Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of structural proteins and virus-like particles (VLPs) of flaviviruses and hepatitis C. Production is through use of a single expression cassette comprising a viral structural gene, a furin encoding gene and a bicistronic expression element such as an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) between the viral and furin genes. Both the viral gene and furin gene can include a partial capsid encoding sequence acting as a signal peptide to co-locate the viral protein and furin and to act as a membrane anchor for the viral protein and furin. A separate expression cassette comprising a non-structural viral gene can be combined with the initial cassette. The structural proteins and VLPs can be used in vaccines and in the treatment of viral infections.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies or fragments thereof that are capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71), wherein the antibody individually comprises at least one variable light chain and at least one variable heavy chain. There is also provided a method of producing an antibody capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection.

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection.

Abstract: This invention relates to Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) derived from Enterovirus and vaccines comprising such VLPs which elicit immune responses and/or protective neutralizing antibody responses directed against an Enterovirus. The instant invention provides expression cassettes and methods for making Enterovirus CV-A16 VLPs and compositions enriched in CV-A16 VLPs which exhibit conformational epitopes which elicit immune responses and/or neutralizing antibody responses which may be used in vaccines directed against Enterovirus CV-A16.

Abstract: The invention provides chimeric Enterovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) for protection and/or treatment against infection by more than one Enterovirus. More specifically, the present invention provides chimeric EV-A71 virus-like particles displaying CV-A16 VP1 polypeptides and at the same time maintaining important neutralizing antibody epitopes of EV-A71 itself. More specifically, the present invention provides chimeric CV-A16 virus-like particles displaying EV-A71 VP1 polypeptides. Thus, the present invention provides a bivalent vaccine comprising the chimeric virus-like particles which elicit an immune response and/or neutralizing antibody response to both EV-A71 and CVA-16 for the treatment of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of structural proteins and virus-like particles (VLPs) of flaviviruses and hepatitis C. Production is through use of a single expression cassette comprising a viral structural gene, a furin encoding gene and a bicistronic expression element such as an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) between the viral and furin genes. Both the viral gene and furin gene can include a partial capsid encoding sequence acting as a signal peptide to co-locate the viral protein and furin and to act as a membrane anchor for the viral protein and furin. A separate expression cassette comprising a non-structural viral gene can be combined with the initial cassette. The structural proteins and VLPs can be used in vaccines and in the treatment of viral infections.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies or fragments thereof that are capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71), wherein the antibody individually comprises at least one variable light chain and at least one variable heavy chain. There is also provided a method of producing an antibody capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of Human Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies or fragments thereof that are capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of enterovirus 71 (EV71), wherein the antibody individually comprises at least one variable light chain and at least one variable heavy chain. There is also provided a method of producing an antibody capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of enterovirus 71 (EV71).

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection.

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection.

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human Enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human Enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an enterovirus infection.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies or fragments thereof that are capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of enterovirus 71 (EV71), wherein the antibody individually comprises at least one variable light chain and at least one variable heavy chain. There is also provided a method of producing an antibody capable of specifically binding to at least one conformational epitope of enterovirus 71 (EV71).

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection.

Abstract: The instant invention provides materials and methods for producing immunologically active antigens derived from members of the Picornaviridae virus family. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in a form for use as a vaccine administered to a subject in a therapeutic treatment or for the prevention of a picornavirus infection. The picornavirus antigens of the invention may be in the form of an immunogenic composition for use in vaccines which are administered for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection. The instant invention further encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising Human enterovirus A, Human enterovirus B, Human enterovirus C, Human enterovirus D antigens and their use in vaccines for the prevention of an Enterovirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to NS1 proteins or parts thereof of Flaviviruses, in particular of Dengue viruses useful for vaccination against said Flavivirus and against one or more other Flaviviruses. The invention further concerns the NS1 protein or parts thereof of one Dengue virus serotype, in particular serotype 2, useful for vaccination against Dengue viruses from all serotypes. The invention further concerns DNA comprising an expression cassette coding for a Flavivirus NS1 or parts thereof, vectors comprising said DNA and vaccines containing or expressing a Flavivirus NS1.

Abstract: This invention relates to allergenic proteins of natural rubber latex in substantially purified form, their production and their use, together with monoclonal antibodies developed against those allergenic proteins, in assays for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the levels of the allergenic proteins in natural rubber latex or in products made from latex. Assays for identifying and/or quantitating antibodies in blood or blood products that mediate the occurrence of an allergic reaction induced by natural rubber latex are also provided, together with in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tests for detecting hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex and which involve use of the aforesaid allergenic proteins. The invention also provides for the use of the aforesaid allergens as de-sensitising agents in the treatment of latex protein allergy. There is still further provided a method for removing allergenic proteins from latex products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to NS1 proteins or parts thereof of Flaviviruses, in particular of Dengue viruses useful for vaccination against said Flavivirus and against one or more other Flaviviruses. The invention further concerns the NS1 protein or parts thereof of one Dengue virus serotype, in particular serotype 2, useful for vaccination against Dengue viruses from all serotypes. The invention further concerns DNA comprising an expression cassette coding for a Flavivirus NS1 or parts thereof, vectors comprising said DNA and vaccines containing or expressing a Flavivirus NS1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to NS1 proteins or parts thereof of Flaviviruses, in particular of Dengue viruses useful for vaccination against said Flavivirus and against one or more other Flaviviruses. The invention further concerns the NS1 protein or parts thereof of one Dengue virus serotype, in particular serotype 2, useful for vaccination against Dengue viruses from all serotypes. The invention further concerns DNA comprising an expression cassette coding for a Flavivirus NS1 or parts thereof, vectors comprising said DNA and vaccines containing or expressing a Flavivirus NS1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to NS1 proteins or parts thereof of Flaviviruses, in particular of Dengue viruses useful for vaccination against said Flavivirus and against one or more other Flaviviruses. The invention further concerns the NS1 protein or parts thereof of one Dengue virus serotype, in particular serotype 2, useful for vaccination against Dengue viruses from all serotypes. The invention further concerns DNA comprising an expression cassette coding for a Flavivirus NS1 or parts thereof, vectors comprising said DNA and vaccines containing or expressing a Flavivirus NS1.