Abstract: An adenovirus vector/packaging cell line system is disclosed, in which the vector replication is blocked by deletion of a single gene, which deletion does not interfere with any other viral functions. The deleted gene is the gene of the adenovirus protease. The protease is expressed in a complementing (packaging) cell line through a regulatable expression cassette which induces no toxic effects in the cells, thus making the generation and propagation of the vector easier and more efficient. As the deleted gene is highly specific of adenovirus, no complementation of the gene in transduced cells is expected, which increases the safety of the new vectors for gene transfer purposes. Also disclosed is a new system of generating recombinant adenovirus vectors by positive selection of recombinants deleted for the endogenous protease gene, which gene is cloned in another region of the adenoviral genome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oligonucleotide probes derived from HSV-2, capable of selectively hybridizing thereto and to a subsequence of HSV-2 BglII N from which the oligonucleotide probes were derived. Further, the invention relates to an optimized assay of nudeic acid amplification permitting the sensitive and specific detection in clinical specimens of HSV-2 as well as a specific typing of the HSV in the sample. The present invention further relates to kits for the detection and typing of the HSV in a sample. In addition, the invention provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequence of a subsequence of HSV-2 BglII N having transforming activity. Further, the invention teaches diagnostic and therapeutic methods for genital cancer comprising the use of these sequences or ligands directed thereto.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition comprising (i) at least one antigen or at least one in vivo generator of a compound comprising an amino acid sequence and (ii) at least one adjuvant comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable and water-soluble salt of an organic anion and a metal cation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions that use the hepatitis B virus genome, and fragments or extensions, in a baculovirus vector, to develop anti-HBV agents and to drive high-level expression of a desired gene in a cell of hepatic origin.

Abstract: Peptides are used to define epitopes that stimulate HLA-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against hepatitis B virus antigens. The peptides are derived from regions of HBV polymerase, and are particularly useful in treating or preventing HBV infection, including methods for stimulating the immune response of chronically infected individuals to respond to HBV antigens.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides having anti-apoptotic activity, and methods of screening for such novel polypeptides having anti-apoptotic activity, and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides; Compounds that regulate or modulate apoptosis and/or anti-apoptotic activity, such as compounds having anti-apoptotic activity, and such as compounds that induce, restore, or modulate apoptosis and/or inhibit, diminish, or modulate anti-apoptotic activity, methods of screening for such compounds, and methods of using such compounds in the therapeutic treatment of diseases; Methods of treating eukaryotic cells with compounds that regulate or modulate apoptosis and/or anti-apoptotic activity; Methods of enhancing the stability, growth, and/or productivity of eukaryotic cells; Pharmaceutical compositions that regulate or modulate apoptosis and/or anti-apoptotic activity.

Abstract: A cell-based assay system in which the detection of the reporter gene activity, or secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP), is dependent upon the protease activity of the Hepatitis C virus NS3 gene product. This system can be used to assess the activity of candidate protease inhibitors in a mammalian cell-based assay system. The assay system is simpler than previously described assays due to the use of SEAP which allows the reporter gene activity to be quantified by measuring the amount of secreted gene product in the cell media by monitoring the conversion of luminescent or colorimetric alkaline phosphatase substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing expression of a promoter distal gene in a virus of the order Mononegavirales, and a recombinant virus constructed by such method. Also provided is a method of attenuating a virus of the order Mononegavirales, and of constructing an attenuated virus useful for a vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved assay for detecting the presence of an antibody to an HCV antigen in a sample by contacting the sample with at least one polypeptide containing at least one epitope of an HCV antigen. Preferred assay formats include a confirmatory assay, a combination assay, a synthetic polypeptide-based assay, an immunodot assay and a competition assay.

Abstract: The present invention provides a purified preparation containing a polynucleic acid encoding at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of proteins encoded by one or more open reading frames (ORF's) of an Iowa strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), proteins at least 80% but less than 100% homologous with those encoded by one or more of ORF 2, ORF 3, ORF 4 and ORF 5 of an Iowa strain of PRRSV, proteins at least 97% but less than 100% homologous with proteins encoded by one or both of ORF 6 and ORF 7 of an Iowa strain of PRRSV, antigenic regions of such proteins which are at least 5 amino acids in length and which effectively stimulate immunological protection in a porcine host against a subsequent challenge with a PRRSV isolate, and combinations thereof, in which amino acids non-essential for antigenicity may be conservatively substituted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5′ oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules are disclosed, comprising an alphavirus nonstructural protein gene which, when operably incorporated into a recombinant alphavirus particle, eukaryotic layered vector initiation system, or RNA vector replicon, has a reduced level of vector-specific RNA synthesis, as compared to wild-type, and the same or greater level of proteins encoded by RNA transcribed from the viral junction region promoter, as compared to a wild-type recombinant alphavirus particle. Also disclosed are RNA vector replicons, alphavirus vector constructs, and eukaryotic layered vector initiation systems which contain the above-identified nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a vaccine composition for humans against YF infections consisting essencially of a recombinant YF virus, YFiv5.2/DD, which is regenerated from YF infectious cDNA. There is provided new plasmids, pYF 5′3′ IV/G1/2 and pYFM 5.2/T3/27, which together, have the complete sequence of said YF infectious cDNA. The method for producing recombinant YF virus and the Original, Primary and Secondary Seed Lots are other embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant yellow fever viruses (YFV), particularly live attenuated recombinant YFV, which comprise exogenous (i.e., non-YFV) nucleotide sequences which encode exogenous (i.e., non-YFV) amino acid sequences. These recombinant YFV viruses comprise an exogenous nucleic acid. Infection of a host cell with a recombinant YFV provides for expression of the exogenous nucleic acid in a host cell and production of an antigenic polypeptide encoded by the exogenous nucleic acid. Such recombinant YFV are useful in eliciting an immune response to the exogenous polypeptide.

Abstract: Peptide sequences are provided which are capable of mimicking proteins encoded by HCV for use as reagents for screening of blood and blood products for prior exposure to HCV. The peptides are at least 5 amino acids long and can be used in various specific assays for the detection of antibodies to HCV, for the detection of HCV antigens, or as immunogens.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides that encode HVEM of mammalian origin, expression vectors containing those polynucleotides, host cells transformed with those expression vectors, a process of making HVEM using those polynucleotides and vectors, and isolated and purified HVEM.

Abstract: A DNA characterized by coding for a single-stranded antibody capable of binding to a hepatitis B virus core protein: a single-stranded antibody coding for the DNA: a therapeutic agent for hepatitis B comprising the single-stranded antibody as the active ingredient; and a gene therapeutic agent containing the DNA as the active ingredient.

Abstract: Hepatitis GB Virus (HGBV) nucleic acid and amino acid sequences useful for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, kits for using the HGBV nucleic acid or amino acid sequences, HGBV immunogenic particles, and antibodies which specifically bind to HGBV. Also provided are methods for producing antibodies, polyclonal or monoclonal, from the HGBV nucleic acid or amino acid sequences.

Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to methods of screening viral-binding compounds. In particular, the present invention provides cell-free assays to rapidly screen libraries of compounds for viral-capsid binding activity. Such compounds are useful for anti-viral treatments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies and other binding molecules specific for hepatitis B viral antigens (HBV), peptides comprising epitopes recognized by such molecules, and cell lines capable of producing antibodies. The invention is further concerned with the use of such molecules in diagnosis of HBV. The invention further relates to a method for the diagnosis of hepatitis B, the method comprising contacting the sample suspected to contain hepatitis B particles or antigens with a specific binding molecule according to the invention. The invention further relates to an assay kit for the detection of a hepatitis B particle or antigen, the kit comprising a specific binding molecule of the invention and means for detecting whether the specific binding molecule is bound to a hepatitis B particle or antigen.