Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of peptides (and immunologically functional variants thereof) which are immunogenic epitopes recognized by CD8.sup.+ class I MHC restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocytes of patients harboring latent cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. The peptides are capable of activating CTLs and CTLp's in the absence of active viral replication, and thus are useful for eliciting a cellular immune response against HCMV by normal and immunodeficient subjects. Polypeptide and lipopeptide vaccines, with and without adjuvants, also are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes novel polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymers as well as methods for making the block copolymers. The block copolymers are high molecular weight molecules and are useful as general surfactants and display enhanced biological efficacy as vaccine adjuvants.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified proteins that contain gelonin amino acid sequences that have enzymatic activity.

Abstract: The envelope (env) gene from avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) strain Hc1 has been isolated, sequenced and cloned into an expression vector. The ALV-J Hc1 env gene and expressed protein are useful for development of diagnostic assays to detect Hc1-specific nucleic acid and proteins and for eliciting an immune response in chickens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the purification of large scale quantities of active (infectious) adenovirus and AAV, especially for use in therapeutic applications. In particular, the invention provides improved methods for contacting such viruses with suitable chromatographic materials in a fashion such that any damage to the virus, particularly to surface components thereof, resulting from contact with such chromatographic materials is minimized or eliminated. The result is the ability to rapidly and efficiently purify commercial level quantities of active (infectious) virus suitable for use in therapeutic applications, e.g. gene transfer/therapy procedures.

Abstract: An aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of medicament which is effective in treating a bodily condition by virtue of its being present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the position in unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being in gel-like form; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (iii) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the viscosity of the composition is relatively hi

Abstract: A HHV-8 producing immortalized lymphoma cell line, which is free of EBV, CMV, and HIV, and which produces large quantities of uncontaminated HHV-8.

Abstract: Expression vectors capable of being replicated in lactic acid bacterial cells comprising a promoter region comprising (a) a promoter sequence element the function of which is regulatable by an environmental or growth condition factor and (b) at least one further nucleotide sequence element, the position, orientation, presence and/or sequence of which element has a regulatory effect on the expression of a gene operably linked to the promoter region in which vectors the position, orientation, presence and/or sequence of at least one of said elements (a) or (b) is modified relative to the position, orientation, presence and/or sequence of the corresponding non-modified element whereby the expression of the gene is altered, and a lactic acid bacterium which is transformed with such a vector as defined above are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nucleic acid sequences which support episomal replication in a mammalian cell. These nucleic acid sequences, which have a length of less than 3 kb, include (a) an OriP sequence and (b) an EBNA1 sequence operably linked to a promoter.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a Staphylococcus carnosus bacterium expressing at its membrane surface a recombinant polypeptide derived from RSV protein G, said polypeptide having a sequence which is a modification of SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 2 (sequence encompassed between residues 130 and 230 of RSV A and RSV B protein G respectively) wherein at least one of position 44 and 57 is serine is disclosed.

Abstract: Fusion polypeptides and aggregates of polypeptides comprising papillomavirus-derived antigens, and compositions thereof and their use e.g. with adjuvants for immunogenic and vaccine purposes in eliciting e.g. HPV-specific immune responses. The polypeptides can be purified to result in aggregates which when in solution or dispersion can pass through a sterilisation filter, and in amorphous aggregates. An example of such a polypeptide is a fusion protein of human papillomavirus proteins L2 and E7.

Abstract: A polypeptide useful as an immunogen element and characterized in that it is carried on the peptide sequence between amino acid residues 130-230 of the G protein sequence of the human respiratory syncytial virus of sub-groups A and B, or of the bovine respiratory syncytial virus, or on a sequence at least 80% homologous thereto. An immunogenic agent or pharmaceutical composition containing said polypeptide, and methods for preparing and using the same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant adenovirus having a genome with a deficiency in the E1 region and a mutation in the MLP. The invention also provides stocks of such viruses and compositions including the inventive viruses. The invention also provides cell lines for propagating the recombinant adenoviruses.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject that is undergoing methylphenidate therapy and concomitant therapy with another drug undergoes or interferes with P.sub.450 metabolism, wherein the methylphenidate is d-threo-methylphenidate.

Abstract: This present invention demonstrates the presence of a replication-competent herpesvirus associated with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma cells, vaccines derived therefrom, methods for diagnosing for Kaposi sarcoma, and methods for screening for antiviral drugs effective against human herpesvirus.

Abstract: Polymer encapsulated metal oxide particles are prepared by combining a polyamide acid in a polar aprotic solvent with a metal alkoxide solution. The polymer was imidized and the metal oxide formed simultaneously in a refluxing organic solvent. The resulting polymer-metal oxide is an intimately mixed commingled blend, possessing synergistic properties of both the polymer and preceramic metal oxide. The encapsulated metal oxide particles have multiple uses including, being useful in the production of skin lubricating creams, weather resistant paints, as a filler for paper, making ultraviolet light stable filled printing ink, being extruded into fibers or ribbons, and coatings for fibers used in the production of composite structural panels.

Abstract: Expression vectors that include reporter genes and an operable regulatory region containing a promoter and E2 binding sites of papillomavirus (PV), are used to detect and/or titer papillomavirus by quantitative or qualitative methods.

Abstract: The invention includes a vaccine and sera for treatment of Mystery Swine Disease (MSD), a method for producing the vaccine, methods for diagnosis of MSD, a viral agent that will mimic "mystery swine disease" and antibodies to the viral agent useful in diagnosis and treatment of MSD. The serum contains mammalian antibodies which are effective in treating MSD.

Abstract: The invention concerns DNA fragments derived from the genomic DNA of HPV-33. These fragments are selected from the group of fragments extending between the nucleotide extremities defined hereafter in relation to the nucleotide-numbering in FIGS. 1a and 1b respectively:76-556543-864867-28112728-38083326-35753842-40794198-56115516-8091.The invention also relates to the use of these fragments as probes for the detection of HPV in tissue cultures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a peptide composition as an immunogen, with each peptide contained therein comprising a target antigenic site derived from the VP1 capsid protein of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV). The antigenic site is covalently linked to a helper T cell epitope and, preferably, to other immunostimulatory sequences, preferably by conventional peptide bond(s) through direct synthesis, for the prevention of FMDV infection and eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of such peptide composition as an immunogen to elicit the production in animals including swine, cattle, sheep, goats and susceptible wild species, of high titer polyclonal antibodies that can effectively neutralize, in vitro, multiple strains or serotypes of FMDV, and to the use of such composition as a vaccine to prevent, and/or reduce the incidence of, FMDV infection regardless of serotype, and thus affect the eradication of FMDV.