Abstract: Ultra high affinity antibodies with binding affinities in the range of 1010 M−1, and even 1011 M−1 are disclosed. Such antibodies include antibodies having novel high affinity complementarity determining regions (CDRs), especially those with framework and constant regions derived from either humans or mice. Methods of preparing and screening such antibodies, as well as methods of using them to prevent and/or treat disease, especially virus-induced diseases, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining binding of a receptor to one or more ligands. The method consists of contacting a collective receptor variant population with one or more ligands and detecting binding of one or more ligands to the collective receptor variant population. The collective receptor variant population can be further divided into two or more subpopulations, one or more of the two or more subpopulations can be contacted with one or more ligands and one or more receptor variant subpopulations having binding activity to one or more ligands can be detected. The steps of dividing, contacting and detecting can be repeated one or more times. The invention also provides methods for identifying a receptor variant having optimal binding activity to one or more ligands. The invention additionally provides a method for determining binding of a ligand to one or more receptors.

Abstract: High potency antibodies, including immunologically active fragments thereof, having high kinetic association rate constants and optional high affinities are disclosed, along with methods for producing such antibodies. The high potency antibodies disclosed herein are of either the neutralizing or non-neutralizing type and have specificity for antigens displayed by microorganisms, especially viruses, as well as antigenic sites present on cancer cells and on various types of toxins, and the products of toxins. Processes for producing high potency neutralizing antibodies and increasing the potency of already existing neutralizing antibodies are also described. Methods of using said antibodies in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases, especially diseases induced or caused by viruses, are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the proliferation of a neoplastic cell. The method consists of contacting the neoplastic cell with a cytotoxic or cytostatic binding agent specifically reactive with an aberrantly expressed vesicular membrane associated neoplastic cell specific internalizing antigen. The neoplastic cell specific internalizing anitgen can be selected from the group consisting of lamp-2 and limp II families of lysosomal integral membrane proteins. Also provided is a method of intracellular targeting of a cytotoxic or cytostatic agent to a neoplastic cell population.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the proliferation of a neoplastic cell. The method consists of contacting the neoplastic cell with a cytotoxic or cytostatic binding agent specifically reactive with an aberrantly expressed vesicular membrane associated neoplastic cell specific internalizing antigen. The neoplastic cell specific internalizing anitgen can be selected from the group consisting of lamp-2 and limp II families of lysosomal integral membrane proteins. Also provided is a method of intracellular targeting of a cytotoxic or cytostatic agent to a neoplastic cell population.

Abstract: A high throughput device is provided for simultaneously isolating periplasmic fractions from multiple samples of host cells. The device can be formatted to operate in a series. A method for simultaneously isolating multiple periplasmic fractions is also provided. The method includes (a) providing a high throughput device for isolating periplasmic fractions from multiple samples of host cells having an outer membrane via attaching a removable sample chamber having a membrane chamber wall to a vacuum chamber and applying a vacuum thereto (b) removing media with the vacuum and (c) removing the outer membrane of the host cells (d) attaching a collection chamber to the vacuum chamber and applying a vacuum thereto in order to carry out a collection of the periplasmic fractions that pass through the membrane of the chamber wall from the host cells.

Abstract: The Applicants have discovered humanized anti-human CD40 antibodies which block the interaction between gp39 and CD40. The anti-CD40 antibodies of the present invention are effective in modulating humoral immune responses against T cell-dependent antigens, collagen induced arthritis, and skin transplantation, and are also useful for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising a plurality of procaryotic cells containing a diverse population of expressible oligonucleotides operationally linked to expression elements, said expressible oligonucleotides having a desirable bias of random codon sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for isolating from the immunological gene repertoire a gene coding for a receptor having the ability to bind a preselected ligand. Receptors produced by the gene isolated by the method, particularly catalytic receptors, are also contemplated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for isolating from the immunological gene repertoire a gene coding for a receptor having the ability to bind a preselected ligand. Receptors produced by the gene isolated by the method, particularly catalytic receptors, are also contemplated.

Abstract: The invention provides a Vitaxin antibody and a LM609 grafted antibody exhibiting selective binding affinity to &agr;v&bgr;3. The Vitaxin antibody consists of at least one Vitaxin heavy chain polypeptide and at least one Vitaxin light chain polypeptide or functional fragments thereof. Also provided are the Vitaxin heavy and light chain polypeptides and functional fragments. The LM609 grafted antibody consists of at least one CDR grafted heavy chain polypeptide and at least one CDR grafted light chain polypeptide or functional fragment thereof. Nucleic acids encoding Vitaxin and LM609 grafted heavy and light chains as well as nucleic acids encoding the parental non-human antibody LM609 are additionally provided. Functional fragments of such encoding nucleic acids are similarly provided. The invention also provides a method of inhibiting a function of &agr;v&bgr;3.

Abstract: The invention provides a LM609 grafted antibody exhibiting selective binding affinity to &agr;v&bgr;3. The LM609 grafted antibody consists of at least one LM609 CDR grafted heavy chain polypeptide and at least one LM609 CDR grafted light chain polypeptide or functional fragment thereof. Nucleic acids encoding LM609 grafted heavy and light chains as well as nucleic acids encoding the parental non-human antibody LM609 are additionally provided. Functional fragments of such encoding nucleic acids are similarly provided. The invention also provides a method of inhibiting a function of &agr;v&bgr;3. The method consists of contacting &agr;v&bgr;3 with a LM609 grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof under conditions which allow binding to &agr;v&bgr;3. Finally, the invention provides for a method of treating an &agr;v&bgr;3-mediated disease. The method consists of administering an effective amount of a LM609 grafted antibody or functional fragment thereof under conditions which allow binding to &agr;v&bgr;3.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising a plurality of procaryotic cells containing a diverse population of expressible oligonucleotides operationally linked to expression elements, said expressible oligonucleotides having a desirable bias of random codon sequences.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising a plurality of procaryotic cells containing diverse combinations of first and second DNA sequences encoding first and second polypeptides which form a heteromeric receptor exhibiting binding activity toward a preselected molecule, those heteromeric receptors being expressed on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for manipulating nucleic acids so as to optimize the binding characteristics of an encoded binding protein by providing two or more nucleic acids encoding binding proteins having at least one set of splicing sites, the set of splicing sites flanking opposite ends of one or more encoded binding domains; mixing the nucleic acids to produce a parent population of mixed nucleic acids encoding binding proteins; and randomly incorporating the binding domains between the nucleic acids through the set of splicing sites to produce a different population of nucleic acids encoding binding proteins wherein at least one binding protein is characterized by substantially different binding characteristics than a member of the parent population.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising a plurality of procaryotic cells containing diverse combinations of first and second DNA sequences encoding first and second polypeptides which form a heteromeric receptor exhibiting binding activity toward a preselected molecule, those heteromeric receptors being expressed on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage.

Abstract: This invention provides a computer-executed method and means for simulating chemical synthesis. The invention concerns the simulation, by a programmed general purpose digital computer, of chemicals that have biological functions, and more specifically, concerns computer-implemented simulation of such chemicals based upon their synthesis and their assayed biological activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of synthesizing oligonucleotides having random tuplets using individual monomers. The steps consist of: (1) sequentially coupling monomers on separate supports to form at least two different tuplets, the coupling is performed in separate reaction vessels; (2) mixing the supports from the reaction vessels; (3) dividing the mixed supports into two or more separate reaction vessels; and (4) repeating steps (1) through (3) one or more times in the reaction vessels of step (3), wherein the last step ends at step (2). Additionally, the oligonucleotides can be cleaved from the supports.

Abstract: The present invention includes non-RGD cyclic peptides that inhibit the function of the integrin receptor, .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3. The inventive peptides are between five to about thirty amino acids in length and include the sequence (SEQ ID NO:8), Arg-Cys-Asp-Gly-X.sub.i where X.sub.i is any amino acid, and a five-membered cyclic portion. These non-RGD peptides display surprisingly potent antagonist activity despite the lack of the consensus binding sequence Arg-Gly-Asp, and present opportunities for selective targeting to the .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 receptor. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are also disclosed. The therapeutic uses for the inventive peptides include treating diseases involving .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.3 receptors such as cancer, osteoporosis, restenosis, and angiogenic-based diseases.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing isolated, soluble peptides having constrained secondary structure in solution is described herein. The peptides are encoded by expressible oligonucleotides having a desirable bias of random codon sequences.