Abstract: A chimeric protein containing neutrophil inhibitory factor and hirugen, the chimeric protein having an amino acid sequence that includes FPRPGSGG (SEQ ID NO:21) Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the chimeric protein, which can be used for treating or preventing cerebral injury and cerebral edema, or for inhibiting platelet aggregation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel product and method for isolating ectoparasite saliva proteins, and a novel product and method for detecting and/or treating allergic dermatitis in an animal. The present invention includes a saliva protein collection apparatus capable of collecting ectoparasite saliva proteins substantially free of contaminating material. The present invention also relates to ectoparasite saliva proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, and antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins and to use such proteins to identify animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins and their use to treat animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis.

Abstract: Compositions enriched for Neutrophil Inhibitory Factor which inhibit neutrophil activity including adhesion to vascular endothelial cells are provided. Also provided are recombinant Neutrophil Inhibitory Factors which also which inhibit neutrophil activity. Such compositions may comprise a glycoprotein isolated from nematodes. These compositions and recombinant Neutrophil Inhibitory Factors are useful in the therapy of conditions which involve abnormal or undesired inflammatory responses.

Abstract: Methods for eliciting or enhancing immune responses to antigens, including tumor antigens, and/or DNA vaccines are provided. The methods employ polypeptides or nucleic acid compositions that contain at least a biologically active portion of a Leishmania braziliensis or Leishmania major homologue of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4A, or a variant thereof. Such polypeptides and compositions are useful for enhancing or eliciting a patient's cellular and/or humoral immune response, for instance within methods for treating tumors.

Abstract: The invention provides neuropeptide ligands, G protein-coupled receptors and methods of screening for modulators of receptor activity. Identified modulators, including neuropeptide ligand mimetics, are useful as biostatic and biocidal agents of varying scope, ranging from lethal activity restricted to particular invertebrate parasites to broad spectrum invertebrate parasiticides active on a wide range of invertebrates, including helminths and insects.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to adjuvants, and in particular to methods and products utilizing a synergistic combination of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides having at least one unmethylated CpG dinucleotide (CpG ODN) and a non-nucleic acid adjuvant. Such combinations of adjuvants may be used with an antigen or alone. The present invention also relates to methods and products utilizing immunostimulatory oligonucleotides having at least one unmethylated CpG dinucleotide (CpG ODN) for induction of cellular immunity in infants.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis and stimulating immune responses in patients are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least an immunogenic portion of one or more Leishmania antigens, or a variant thereof. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides, or DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides, are also provided and may be used, for example, for the prevention and therapy of leishmaniasis, as well as for the detection of Leishmania infection.

Abstract: Compositions comprising biologically pure Pfs230 and nucleic acids which encode them are provided. The proteins can be used induce transmission blocking immune responses in susceptible hosts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth proteins of about 39 kD (i.e., P39 proteins); to parasitic helminth P39 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; and to antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and/or antibodies as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth PLA2 proteins; to parasitic helminth PLA2 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit parasitic helminth phospholipase A.sub.2 activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth proteins of about 39 kD (i.e., P39 proteins); to parasitic helminth P39 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; and to antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and/or antibodies as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: Isospora suis is propagated using a swine testicular cell line which facilitates production of sporozoites and merozoites, either or both of which can be used in a vaccine for swine. Antibodies against Isospora suis sporozoites, which inhibit the infectivity of the sporozoites for the swine testicular cells, were made. These neutralizing antibodies were used to identify an apparent sporozoite attachment protein and cloned cDNA encoding a portion of the protein. The cloned cDNA was sequenced and the corresponding amino acid sequence of the antigenic sporozoite protein revealed two areas having repeated amino acid sequences, which may likewise be used in a vaccine.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis and stimulating immune responses in patients are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least an immunogenic portion of one or more Leishmania antigens, or a variant thereof. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such polypeptides are also provided and may be used, for example, for the prevention and therapy of leishmaniasis, as well as for the detection of Leishmania infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to helminthic derived antigenic material capable of inducing effective and long lasting protection against parasites, in particular to antigens that mediate protective immunity against helminths.

Abstract: Purified bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP-9) proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed, The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and cartilage defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel Eimeria proteins with immunogenic properties as well as to DNA sequences encoding these proteins. These proteins can be administered to poultry thereby protecting the birds against coccidiosis. In addition the DNA encoding these proteins can be used for the preparation of a vector vaccine against coccidiosis.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant antigenic proteins of avian coccidiosis, and fragments thereof containing antigenic determinants, and to the genes that encode the antigenic peptides. This invention also relates to vaccines made using the novel antigenic proteins of avian coccidiosis and to methods of immunizing chickens against avian coccidia.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel recombinant antigenic proteins of avian coccidiosis, and fragments thereof containing antigenic determinants, and to the genes that encode the antigenic peptides. This invention also relates to vaccines made using the novel antigenic proteins of avian coccidiosis and to methods of immunizing chickens against avian coccidia.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a P. falciparum merozoite antigenic polypeptide of approximate molecular weight 185,000. The polypeptide and processing fragments are specific to, and isolable using, a monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma cell line HB 9148. The polypeptides are useful in immunizing against malaria.

Abstract: Multiple antigen peptide systems are described in which a large number of antigens are bound to the functional groups of a dendritic core molecule providing a high concentration of antigen in a low molecular volume. The products are useful for producing chemically defined univalent or multivalent vaccines and in diagnostic tests.

Abstract: The synthetic peptide TT3, the amino acid sequence of which corresponds to the region 947-967 of the tetanus toxin is recognized by different human Th cell clones in association with a wide range of alleles of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Said peptide contains at least two epitopes, of which one (953-967) is recognized by the DR5-restricted clones and the other (947-960) is recognized by all other DR and DP alleles restricted clones. The TT3 peptide and the peptide corresponding to the 947-960 epitope can be used as universal carriers in the preparation of immunogenic conjugates consisting of at least one of said peptides and a natural or synthetic hapten derived from a pathogenic agent of interest.The immunogenic conjugates are particularly suitable for preparing synthetic vaccines able to provide a protective immunity against different pathogenic agents which is not genetically restricted or is only slightly genetically restricted.

Abstract: An Entamoeba histolytica specific cDNA clone which encodes an antigenic surface membrane protein possessing multiple tandem repeats and expression in E. coli is disclosed.