Abstract: A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of a viral infection in a mammal is described. The method comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of a mollusc hemocyanin and/or an active fragment thereof. The hemocyanin may be an abalone hemocyanin.

Abstract: This invention relates to an antigen isolated from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus and to the gene coding for that antigen and to the protein product of that gene. The antigen when used in part or in entirety as an immunogen administered to cattle as a vaccine results in the production by the cattle of an immune response which is capable of damaging ticks feeding on vaccinated cattle to such an extent that the survival of such ticks is decreased and/or the reproductive capacity of the ticks is decreased to such an extent that the antigen coded for by the gene can be used as an effective vaccine against said ticks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the specific stimulation of serum and secretory antibodies through mucosal presentation of antigens.

Abstract: The invention provides excretory/secretory antigens derived from parasitic nematode species which are capable of inducing protective immunity against infection by parasitic nematode species, and related antigenic molecules. The invention also provides nucleotide sequences encoding the antigens and related molecules of the invention, recombinant DNA molecules comprising the nucleotide sequences, and transformed hosts carrying the recombinant DNA molecules. The invention further provides antibodies against the antigens and related molecules, and antibody compositions comprising the antibodies, vaccines comprising the antigens and/or related molecules and methods of treating or preventing nematode infections using the antigens and related molecules, vaccines, antibodies and/or antibody compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to proteins derived from parasitic nematodes that confer protective immunity against infection by parasitic nematodes, to nucleotide sequences encoding those proteins, to recombinant molecules containing such sequences, to host cells transformed with such recombinant molecules and methods for the production of the nucleotide sequences, recombinant molecules and hosts. The invention also relates to vaccines comprising proteins of the invention together with suitable carriers or diluents and to antibodies raised against proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to antigens derived from ticks and to their purification. It also relates to genes encoding such antigens and to their cloning and expression from recombinant DNA molecules. Further, the invention describes the use of purified antigens and recombinant expression products having similar biological activity to those purified antigens to provide vaccines to protect cattle against tick infestation.

Abstract: Polypeptides exhibiting an inhibitory action over follitropin are disclosed. These polypeptides are designated follitropin suppressing proteins, or "FSP's," and range in size from 30 to 60 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE. Uses for FSP's, including regulation of fertility and as immunogens, are disclosed.

Abstract: An orally administered complex of a drug, hormone, bio-active peptide, or immunogen with the carrier molecule, such as vitamin B12 or analogue thereof, and a method for delivering said complex to the intestine of a host vertebrate in order to deliver the complex to the circulation of the host and thereby elicit a pharmacological response to the drug, hormone, or bio-active molecule or to elicit a systemic immune response to the immunogen. The invention also provides a method for the production of the complex. Further the invention provides medicaments containing the complex.

Abstract: A novel human protein, minactivin, can be produced by recombinant DNA technology, Biologically active native minactivin, peptides derived from minactivin, and their amino acid sequences can also be purified.

Abstract: Minactivin (also known as Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2 [PAI-2]), a protein inactivator of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, has been shown to be a natural inactivator of this plasminogen activator which is associated with invasive tumors, and is therefore indicated as a crucial element in the body's normal defense against tumor invasion and metastasis. It may be produced by the cultivation of minactivin-producing cells in vitro, and recovery of the cell culture supernatant. By controlling the culture conditions, the protein minactivin may be produced in a partially purified form which may be used for diagnosis and treatment of tumors. The specification discloses purification of biologically active native minactivin, as well as peptides derived from minactivin and their amino acid sequences.

Abstract: A protein which satisfies all the biological criteria which are characteristic of inhibin has been isolated from a gonadal source. The purification and characterization of inhibin and the use of the purified material to raise antibodies, the use of inhibin and said antisera in a quantative radioimmunoassay, and application in vitro and in vivo of inhibin and antibody to inhibin, are described. There is provided a purified protein, inhibin characterized in that the apparent molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE is 56,000.+-.1,000, the isoelectric point is in the range 6.9-7.3, and the protein can bind specifically to Concanavalin A-Sepharose. Moreover, the protein includes two subunits, characterized in that their apparent molecular weights as determined by SDS-PAGE are 44,000.+-.3,000 and 14,000.+-.2,000, respectively. Furthermore, the isoelectric point of the 44,000 molecular weight sub-unit is in the range of 6.0-7.0. In addition, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the two subunits are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to PAI-2 and its expression as a recombinant molecule in eukaryotic cell lines as a glycosylated secreted molecule, to the constructs expressing it, to host cells expressing it, to compositions comprising it, to methods of treatment, prophylaxis and diagnosis using it and to antibodies raised against it. The invention also provides a 414 amino acid form of PAI-2 wherein the N-terminal methionine residue is deleted, a 60 kD glycosylated secreted recombinant form of PAI-2 and compositions and methods using these molecules. The invention further relates to a novel synthetic signal peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel uses for inhibin, inhibin .alpha. subunit, activin inhibin or activin antagonists and compositions comprising them in the treatment or prevention of immune dysfunction and blood clotting disorders.Methods of treatment include administration of the required agent to a host, immunization of the host with the agent or passive immunization using antibodies raised against one of these agents.

Abstract: A protein which satisfies all the biological criteria which are characteristic of inhibin has been isolated from a gonadal source. The purification and characterization of inhibin and the use of the purified material to raise antibodies, the use of inhibin and said antisera in a quantative radioimmunoassay, and applications in vitro and in vivo of inhibin and antibody to inhibin, are described.There is provided a purified protein, inhibin, characterised in thata. the apparent molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE is 56,000.+-.1,000b. the isoelectric point is in the range 6.9-7.3c. the protein can bind specifically to Concanavalin A-Sepharosed the protein consists of two sub-units, characterized in thati. their apparent molecular weights as determined by SDS-PAGE are 44,000.+-.3,000 and 14,000.+-.2,000 respectively.ii. the isoelectric point of the 44,000 molecular weight sub-unit is in the range 6.0-7.0iii. the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two sub-units are as described hereine.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), some of which are derived from culture of Xenorhabdus nematophilus and Xenorhabdus luminescens. The compounds possess antibacterial, antifungal, acaricidal, anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic properties.

Abstract: Improved methods for the storage for transport of nematodes. In one form the invention provides a method of storing entomopathogenic nematodes wherein a cream of infective juvenile entomopathogenic nematodes is mixed with an adsorbent and stored under conditions in which microbial growth is inhibited. In another form the invention provides a method of storing entomopathogenic nematodes wherein a cream of infective juvenile entomopathogenic nematodes is stored under substantially anerobic conditions.

Abstract: The new 1,2-dithiolo[4,3-b]pyrrole derivatives (also designated as Xenorhabdins) are antibiotics and pesticides. Their bio-syntheses from Xenorhabdus nemtophilus or X. luminescens, and the pharmaceutical and pesticidal formulations containing them have been disclosed. Several xanthydrol and acetate derivates of Xenorhabdins have been prepared.