Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing cancer by administration of human chorionic gonadotropin, .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin or a peptide containing a sequence of a portion of .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods of treating or preventing Kaposi's Sarcoma, breast cancer or prostate cancer. in another preferred embodiment, the invention relates to .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin peptides for treatment or prevention of cancer. The invention further provides assays for the utility of particular human chorionic gonadotropin preparations in the treatment or prevention of cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of administration are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and particularly, human immunodeficiency virus associated KS through the administration of antisense oligonucleotides complementary to basic fibroblast growth factor RNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing diseases or disorders associated with hematopoietic deficiency by administration of human chorionic gonadotropin, .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin or a peptide containing a sequence of a portion of .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin. The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing diseases or disorders associated with hematopoietic deficiency by administration of hematopoietic cells, the numbers of which have been increased by contacting the cells with human chorionic gonadotropin, .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin or a peptide containing a sequence of a portion of .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin. The invention also provides assays for the utility of particular human chorionic gonadotropin preparations in the treatment or prevention of hematopoietic deficiencies or in the increasing of hematopoietic cell numbers in vitro. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of administration of are also provided.

Abstract: Methods useful for treating cancers are disclosed. The methods involve administering human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or human luteinizing hormone (hLH) to patients having cancers. Articles of manufacture that are useful for carrying out the described methods are also described. The claimed methods are effective against breast, prostate, ovary, and stomach carcinomas, as well as neuroblastomas, and Kaposi's sarcoma, among others.

Abstract: An envelope protein of the etiologic agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a method for its preparation are disclosed. Proviral DNA is transferred into a host cell after engineering into an expression vector which produces the envelope protein. A method of testing human blood for the presence of antibodies to the AIDS virus using the AIDS envelope protein is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the HIV-1 strains MN-ST1 and BA-L which are typical United States HIV-1 isotypes. The present invention relates to DNA segments encoding the envelope protein of MN-ST1 or BA-L, to DNA constructs containing such DNA segments and to host cells transformed with such constructs. The viral isolates and envelope proteins of the present invention are of value for use in vaccines and bioassays for the detection of HIV-1 infection in biological samples, such as blood bank samples.

Abstract: An envelope protein of the etiologic agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a method for its preparation are disclosed. Proviral DNA is transferred into a host cell after engineering into an expression vector which produces the envelope protein. A method of testing human blood for the presence of antibodies to the AIDS virus using the AIDS envelope protein is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods useful for treating cancers are disclosed. The methods involve administering human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or human luteinizing hormone (hLH) to patients having cancers. Articles of manufacture that are useful for carrying out the described methods are also described. The claimed methods are effective against breast, prostate, ovary, and stomach carcinomas, as well as neuroblastomas, and Kaposi's sarcoma, among others.

Abstract: A new human B lymphotropic virus, also designated human herpesvirus-6, has been isolated. DNA, molecular clones, antigenic viral proteins and antibodies having specificity to the new virus have been prepared. Various utilities of the new virus and products derived therefrom have been described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the HIV-1 strains MN-ST1 and BA-L which are typical United States HIV-1 isotypes. The present invention relates to DNA segments encoding the envelope protein of MN-ST 1 or BA-L, to DNA constructs containing such DNA segments and to host cells transformed with such constructs. The viral isolates and envelope proteins of the present invention are of value for use in vaccines and bioassays for the detection of HIV-1 infection in biological samples, such as blood bank samples.

Abstract: The present invention is related to immortalized cell lines. More particularly, the present invention is related to an immortalized Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cell line derived from cells isolated from the pleural effusion of AIDS patients with KS. Monoclonal antibodies against KS cells are also provided, as are methods for evaluating antimalignancy therapies.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for arresting or inhibiting the growth of cells in Kaposi's Sarcoma lesions and a method for arresting or inhibiting the growth of the Kaposi's Sarcoma lesions, said methods comprising contacting the cells in the lesions with an effective amount of SP-PG, a naturally occurring sulfated polysaccharide-peptidoglycan produced by a specific species of the bacterium Arthrobacter, AT-25. The invention is also directed to blocking or inhibiting the activity of cellular vascular permeability factor(s), which comprises contacting vascular cells with an effective amount of SP-PG. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for blocking or inhibiting increased vascular permeability (and resulting edema) in diseases and disorders in which the increased vascular permeability contributes to the pathology, for example, in Kaposi's Sarcoma, tumorigenesis, inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the HIV-1 strains MN-ST1 and BA-L which are typical United States HIV-1 isotypes. The present invention relates to DNA segments encoding the envelope protein of MN-ST1 or BA-L, to DNA constructs containing such DNA segments and to host cells transformed with such constructs. The viral isolates and envelope proteins of the present invention are of value for use in vaccines and bioassays for the detection of HIV-1 infection in biological samples, such as blood bank samples.

Abstract: Novel hybridoma cell lines and monoclonal antibodies are provided which can differentiate between HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIV retrovirus isolates. A synthetic peptide which is useful as a universal diagnostic reagent for detecting retroviral infection is also described.

Abstract: Retroviruses associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), including Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV), are isolated from the sera of patients afflicted with Lymphadenopathy Syndrome (LAS) or AIDS. LAV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Viral extract, structural proteins and other fractions of the retrovirus immunologically recognize the sera of such patients. Immunological reaction is used to detect antibodies that specifically bind to antigenic sites of the retrovirus in samples of body fluids from patients with AIDS or risk of AIDS. A kit for in vitro assay of LAS or AIDS is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a growth factor found in HTLV-II conditioned media and to compositions containing same. The growth factor of the present invention supports the growth of Kaposi's sarcoma endothelial-like cells. The factor has a molecular weight of 30K to 35K in monomeric form and a molecular weight of about 70K in dimeric form.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies, and hybridoma cell lines for their production, that bind with a high degree of specificity proteins associated with HTLV-III virus are presently disclosed. In particular, transmembrane envelope glycoprotein gp41 (41,000 dalton molecular size), major core antigen p24 (24,000 dalton molecular size), and p17 protein (17,000 dalton molecular size) are disclosed. The proteins to which the present monoclonal antibodies respond are essentially antigenically distinct from HTLV-I and HTLV-II. SVM-16 is an IgM monoclonal antibody, SVM-23 is an IgG.sub.2 monoclonal antibody, and SVM-26 is an IgG.sub.1 monoclonal antibody, all of which bind to p24. SVM-25 is an IgG.sub.1 monoclonal antibody binding gp41, and SVM-33 is an IgG.sub.1 monoclonal antibody binding p17. All the monoclonal antibodies of the present invention are produced in hybridoma cells prepared by fusing myeloma cells with spleen cells from mammals, such as mice, immunized with lysates of purified virus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to synthetic peptides derived from the conserved region of the HTLVIII envelope proteins. These peptides are useful as reagents for immunoassays for detection of AIDS antibodies, as components of immunogenic compositions useful as vaccines, and for the production of anti-bodies selective to said envelope protein and methods for detecting the presence of AIDS antibodies in biological fluid samples.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method to measure natural human antibodies in sera which will neutralize HTLV-III infection in an in vitro assay. Basically, cell-free virus is incubated with serum and used to infect H9 cells, which are then put in culture for three days, and viral infectivity is assayed using a monoclonal antibody specific for HTLV-III p24 in an immune fluorescent assay.

Abstract: Retroviruses associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), including Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV), are isolated from the sera of patients afflicted with Lymphadenopathy Syndrome (LAS) or AIDS. LAV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Viral extract, structural proteins and other fractions of the retrovirus immunologically recognize the sera of such patients. Immunological reaction is used to detect antibodies that specifically bind to antigenic sites of the retrovirus in samples of body fluids from patients with AIDS or risk of AIDS. A kit for in vitro assay of LAS or AIDS is provided.