Abstract: The present invention provides a process for determining the quantitative and qualitative profile of the repertoire of a given type of an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain expressed by a B lymphocyte population present in a tissue sample, and kits and uses thereof. It also provides a set of VH forward primers associated with a CH reverse primer, which are respectively capable of specifically hybridizing in stringent conditions with the nucleic acids encoding the variable segments of Ig heavy chains and with the constant segment of a given type of Ig heavy chain, such as preferably an IgM, IgG, IgE or IgA heavy chain. Methods for the in vitro diagnosis of a condition associated with an abnormal expression of the repertoire of a given type of Ig heavy chain, and for the in vitro follow-up of a treatment of such a condition, are also included herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for determining the quantitative and qualitative profile of the repertoire of a given type of an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain expressed by a lymphocyte B population present in a tissue sample, and kits and uses thereof. It also provides a set of VII forward primers associated with a CII reverse primer, which are respectively capable of specifically hybridizing in stringent conditions with the nucleic acids encoding the variable segments of Ig heavy chains and with the constant segment of a given type of Ig heavy chain, such as preferably IgM, IgG, IgE or IgA heavy chain. Methods for the in vitrodiagnosis of a condition associated with an abnormal expression of the repertoire of a given type of Ig heavy chain, and for the in vitro follow-up of a treatment of such a condition, are also comprised herein.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least a PIM-activated NKT cell and the use of at least one PIM and/or a PIM-activated NKT cell for treating a disease for which a granulomatous type of immune response is desired.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least a PIM-activated NKT cell and the use of at least one PIM and/or a PIM-activated NKT cell for treating a disease for which a granulomatous type of immune response is desired.

Abstract: An altered MHC class I determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .alpha..sub.3, .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin (.beta..sub.2 m) polypeptide domains encoded by a mammalian MHC class I locus in which the .alpha..sub.3 domain is covalently linked to the .beta..sub.2 M domain. An altered MHC class II determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .beta..sub.1, and .beta..sub.2 polypeptide domains encoded by a mammalian MHC class II locus, in which the domains are covalently linked to form a polypeptide comprising the .beta..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.1 -.beta..sub.1 domains in sequence. The altered MHC class I and class II determinants can be associated with an antigen to elicit an immune response. The invention can be used in the immunization or treatment of diseases such as AIDS, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, toxic shock or snake bite.

Abstract: Composition for use in the treatment of tumors and the immunization of humans or animals comprising a synergistic association of cells, viruses, or bacteria expressing, transitorily, in organisms at least one gene for producing in vivo one or more immunomodulators, and viruses, or cells producing viruses, said viruses preferably infecting dividing cells of the treated organisms and carrying within their genome at least one gene whose expression in the dividing cells will cause their destruction.

Abstract: Composition designed to treat human or animal organisms comprising cells expressing genes enabling them to secrete in vivo one or more biologically-active substances, said cells exhibiting genetic characteristics preventing them from growing durably in the treated organism, and making them susceptible to elimination artificially or naturally from the organism. These compositions can be used in particular in the treatment of tumors or cancers, in which case the substances used are interleukins. The cells contained in these compositions are at least partially allogenic or xenogenic.

Abstract: An altered MHC class I determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .alpha..sub.3, .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin (.beta..sub.2 m) polypeptide domains encoded by a mammalian MHC class I locus in which the .alpha..sub.3 domain is covalently linked to the .beta..sub.2 M domain. An altered MHC class II determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .beta..sub.1, and .beta..sub.2 polypeptide domains encoded by a mammalian MHC class II locus, in which the domains are covalently linked to form a polypeptide comprising the .beta..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.1 -.beta..sub.1 domains in sequence. The altered MHC class I and class II determinants can be associated with an antigen to elicit an immune response. The invention can be used in the immunization or treatment of diseases such as AIDS, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, toxic shock or snake bite.

Abstract: An altered MHC class II determinant comprises .alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2, .beta..sub.1, .beta..sub.2, domains of a mammalian MHC class II locus in which the domains are covalently linked to form a construct comprising the .beta..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.2 -.alpha..sub.1 .beta..sub.1 domains in sequence. The altered class II determinants can be associated with an antigen to elicit an immune response. In addition, the altered determinants may be used to prepare antibodies. The antibodies so produced have various diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Abstract: Method for detecting the possible presence of a DNA fragment, notably of a gene, in the midst of a complex sample of nucleic acids.It comprises the hybridization of the sought fragment with a RNA probe, this being, prior or subsequent to the hybridization reaction, modified by an enzyme.Application to seeking of particular genes or DNA fragments in the midst of a biological sample.

Abstract: Method for detecting the possible presence of a DNA fragment, notably of a gene, in the midst of a complex sample of nucleic acids.It comprises the hybridization of the sought fragment with a RNA probe, this being, prior or subsequent to the hybridization reaction, modified by an enzyme.Application to seeking of particular genes or DNA fragments in the midst of a biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for determining the quantity of a DNA fragment of interest in a sample wherein:1) a standard DNA fragment can be amplified with the same oligonucleotide primers is added to the sample to be analyzed containing the DNA fragment of interest, the standard DNA fragment and the fragment of interest differing in sequence and/or in size by not more than 10%,2) the DNA fragment of interest and the standard fragment are coamplified with the same primers, preferably to saturation of the amplification of the DNA fragment of interest,3) one or more labeled oligonucleotide primer(s), specific for the DNA fragment of interest and the standard fragment and different from the primers of step 2), is/are added to the reaction medium obtained in step 2), so that, after denaturation of the DNA, said primer(s) hybridize(s) with said fragments at a suitable site in order that an elongation with the DNA polymerase generates labeled DNA fragments of different sizes and/or sequences or with

Abstract: In a method for describing repertoires of antibodies (Ab) and T cell recers (TcR) of the immune system of an individual, reverse transcription is carried out on the mRNA contained in a biological sample, separate amplifications are then carried out on the transcription product (or directly on the DNA extracted from the sample) by a PCR type method for each primer pair V, C, where V corresponds to a variable segment of the repertoire of interest and C hybridizes on the constant segment of the repertoire of interest. For each J segment of the labelled repertoire, an elongation step is carried out on each of the amplification products using a specific oligonucleotide of this segment J as primer and the amplification product as matrix. For each elongation product corresponding to a triplet (V, C)J thus obtained, the size of the different elongation products is revealed. The description of the repertoires corresponds to a VCJ triplet and to the element size for each element of the repertoire.

Abstract: Detection methods and compositions of matter comprising an enzyme coupled to a nucleic acid are disclosed. A complex of the enzyme-nucleic acid hybridized to a nucleic acid to be detected is also disclosed. The nucleic acid is detected by measuring the activity of the enzyme.

Abstract: Method for detecting the possible presence of a DNA fragment, notably of a gene, in the midst of a complex sample of nucleic acids.It comprises the hybridization of the sought fragment with a RNA probe, this being, prior or subsequent to the hybridization reaction, modified by an enzyme.Application to seeking of particular genes or DNA fragments in the midst of a biological sample.