Abstract: A cell-free method for translation and assembly of retroviral, particularly HIV, capsid and capsid intermediates is disclosed. Also disclosed are novel HIV capsid assembly intermediates and novel host proteins which bind to such assembly intermediates. The invention also includes a screening method for compounds that alter retrovirus capsid assembly, and a method of treating HIV using compounds which inhibit the HIV capsid assembly pathway.

Abstract: A purified, soluble lymphocyte-derived antimicrobial protein that has a molecular weight of 16 kD on SDS-PAGE, is inactivated by heating at 56° C. for 30 minutes or by treatment with trypsin, is expressed by CD3−, CD2+ cytokine-stimulated cells', and is active against Gram positive or Gram-negative bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide sequences encoding gp120 polypeptides from breakthrough isolates of vaccine trials using MN-rgp120 and the encoded gp120 polypeptides are provided. Use of the gp120 polypeptides from one or more of the isolates in a subunit vaccine, usually together with MN-rgp120, can provide protection against HIV strains that are sufficiently different from the vaccine strain (e.g.; MN-rgp120) that the vaccine does not confer protection against those strains. Antibodies induced by the polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: A vaccine composition is disclosed that comprises polypeptides and fragments of polypeptides containing histidine triad residues or coiled-coil regions, some of which polypeptides or fragments lie between 80 and 680 residues in length. Also disclosed are processes for preventing infection caused by S. pneumoniae comprising administering of vaccine compositions.

Abstract: Provided are methods for inducing an increase in the number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients by administering human GM-CSF. The GM-CSF may be administered concurrently with at least one antiretroviral agent.

Abstract: A chimeric viral packaging signal is described for the transmission of genetic materials via retrovirus. The packaging signal contains an essential packaging nucleic acid sequence and a non-essential nucleic acid sequence. The packaging signal lacks gag gene sequences, and has approximately one order of magnitude greater infectivity than retrovirus-derived packaging signals without gag gene sequences. The packaging signal of the invention can be used to transmit genetic material for gene therapy, cell therapy, or other biotechnological applications.

Abstract: Cysteine-depleted CTL epitopes can elicit a stronger or more specific CTL response than the native, cysteine-containing CTL epitope of a disease associated antigen.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds comprising a ubiquitination recognition element and a protein binding element. The invention also relates to the use of said compounds for modulating the level and/or activity of a target protein. The compounds are useful for the treatment of disease such as infections, inflammatory conditions, cancer and genetic diseases. The compounds are also useful as insecticides and herbicides.

Abstract: A prion-physiological structure and associated method of formation. A provided abnormal prion has a transforming power over a normal prion to convert the abnornal prion into defective prion that mimics the abnormal prion. A linker molecule is then bonded to the abnormal prion, wherein a polymer that is covalently attached to the linker molecule facilitates formation of a polymerized abnormal prion that does not have the transforming power over the normal prion.

Abstract: The present invention provides bacterial and fungal ABC transporter proteins, immunogenic fragments thereof, neutralizing agents specific thereto and binding agents specific thereto for therapeutic and diagnostic use, together with diagnostic test methods, methods of same and kits for performing same. Also provided are immunodominant conserved antigens from gram positive staphylococci, together with neutralising and binding agents specific thereto for use in therapy and diagnosis, and methods of same. Also provided are Staphylococcal homologues of IstA and IstB and immunogenic fragment thereof, and their uses in methods of treatment and diagnosis of the human or animal body.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for rendering a polypeptide capable of binding with Vpr and to susceptible to incorporation into a are provided. Methods of treating a human patient infected with a virus which expresses Vpr and methods of providing a polypeptide to a cell of a human patient are also included. The invention further includes a method of determining whether a polypeptide comprises a Vpr-binding region.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind with a high degree of binding affinity to a native ungulate PrPC and/or a denatured ungulate PrPSc, but not to a native ungulate PrPSc. Preferred antibodies find native bovine PrPC and treated PrPSc but not native bovine PrPSc and can be used in an assay to determine if a sample is infected with infectious prions, i.e. PrPSc.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing C hepatitis (HCV), induced infections, which in a preferred embodiment, comprises a main active principle, (i) a fusion polypeptide, including the HCV capsid polypeptide (C191) and polypeptide coat (E1) and in which at least one cleavage site 173/174 and 191/192 has been made inoperative by mutation; (ii) an equimolar mixture of the C191 polypeptide of which the cleavage site 173/174 has been made inoperative and of the E1 polypeptide (mixture equivalent to the fusion polypeptide); or (iii) a DNA molecule coding for this fusion polypeptide. Products (i) to (iii) are characterized in that the C191 element is incapable of regulating the functioning of the genes, in particular of causing them to interact. Such a composition can also include any form equivalent to the products described above.

Abstract: A vaccine composition adapted for mucosal administration is provided. The composition includes one or more influenza vaccine antigens and an effective adjuvant amount of an acid addition salt of a chitosan wherein the chitosan is a deacetylated chitin which is at least 80% deacetylated and has a weight average molecular weight of between 10,000 and 100,000.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein defined in the following (A) or (B), and DNA coding for the same: (A) a protein which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, or (B) a protein which has the amino acid sequence including substitution, deletion, insertion, or transition of one or several amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, and exhibits activity to eliminate a sialic acid residue from a non-reducing terminal of ganglioside.

Abstract: Immunogenic preparations and vaccines, in particular which are inactivated, effective against feline calicivirosis, based on an FCV virus strain 431 as deposited at the CNCM under the accession number CNCM I-2166, or one of its equivalents, in a veterinarily acceptable vehicle or excipient, preferably combined with FCV virus obtained from another FCV strain, in particular strain G1 as deposited at the CNCM under the accession number CNCM I-2167.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for reducing the viral load by removal of viruses or fragments or components thereof from the blood by extracorporeally circulating blood through hollow fibers which have in the porous exterior surface, immobilized affinity molecules having specificity for viral components. Passage of the fluid through the hollow fibers causes the viral particles to bind to the affinity molecules thereby reducing the viral load in the effluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-inflammatroy oligopeptide which can be obtained from the microorganism Entamoeba histolytica or synthesized by known methods. The oligopeptides are useful in treating inflammatory diseases when formulated in pharmaceutical compositions for administration to patients.

Abstract: Recombinant proteins have been developed for the immunization of animals against cryptosporidiosis. The proteins are effective for the immunization of a variety of animals against Cryptosporidium parvum, particularly for the production of hyperimmune colostrum that may be used to confer passive immunity against the parasite. Isolated DNA sequences which encode these proteins have also been developed. The DNA sequences may be inserted into recombinant DNA molecules such as cloning vectors or expression vectors for the transformation of cells and the production of the proteins.

Abstract: The invention here relates to recombinant DNA constructs which comprise a Venezuelan equine encephalitis replicon vector and at least one DNA fragment encoding a protective antigen from the Marburg virus. The DNA constructs are useful for inducing an immune response which is protective against infection with Marburg virus in nonhuman primates.