Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: Vaccines used in the eradication or control of pestivirus infections, particularly those vaccines used in pigs or ruminants. The invention provides nucleic acid, pestivirus-like particles and a pestivirus vaccine, including the nucleic acid or particles, which are capable of eliciting a proper immune response without the ability to spread throughout the vaccinated animal, thereby avoiding the negative consequences of viral spread. Preferably, the immune response allows for serological discrimination between vaccinated animals and wild-type pestivirus infected animals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing attenuated forms of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus by mutating the Npro protease gene. The invention includes the attenuated viruses made by the method, antibodies generated using these viruses, and vaccines that can be used for immunizing cattle.

Abstract: A deletion mutant of bovine herpesvirus type 1 which has a deletion in the glycoprotein gE-gene and which may further have a deletion in the thymidine kinase gene and/or the glycoprotein gI-gene, or have an insertion of a heterologous gene is disclosed. Recombinant nucleic acids which encode the gE-gene or a part thereof are also disclosed, in addition to vaccines and a method of treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a broad spectrum IBDV vaccine that is able to induce a protective immune response against classical- and variant E IBDV strains. Moreover, the vaccine can be administered to poultry by mass application routes.

Abstract: The recombinant live vaccine comprises, as vector, a feline herpesvirus comprising and expressing at least one nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide, this sequence being inserted into the ORF5 and/or ORF2 sites. Polyvalent vaccine formula and feline herpesvirus DNA fragments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a treatment for animals having canine distemper by administering a composition comprising an attenuated canine distemper virus a sub-vaccine virus level effective to alleviate symptoms canine distemper. The invention also provides a treatment for animals having canine distemper by administering a composition comprising an attenuated canine measles virus a sub-vaccine virus level effective to alleviate symptoms canine distemper.

Abstract: A water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion to be used in an antigen delivery system to induce rapid and long-lasting immunity among populations of livestock, birds, and fish. The external aqueous phase of the W/O/W emulsion contains a thixotropic inorganic salt, such as aluminum hydroxide or alum. The presence of the inorganic salt helps to elicit both a Th1 and a Th2 response from the subject's immune system, and the thixotropic properties of the salt stabilize the water-in-oil-in-water emulsion, thereby providing a longer vaccine shelf life. The antigen dose to be delivered to the subject may be contained in entirely in the internal aqueous phase. Alternatively, a first portion of the total antigen dose may be included in the internal aqueous phase and a second portion is included in the external aqueous phase. The incorporation of a portion of the antigen in the external aqueous phase triggers a more uniform immune response across a vaccinated population.

Abstract: A mutant herpesvirus that can be used as a recombinant virus vector comprises (a) a mutation such that the mutant virus has a reduced ability in comparison with a parent type to cause lysis of an infected cell, and (b) an inactivating mutation in a gene essential for the production of infectious virus. An example is a HSV1 mutant lacking the essential glycoprotein gH gene and having a mutation impairing the function of gene product VP16. A heterologous gene can be carried at the site of the inactivated essential gene, e.g. a gene suitable for administering gene therapy. The vector has an increased margin of safety over known herpesvirus vectors in respect of incidence of cytopathic effects and/or risk of reversion.

Abstract: Papillomavirus-like particles (VLPs) comprising truncated L1 proteins are provided wherein the L1 proteins have one or more carboxy terminal amino acid residues deleted.

Abstract: Use for novel chemokine-binding protein designated A41L, and chemokine-binding fragments thereof, for the treatment of conditions such as inflammation. The A41L protein beinds to chemokines in the CXC group.

Abstract: Recombinant viruses comprising a heterologous DNA sequence coding for a protein having glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity, preparation thereof, and therapeutic use thereof, in particular for treating and/or preventing degenerative neurological diseases.

Abstract: Vaccine formulations comprising viral capsomeres are disclosed along with methods for their production. Therapeutic and prophylactic methods of use for the vaccine formulations are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention discloses recombinant vectors and live attenuated pathogens produced by these vectors which are useful as vaccines and therapeutic agents. Particularly disclosed are live attenuated recombinant viruses that remain at very low virus loads, and preferably do not persist in the infected hosts. These recombinant viruses are useful against retroviruses such as human immunodeficiency virus and against acquired immunodeficiency diseases. In the recombinant vectors and pathogens, one or more genes, or part of the gene(s), responsible for pathogenesis have been completely or partially rendered nonfunctional, e.g., by full or partial deletion or mutagenesis. Further, the recombinant vectors and pathogens contain one or more genes encoding cytokine(s) and/or lymphokine(s).

Abstract: An attenuated, avirulent recombinant vaccine providing challenged protection against channel catfish virus comprises deletion of gene 50. Gene 50 encodes a secreted glycoprotein. Removal of gene 50, or replacement of gene 50 with foreign genetic material, provides a vaccine with which induces virus specific immunity against CCV disease.

Abstract: A mutant herpesvirus that can be used a recombinant virus vector includes (a) a mutation such that the mutant virus has a reduced ability in comparison with a parent type to cause lysis of an infected cell, and (b) an inactivating mutation in a gene essential for the production of infectious virus. An example is a HSV1 mutant lacking the essential glycoprotein gH gene and having a mutation impairing the function of the gene product VP16. A heterologous gene can be carried at the site of the inactivated essential gene, e.g. a gene suitable for administering gene therapy. The vector has an increased margin of safety over known herpesvirus vectors in respect of incidence of cytopathic effects and/or risk of infection.

Abstract: A live attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) is described which comprises a viral gene rearrangement. This rearranged attenuated virus is useful as vaccine for protection against infection with VEE. Methods of preparing the virus and methods of using the virus are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel rotavirus reassortants, vaccines employing the novel reassortants and methods for their preparation and administration. One such reassortant contains the gene encoding the v.p.7 neutralization antigen of a human rotavirus. Another reassortant contains the gene encoding the v.p.4 neutralization antigen of a human rotavirus. The remaining genes are provided solely from the bovine rotavirus WC3 strain, or from both the human and bovine strains.

Abstract: Human Papillomavirus vaccine formulations which contain virus-like particles (VLPs) can be made more stable and have an enhanced shelf-life, by treating the VLPs to a disassembly and reassembly process. Also provided are formulation buffers to long term stable storage of VLPs.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel peptides and proteins and nucleic acids encoding them, which are useful against HIV infection. The peptides comprise an amino acid sequence of a part of the HIV-1 p17 protein or of the HIV-2 p16 protein, from amino acid residues 31 to 45 or from amino acid residues 41 to 55. The proteins are recombinant p16 and p17 proteins having an alteration in helix A which is defined by amino acid residues 31 to 46, or the A-B loop which is defined by amino acid residues 47 to 52.

Abstract: Disclosed is a measles virus mutant antigen consisting essentially of a measles virus mutant H protein antigen, wherein said measles virus mutant H protein antigen is at least one member selected from the group consisting of the following amino acid sequences (a) to (c): (a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; (b) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11; and (c) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4 or SEQ ID NO: 12 By the use of the measles virus mutant antigen of the present invention, it has become possible to provide efficiently and economically a live attenuated measles vaccine which is adapted for an epidemic strain of measles virus, and a diagnostic reagent capable of accurately detecting infections with an epidemic strain of measles virus.

Abstract: A system for the generation of live, nonpathogenic infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), a segmented double-stranded (ds)RNA virus of the Birnavirdae family, using synthetic transcripts derived from cloned DNA has been developed. Independent full-length cDNA clones were constructed which contained the coding and non-coding regions of RNA segments A and B of IPNV, respectively. Segment A was modified to prevent the expression of NS protein. Synthetic RNAs of both segments were produced by in vitro transcription of linearized plasmids with T7 RNA polymerase. Transfection of CHSE cells with combined plus-sense transcripts of both segments generated infectious virus. The development of a system for producing NS protein deficient IPNV will greatly facilitate studies of viral pathogenesis, and the development of live attenuated vaccines for IPNV.

Abstract: cDNAs coding for an infectious Western Equine Encephalitis virus (WEE) and infectious Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus variant IE (VEE IE) are disclosed in addition to cDNA coding for the structural proteins of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus variant IIIA (VEE IIIA). Novel attenuating mutations of WEE and VEE IE and their uses are described. Also disclosed are attenuated chimearic alphaviruses and their uses.

Abstract: A recombinant virus is provided which is obtained from a BHV virus originally having the gI gene whose DNA sequence is delimited by nucleotides 172 and 1311 of SEQ ID NO:1 herein and which has been mutated by total or partial deletion and/or insertion in this region. By the mutation in this region, there is no longer any expression of the glycoprotein which has been mutated or rendered inactive, and thus animals vaccinated with these mutants do not develop antibodies against the glycoprotein and can be serologically distinguished from animals infected by field BHV-1 strains and other vaccinal strains currently used. A method of using the present recombinant virus is also provided which allows one to distinguish infected animals from vaccinated animals in a manner that has not previously been possible using presently available commercial vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to alphavirus expression vectors comprising at least part of an alphavirus genome and heterologous RNA inserted downstream of an alphavirus base sequence having translation enhancing activity. Such vectors can be used to achieve enhanced levels of expression of DNA or cDNA coding for a desired product and being complementary to said heterologous RNA after introduction of said vector in eukaryotic cells in cell culture or in a living body. The expression product may have therapeutical or prophylactic activity.

Abstract: A method for tolerizing a mammalian subject to administration of a live virus carrying a gene for delivery to a cell of the subject is disclosed. The method entails administering to the subject a suitable amount of an inactivated virus prior to administration of the live virus. The prior administration of the inactivated virus suppresses anti-virus cytotoxic T cells, permitting longer transgene persistence once the live virus is administered, and permitting effective readministration of live virus.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new vaccine composition for Herpes Simplex comprising a whole live HSV-2 virus having the oncogene deleted. Methods of using the vaccine composition are also included.

Abstract: Therapeutic multispecific compounds comprised of anti-Fc&agr; receptor antibodies and methods of use are provided.