Abstract: The invention provides a polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising a beta2-microglobulin molecule linked through its carboxyl terminal to a polypeptide stretch that allows the anchorage of the beta2-microglobulin molecule to the cell membrane, and through its amino terminal to at least one antigenic peptide comprising a MHC class I epitope, wherein said antigenic peptide is not related to an autoimmune disease and is preferably derived from a tumor-associated antigen or from a pathogenic antigen. Antigen presenting cells, and DNA and cellular vaccines for treatment of cancer and infectious diseases, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA molecules encoding a chimeric polypeptide comprising (a) a component of a MHC molecule capable of association on a cell surface with an endogenous MHC molecule component of the same class, and (b) an intracellular region of a signal transduction element capable of activating T cells. Component (a) may be a monomorphic component and is preferably beta 2-microglobulin, or a polymorphic class I or class II component. The signal transduction element (b) capable of activating T cells may be a component of T-cell receptor CD3, preferably the CD3 zeta (zeta) polypeptide, a B cell receptor polypeptide or an Fc receptor polypeptide. Immune cells such as a CTLs expressing said chimeric MHC molecules specifically eliminate or inactivate harmful T cells and are useful for treating graft rejection and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Chimeric proteins are provided having binding specificity for at least two different sites, at least one site being on the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the other bite being either on said gp120 protein or on the extracellular portion of human CD4, said chimeric protein comprising: (a) a first binding region comprising a soluble extracellular portion of human CD4; (b) a second binding region comprising a variable region of an antibody heavy chain, preferably VH3; (c) a linker that connects (a) and (b); and, optionally, a portion of a constant region of an immunoglobulin chain. The chimeric proteins are useful for prevention and treatment of HIV infection.

Abstract: Chimeric receptor genes suitable for endowing lymphocytes with antibody-type specificity include a first gene segment encoding a single-chain Fv domain of a specific antibody and a second gene segment encoding all or part of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, and optionally the extracellular domain, of an immune cell-triggering molecule. The chimeric receptor gene, when transfected to immune cells, expresses the antibody-recognition site and the immune cell-triggering moiety into one continuous chain. The transformed lymphocytes are useful in therapeutic treatment methods.

Abstract: There are produced recombinant gene pairs which endow mononuclear cells, mainly various lymphocyte type cells, with antibody-type specificity. In specific gene pairs the rearranged gene pairs code for a binding site of an antibody molecule from the same species, of the T-cell receptor gene, or another species. Gene pairs of the invention code, for example, for antibodies specific towards tumor-specific antigens, viral antigens, modified self antigens, bacterial or fungal antigens, autoimmune type disease antigens and the like. The invention further relates to expression vectors for the effective transfection of such cell types comprising such a recombinant gene pair, to methods for producing same and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient an effective quantity of lymphocytes transfected with such gene pairs.

Abstract: There are produced recombinant gene pairs which endow mononuclear cells, mainly various lymphocyte type cells, with antibody-type specificity. In specific gene pairs the rearranged gene pairs code for a binding site of an antibody molecule from the same species, of the T-cell receptor gene, or another species. Gene pairs of the invention code, for example, for antibodies specific towards tumor-specific antigens, viral antigens, modified self antigens, bacterial or fungal antigens, autoimmune type disease antigens and the like. The invention further relates to expression vectors for the effective transfection of such cell types comprising such a recombinant gene pair, to methods for producing same and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient an effective quantity of lymphocytes transfected with such gene pairs.