degradation of oligonucleoside phosphorothioates excreted in urine is mediated by 3' -exonuclease activity which can be inhibited by adding a cap to the 3' hydroxy 1 group of the oligonucleotide.

EXAMPLE 8 Nuclease Resistance Of Self-Stabilized Oligonucleotide Phosohodiesters The control oligonucleotide used for this study was an oligodeoxynucleotide phosphodiester without a self-complementary region. The test compound was identical, except that it had a 3* self complementary region of 10 nucleotides. To control for any size effects, another control oligodeoxynucleotide phosphodiester was used that was identical to the first control oligonucleotide except for having at its 31 end 10 mismatched nucleotides (T10) .

The oligonucleotides were tested for their relative resistance to 3' exonucleolytic degradation. For each oligonucleotide, 0.4 A^ units of oligonucleotide was lyophilized, dissolved in 0.5 ml buffer (10 mM Tris, 10 mM MgCl3, pH 8.5) and mixed with 5 |x 1 (1.5 milliunits) of snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD). The mixture was incubated at 37° C in a thermally regulated cell and A^ was plotted against time. Oligonucleotide degradation was measured as function of increase in hyperchromicity.

The results of these experiments are shown in Table V, below. These results demonstrate that self-stabilized olignoucleotide phosphodiesters according to the invention are far more resistant to 3' exonucleotlytic degradation than either oligonucleotide phosphodiesters or oligonucleotide phosphodiesters having a non-complementary tail.

In addition to the testing described above, the oligonucleotides were also subjected to DNA Polymerase I 3'-exonuclease digestion. As shown in Figure 6 the non-self-stabilized oligonucleotides were digested to completion in 30 minutes, whereas the self-stabilized oligonucleotide with a 10 nucleotide self-complementary region was only partly digested over 30 minutes. - 37 -TABLE V SVPD Half-Life Of Oligonucleotides Supplementary Region ffalf-frjfe For SVPD Pjqegtjon Absent 75 seconds nucleotides 950 seconds mismatched 75 seconds EXAMPLE 9 Nuclease Resistance of Self-Stabilized Oligonucleotide Phosphorothioates To test the relative nuclease resistance of self-stabilized and non-self-stabilized oligonucleotide phosphorothioates, a DNA Polymerase I 3 1 -exonuclease activity assay was used, because of the slow degradation of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates by SVPD.

All oligonucleotides were labelled at the 5-end with gamma-SJP-ATP and kinase. To a solution of 40 pmole 5'-labelled oligonucleotide in 20 |i 1 buffer (40 mM Tris HCl, pH 8.0, mM MgClj, 5 mM DTT, 50 mM KC1, 50 |ig/ml BSA), 5 units DNA polymerase I was added emd incubated at 37° C. Aliquots of 4 til were taken at 0, 30, 60, 120 minutes and were mixed with 6 til stop solution (98% formeuaide, 10 mM EDTA, 0.1% xylene cyanol, 0.1% bromophenol blue). The samples were analyzed by 15% acry1amide gel (urea) and autoradiography.

The results are shown in Figure 7. Oligonucleotide phosphorothioates having no self-complementary region or only mismatched nucleotides (T10) at the 3* end (as described in Example 8 for oligonucleotide phosphodiesters) were digested to almost 50% within 4 hours. The oligonucleotide phosphorothioate having a 10 nucleotide self-complementary region was undegraded after 4 hours. Oligonucleotide phosphorothioates having 6 or 4 nucleotide self-complementary regions were also found to be stable. These results demonstrate that self-stabilized oligonucleotide phosphorothioates are far more resistant to nucleolytic degradation than are non-self-stabilized oligonucleotide phosphorothioates.

EXAMPLE 10 Anti-Influenza Activity Of Modified Oligonucleotides MDCK canine kidney cells were seeded in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) with non-essential amino acids (GIBCO BRL, Grand Island, New York) with 5% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone Laboratories, Logen, Utah), 0.1% NaHCOs, at a concentration of 4 x 10® cells/ml in 96 well tissue culture plates (Corning, Corning, New York) at 0.2 ml/well. The cells were incubated overnight to establish monolayers of cells. Growth medium was then removed and 0.1 ml of oligonucleotide at pre-selected concentrations in serum-free MEM containing 0.18% NaHCOs and 50 ng/ml gentamycin. This was done for each compound for each of 4 wells: 1 well as toxicity control and 3 wells as antiviral tests. Three cell control wells and six virus control wells received C.l al of serum-free MEM containing 0.18% NaHCOs and 50 iig/ml gentamycin. within 10 minutes of addition of the oligonucleotide compounds, influenza A/NWS/33(H1N1) virus was added to each test well and virus control well in 0.1 ml HEM containing 0.18% NaHC03 , 20 jig/ml trypsin, 2 jig/ml EDTA and 50 iig/ml gentamycin. Cell control and toxicity control wells received 0.1 ml of this same medium without virus.

Plates were incubated at 37° C in a humidified incubator with 5% COj, 95% air atmosphere. The cells were examined by microscopic observation for evidence of virus-specific 15 ^ cytopathic effect (CPE) and for morphological changes due to compound effect in non-infected toxicity controls. Virus CPE was graded on a scale of 0-4, with 4 being 95-100% CPE. The effective dose, 50% endpoint (EDB0) was calculated by regression analysis of the mean CPE grade at each 20 ^ concentration of the compound where activity was seen to bracket the CPE grade that was 50% of that seen in the virus controls. Visible changes in the morphology of cells in toxicity control wells were graded by microscopic observation, using a scale from no toxicity (0%) to complete destruction of 25 the cells (100%) in 20% increments. The cytotoxic dose, 50% endpoint (CDG0) was calculated by regression analysis of those toxicity grades bracketing the 50% endpoint, compared to the concentrations of compound used for those toxicity grades. A therapeutic index (TI) was calculated for each compound using the formula TI ■ CD60/EDB0. These results are shown in Table VI, be^ow.

TABLE VI Anti-Influenza Activity Of Modified Oligonucleotides CHPP EPcq foq/Wl) CD^q ftig/ml) TI A Not Tested B 34.3 147 4.3 C 55 562 10 D 61 649 11 E Not Tested F 178 261 1.5 G 147 649 4.4 H 59 562 9.5 I 45 750 17 J 175 750 4.3 K 22 825 38 L 32 422 13 M 23.7 383 16 Control1 440 422 <1.0 1Control is oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioate having the sequence 5 • CAGAGCAAAATCATCAGAAGA 3 1.

These results demonstrate that all of the preferred structural features of anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention, i.e.. chimeric, hybrid^ capped and self-stabilized features, are capable of improving the efficacy of antisense oligonucleotides in inhibiting influenza virus replication or propagation. These results further suggest that combinations of such structural features within an antisense oligonucleotide should have even greater efficacy.

EXAMPLE 11 Inhibition Of Various Strains Of Influenza Virus Bv Anti-influenza Modified Oligonucleotides To test whether anti-fluenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention can inhibit other strains of influenza virus, the experiment described in Example 10 was repeated, using compound M against various influenza strains. The influenza strains chosen for this study were the H1N1 strains A/NWS/33 emd A/PR/8/34, the H3N2 strains A/Washington/ 897/80, A/Victoria/3/75 and A/Port Chalmers/1/73, and the H2N2 strain A2/Japan/305/57. The results were calculated as described in Example 10, and are shown in Table VII below. - 42 -TABLE VII Effect Of Compound M On Various Strains of Influenza Influenza Strain 3EPt0 fog/aft) CDi0 fog/ml) TI_ A/NWS/33 7.6 >100 >13 A/PR/8/34 >100 >100 ? A2/Japan/305/57 61 >100 >1.6 A/Washington/897/80 6 >100 17 A/Victoria/3/75 6.2 >100 >16 A/Port Chalmers/1/73 >100 >100 ? According to these results, compound M showed great efficacy in inhibiting three of the six strains of influenza tested and had some efficacy against a fourth strain. These results demonstrate that anti-influenza modified oligonucleotides according to the invention can be effective against multiple strains of influenza virus. To maximize the breadth of cross-strain efficacy, nucleotide sequences of various genes from several different influenza viruses can be compared and the most conserved nucleotide sequences can be used to prepare inhibitory oligonucleotides. - 43 -SEQUENCE LISTING )l) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: HYBRIDON, INC. (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: Novel Anti—Influenza Oligonucleotides (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 37 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: (A) ADDRESSEE: Allegretti & Witcoff, Ltd.

(B) STREET: Ten South Wacker Drive (C) CITY: Chicago (D) STATE: Illinois (E) COUNTRY: U.S.A.

(F) ZIP: 60606 (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentln Release #1.0, Version #1.25 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: (8) FILING DATE: (C) CLASSIFICATION: (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: Michael S. Greenfield (B) REGISTRATION NUMBER: 37,142 (C) REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: 93,161-A (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION: (A) TELEPHONE: 312/715-1000 (B) TELEFAX: 617/715-1234 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:l: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 2149 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: Bingle (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO <xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:l: AGCGAAAGCA GGCAAACCAT TTGAATGGAT GTCAATCCGA CTTTACTTTT CTTAAAAGTG 60 CCAGCACAAA ATOCTATAAG CACAACTTTC CCTTATACTG GAGACCCTCC TTACAGCCAT 120 GGGACAGGAA CAGGATACAC CATGGATACT GTCAACAGGA CACATCAGTA CTCAGAAAGG 180 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) GGAAGATGGA CAACAAACAC CGAAACTGGA GCACCGCAAC TCAACCCGAT TGATGGGCCA 240 ^CTGCCAGAAG ACAATGAACC AAGTGGTTAT GCCCAAACAG ATTGTGTATT GGAAGCAATG 300 GCCTTCCTTG AGGAATCCCA TCCTGGTATC TTTGAGACCT CGTGTCTTGA AACGATGGAG 360 GTTGTTCAGC AAACACGAGT GGACAAGCTG ACACAAGGCC GACAGACCTA TGACTGGACT 420 CTAAATAGGA ACCAGCCTGC TGCAACAGCA TTGGCCAACA CAATAGAAGT GTTCAGATCA 480 AATGGCCTCA CGGCCAATGA ATCCGGAAGG CTCATAGACT TCCTTAAGGA TGTAATGGAG 540 ^^CAATGAACA AAGAAGAAAT GGAGATCACA ACTCATTTTC AGAGAAAGAG ACGAGTGAGA 600 GACAATATGA CTAAGAAAAT GGTGACACAG AGAACAATAG GTAAAAGGAA GCAGAGATTG 660 AACAAAAGGA GTTATCTAAT TAGGGCATTG ACCCTGAACA CAATGACCAA AGATGCTGAG 720 AGAGGGAAGC TAAAACGGAG AGCAATTGCA ACCCCAGGGA TGCAAATAAG GGGGTTTGTA 780 TACTTTGTTG AGACACTAGC AAGGAGTATA TGTGAGAAAC TTGAACAATC AGGATTGCCA 840 GTTGGAGGCA ATGAGAAGAA AGCAAAGTTG GCAAATGTTG TAAGGAAGAT GATGACCAAT 900 TCTCAGGACA CTGAAATTTC TTTCACATCA CTGGAGATAA CACCAAATGG AACGAAAATC 960 AGAACCCTCG GATGTTTTTG GCCATGATCA CATATATAAC CAGAAATCAG CCCGAATGGT 1020 TCAGAAATGT TCTAAGTATT GCTCCAATAA TGTTCTCAAA CAAAATGGCG AGACTGGGAA 1080 AGGGGTACAT GTTTGAGAGC AAGAGTATTA AAATTAGAAC TCAAATACCT GCAGAAATGC 1140 TAGCAAGCAT CGATTTGAAA TACTTCAATG ATTCAACTAG AAAGAAGATT GAAAAAATCC 1200 GGCCGCTCTT AATAGATGGG ACTGCATCAT TGAGCCCTGG AATGATGATG GGCATGTTCA 1260 ATATGTTAAG TACTGTATTA GGCGTCTCCA TCCTGAATCT TGGACAAAAG AGACACACCA 1320 ^*GACTACTTA CTGGTGGGAT GGTCTTCAAT CTTCTGATGA TTTTGCTCTG ATTGTCAATG 1380 CACCCAATCA TGAAGGGATT CAAGCCGGAG TCAACAGGTT TTATCGAACC TGTAAGCTAC 1440 TTGGAATTAA TATGAGCAAG AAAAAGTCTT ACATAAACAG AACAGGTACA TTTGAATTCA 1500 CAAGTTTTTT CTATCGTTAT GGGTTTGTTG CCAATTTCAG CATGGAGCTT CCCAGCTTTG 1560 ^^GGTGTCTGG GATCAACGAG TCTGCGGACA TGAGTATTGG AGTTACTGTC ATCAAAAACA 1620 ATATGATAAA CAATGATCTT GGTCCAGCAA CCGCTCAAAT GGCCCTTCAG CTGTTCATCA 1680 AAGATTACAG GTACACGTAC CGCTGCCATA GAGGTGACAC ACAAATACAA ACCCGAAGAT 1740 CATTTGAAAT AAAGAAACTG TGGGAGCAAA CCCATTCCAA AGCTGGACTG CTGGTCTCCG 1800 ACGGAGGCCC AAATTTATAC AACATTAGAA ATCTCCACAT TCCTGAAGTC TGCTTGAAAT 1860 GGGAATTAAT GGATGAGGAT TACCAGGGGC GTTTATGCAA CCCACTGAAC CCATTTGTCA 1920 ACCATAAAGA CATTGAATCA GTGAACAATG CAGTGATAAT GCCAGCACAT GGTCCAGCCA 1980 AAAACATGGA GTATGATGCT GTTGCAACAA CACACTCCTG GATCCCCAAA AGAAATCGAT 2040 CCATCTTGAA TACAAGCCAA AGAGGAATAC TTGAAGATGA ACAAATGTAC CAAAAGTGCT 2100 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ^pCAAi CTTATT TGAAAAATTC TTCCCCAGCA GTTCATACAG AAGACCAGT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: TES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A 2149 21 21 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3 CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4 CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: tA) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8 CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (CJ STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9 CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 19 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11: AGAGCAAAAT CATCAGAAG (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 19 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12: AGAGCAAAAT CATCAGAAG (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13 GAGCAAAATC ATCAGAA (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14 GAGCAAAATC ATCAGAA (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 21 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) PCT/US94/Q3454 51 (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 30 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17: CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG A 21 CAGAGCAAAA TCATCAGAAG ATTCTGATGA CTTTCCATAT TGAATATAAT PCT/US94/Q3454 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18: ACATCCATTC AAATGGTTTG 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19: TCTTCCATTT TGGATCAGTA 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear 53 (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: YES (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic? (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22: GCCTTCATTT TGGTTGTTTT GACGCCATGA TTTTGATGTC GGATTCATTT TAAACCCCTG (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23 AGACTCATCT TTCAATATCT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24 GATAGAGAGA ACGTACGTTT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25: TCTGATAGGC CTGCAAATTT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26: GGATCCATTA TGTCTTTGTC (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27: CATGTCGGTT AGGTAACGCG (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28 GCAATCTACC TGAAAGCTTG (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29 AGCAGTATGT CCTGGAAGAG (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30: AAAACGACCT TGTTTCTACT 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31: AAAAATGCCT TGTTCCTACT 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32: AAAAGTACCT TGTTTCTACT 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33 AAAACACCCT TGTTTCTACT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34 AAAATACCCT TGTTTCTACT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:36: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:36: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: YES (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37: AAAAACTCCT TGTTTCTACT AAAACTACCT TGTTTCTACT AAAACACCCT TGTTTCTACT

Claims

WO 94/23028 PCT/US94/03454 263965 - 60 - We claim:

1. An anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to an 7 essential nucleic acid sequence of influenza virus, wherein I the oligonucleotide is a mixed backbone chimeric oligonucleotide comprising a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region and an alkylphosphonate region.

2. The oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein an alkylphosphonate region is at or near the 51 or 3' end of the oligonucleotide.

3. The oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein an alkylphosphonate region comprises from about 2 to about 10 contiguous nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonate linkages.

4. The oligonucleotide according to claim 2, wherein an alkylphosphonate region comprises from about 2 to about 10 contiguous nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonate linkages.

5. The oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages. WO 94/23028 PCT/US94/03454 - 61 -

6. The oligonucleotide according to claim 2, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages.

7. The oligonucleotide according to claim 3, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages.

8. The oligonucleotide according to claim 4, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages.

9. An anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to an essential nucleic acid sequence of influenza virus, wherein the oligonucleotide is a mixed backbone chimeric oligonucleotide comprising a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region emd em alkylphosphonothioate region.

10. The oligonucleotide according to claim 10, wherein am alkylphosphonothioate region is at or near the 5* or 3' end of the oligonucleotide.;WO 94/23028;PCT/US94/03454;- 62 -;

11. The oligonucleotide according to claim 9, wherein an alkylphosphonothioate region comprises from about 2 to about 10 contiguous nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonothioate linkages.;

12. The oligonucleotide according to claim 10, wherein an alkylphosphonothioate region comprises from about 2 to about 10 contiguous nucleotides connected by alkylphosphonothioate linkages.;

13. The oligonucleotide according to claim 9, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages.;

14. The oligonucleotide according to claim 10, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages.;

15. The oligonucleotide according to claim 11, wherein a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region comprises from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connected by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate linkages.;26;WOM/2N2I PCT/USM/83454;- 63 -;

16. The oligonucleotide according to dale 12, vharain a phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate region coaprisas from about 3 to about 100 contiguous nucleotides connacrtad by phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioats linkages.;

17. An anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide according to claim 1 or claim 9, further comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to an;•ssantial nucleic acid sequsnce of influenza virus, vharain tha oligonucleotide is a hybrid oligonucleotide comprising a deoxyribonucleotide region and a ribonucleotide region.;

18. The oligonucleotide according to claia 17, further comprising from about 1 to about all phosphorothioate or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages.;

19. The oligonucleotide according to claia 17, wherein a ribonucleotide region is at or near the 5' or 3' end of the oligonucleotide.;

20. the oligonucleotide according to claia 17, wherein a ribonucleotide region comprises from about 2 to about 100 contiguous ribonucleotides.;N.Z. PATENT OFFICE;28 MAY 199?;RECEIVED;woM/ata;PCI7C8MMMM;- 64 -;

21. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia IS, vharain a ribonuclaotida ration coaprlsas froa about 2 to about 100 contiguoua ribonuclaotidaa.;

22. Tha oligomiclaotida according to claim 19, vharain a ribonuclaotida ragion comprises froa about 2 to about 100 contiguous ribonuclaotidaa.;

23. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia 17, vharain a daoxyribonuclaotida ragion coaprlaaa froa about l to about 100 daoxyribonuclaotidaa.;

24. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia 18, vharain a daoxyribonuclaotida ragion coaprlssa froa about 1 to about 100 daoxyribonuclaotidaa.;

25. Tha oligonuclaotida according to claia 1», vharain a daoxyribonuclaotida rag ion coaprlaaa froa about1 to about 100 daoxyribonuclaotidaa.;

26. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia 20, vharain a daoxyribonuclaotida ragion eoapriaaa froa about 1 to about 100 daoxyribonuclaotidaa.;N.Z PATENT OFFICE;28 MAY 1997;26 ?5 r- °;WOMOM2S PCTSUSM/D454;- 65 -;

27. 11m oligonucleotide according to claia 21, vharain a daoxyribonuclaotida ragion eoapriaaa froa about 1 to about 100 daoxyribonuclaotidaa.;

28. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia 22, vharain a daoxyribonuclaotida ragion eoapriaaa froa about 1 to about 100 daoxyribonuclaotidaa.;

29. An anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide according to claim 1 or claim 9, further comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to an aaaantial nucleic acid sequence of influenza virua, vharain the oligonucleotide hae at its 5' and/or 3* and a nucleaae reaiatanca conferring cap structure selected froa tha group consisting of the cap structures shewn in Figure 4 and lover alkyl (C1-C12) or alcohol groups, and vharain the oligonucleotide has frosi 1 to about all modified internucleotide linkages selected froa tha group consisting of phosphotrieater, phosphoramidate, siloxane, carbonate, cartooxymethyleeter, acetaaidate, carbamate, thioether, bridged phoephorsaidate, bridged methylene phosphonate, bridged phosphorothioate, sulfone, phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate linkages. N.Z PATENT OFFICE 28 MAY 1997 RECEIVED WOM/2M2S PCT/USM/C3454 - 66 -

30. An anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide according to claim 1 or claim 9, further comprising an anti-influenza hybridizing region and a self -complementary region.

31. Tha oligonuclaotida according to claia 30, vharain tha influanza hybridizing ragion coapriaaa £roa about 6 to about 100 nuclaotidca that ara coaplaaantary to an aaaantial nuclaic acid aaquanca of influanza virua.

32. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia 30, vharain tha salf-coaplaaantary ragion coapriaaa froa about 4 to about 50 nuclaotidaa that fora intraaolaalar basa pairs.

33. Tha oligonuclaotlda according to claia 30, vharain a aalf-coaplaaantary ragion ia at or near tha 5' or 3' and of tha oligonuclaotida.

34. Tha oligonuclaotida according to claia 31, vharain a aelf-coaplaaantary ragion is at or naar tha 5' or 3' and of tha oligonuclaotida.

35. Tha oligonuclaotida according to claia 32, vharain a aelf-conoleaentary ragion is at or naar tha 5' or 3' and of tha oligonuclaotida. N.Z. PATENT OEPf 56 28 MAY 1997 RPPFl\;cn WO 94/23028 PCT/US94/03454 - 67 -

36. The oligonucleotide according to claim 30, wherein from about 2 to about all nucleotides are coupled by phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages.

37. The oligonucleotide according to claim 31, wherein from about 2 to about all nucleotides are coupled by phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages.

38. The oligonucleotide according to claim 32, wherein from about 2 to about all nucleotides are coupled by phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate internucleotide linkages.

39. The oligonucleotide according to claim 33, wherein from about 2 to about all nucleotides are coupled by phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate -internucleotide linkages.

40. The" oligonucleotide according to claim 34, wherein from about 2 to about all nucleotides are coupled by phosphorothioate and/or phosphorodithioate^ internucleotide linkages. 26 3 WOMON2S PCT/US94/t3454 - 68 -

41. The oligonuclaotida according to claia 35, vharain froa about 2 to about all nucl«otll«s ara couplad by phoaphorothloata and/or pboaphorodithloate internucleotide linkages.

42. Tha oligonuclaotida according -to claia 1, vharain tha aaaantial nuclaic acid sequence ia seLacted froa tha group consisting of influanza polyaaraaa 3 gene, influenza polyaaraaa 1 gana, influanza polyaaraaa 2 gana, influanza haaaglutin gana, influenza nucleoprotain gana, influenza nauraainidasa gana, influenza aatrix protein gana, influanza left or right splice junctions of segaanta 7 or 8, influanza splice branch of segment 8 and influanza paclcaging sequences of segaent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, €e 7 or 8.

43. Tha oligonucleotide according to claim 9, wherein tha essential nucleic acid aaquanca is sal acted froa the group consisting of influents polyaarass 3 gene, influenza polyaarmaa 1 gana, influenza polyaaraaa 2 gana, influenza h—glut in gone, influenza nucleoprotain gana, influenza neuraminidase gana, influenza aatrix protain gana, influenza laft or right splice junction! of sagaanta 7 or 8, influenza splioa branch of segaant 8 and influenza paclcaging ssquencea of segment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. HX PATENT 0FC"-' | 28 MAY 1997 i t . RECEIVf.l WO 94/23028 PCT /US94/03454 - 69 -

44. The oligonucleotide according to claim 17, wherein the essential nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of influenza polymerase 3 gene, influenza polymerase 1 gene, influenza polymerase 2 gene, influenza hemaglutin gene, influenza nucleoprotein gene, influenza neuraminidase gene, influenza matrix protein gene, influenza left or right splice junctions of segments 7 or 8, influenza splice branch of segment 8 and influenza packaging sequences of segment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. y

45. The oligonucleotide according to claim 29, wherein the essential nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of influenza polymerase 3 gene, influenza polymerase 1 gene, influenza polymerase 2 gene, influenza hemaglutin gene, influenza nucleoprotein gene, influenza neuraminidase gene, influenza matrix protein gene, influenza left or right splice junctions of segments 7 or 8, influenza splice branch of segment 8 and influenza packaging sequences of segment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

46. The oligonucleotide according to claim 31, wherein the essential nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of influenza polymerase 3 gene, influenza polymerase 1 gene, influenza polymerase 2 gene, influenza hemaglutin gene, influenza nucleoprotein gene, influenza v r WONOM2S FCT/USM/t3454 - 70 - nauraainidaaa gana, influanza matrix protain gana, Influanza laft or right aplica junctions of aagmanta 7 or 8, influanza ■plica branch of aagmant • and influanza packaging aaquancaa of sagmant 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

47. An anti-influenza oligonucleotide chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 4, SBQ ID No. 5, SBQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 7, SEQ ID No. 8, SEQ ID No. 9, SBQ ID No. 10, SBQ ID No. 12, SEQ ID No. 14, SBQ ID No. 15, and SBQ ID No. 16.

48. An anti-influenza modified oligonucleotide as defined in any one of claims 1, 9, 17, 29, 30 and 47 substantially as herein described with reference to any example thereof. END OF CLAIMS N.Z. PATENT OmCE 2 8 MAY 1997 h.'r-JVED