Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for tolerizing shed antigen-specific B cells involved in an immune complex-mediated disease progression. The composition comprises a substantially non-immunogenic carrier molecule to which is linked carbohydrate chains containing a suppressive amount of a repeated, antigenic carbohydrate determinant derived from a shed antigen of interest. In a method of tolerizing shed antigen-specific B cells involved in an immune complex-mediated disease progression, administered to an individual is a therapeutically effective amount of the composition which, when contacting the shed antigen-specific B cells, induces tolerization of the shed antigen-specific B cells.

Abstract: Methods for controlling cell death when the cell is exposed to one or more potentially lethal cellular insults. In one method, cell death is inhibited by introducing a reactive oxygen species limiter into the cell which prevents the build up of lethal levels of reactive oxygen species when the cell is exposed to a cellular insult. In another method, cell death is promoted in cancer cells or other proliferating cells which are naturally resistant to lethal cellular insults. The method involves neutralizing reactive oxygen species limiters, such as bcl-2, which occur naturally in cancer cells and which prevent the build up of reactive oxygen species within the cancer cells when they are exposed to lethal cellular insult. Neutralizing the reactive oxygen species limiter leaves the cancer cell unable to protect itself when cellular insult causes increases in the level of reactive oxygen species. The result is an increase in cell death.

Abstract: Endogenous and exogenous proteins, and fragments thereof, are chemically modified outside the body of an animal so that when injected into the animal they produce more antibodies against the unmodified protein than would injection of the unmodified protein or fragment alone. The chemical modification may be accomplished by attaching the proteins or fragments to carriers such as, for example, bacterial toxoids. The chemical modification can also be accomplished by polymerization of protein fragments. Proteins which can be modified include Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. The modified polypeptides may be administered to animals for the purpose of contraception, abortion or treatment of hormone-related disease states and disease disorders, treatment of hormone-associated carcinomas, and to boost the animals resistance to exogenous proteins, for example viral proteins.

Abstract: The present invention deals with LHRH analogs which contain cytotoxic moieties, have influence on the release of gonadotropins from the pituitary in mammals (possess high agonistic or antagonistic activity) and have antineoplastic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for treating and preventing infection by an immunodeficiency virus, particularly HIV infection, using chemokine proteins, nucleic acids and/or derivatives or analogues thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising at least one complement moiety and at least one carbohydrate moiety, and methods of producing such compositions. In particular, the compositions of the invention comprise complement proteins related to the complement receptor type 1, and further comprise ligands for intercellular molecules, such as selectins. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions comprise a complement-related protein in combination with the Lewis X antigen or the sialyl Lewis X antigen. The compositions of the invention have use in the diagnosis or therapy of disorders involving complement activity and inflammation. Pharmaceutical compositions are also provided for treating or reducing inflammation mediated by inappropriate complement activity and intercellular adhesion.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining surface expression of a desired protein or polypeptide in Gram-positive host organisms are provided. In addition, vectors useful in such methods as well as Gram-positive host organisms transformed with such vectors are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising a population of non-covalent heat shock protein 70-peptide complexes purified from mammalian tumor tissues or mammalian cells infected with an infectious agent. When administered to a mammal, the compositions are capable of eliciting an immune response. The compositions are also useful for treatment of cancer and infectious diseases in animals.