Abstract: The present invention relates to macrocyclic compounds of formula (I) that are useful as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease, their synthesis, and their use for treating or preventing HCV infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 5,6-ring annulated indole derivatives of the formula (I), compositions comprising at least one 5,6-ring annulated indole derivatives, and methods of using the 5,6-ring annulated indole derivatives for treating or preventing a viral infection or a virus-related disorder in a patient.

Abstract: The present invention features nucleic acid containing one or more adaptive mutations, and HCV replicon enhanced cells. Adaptive mutations are mutations that enhance HCV replicon activity. HCV replicon enhanced cells are cells having an increased ability to maintain an HCV replicon.

Abstract: A class of nucleoside derivatives of formula (I), as defined herein, that are useful as inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA viral replication and in particular HCV replication, are provided. Also provided are processes for the synthesis and use of such compounds for treating or preventing HCV infection. formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention features PD-1 binding proteins, a subset of which inhibits binding of PD-L1 to the PD-1 receptor. These binding proteins can be employed to modulate the immune system through the manipulation of the PD-1 signaling pathway, enhancing host immunity to treat infections and cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for increasing the yield of plasmid DNA production. The method includes the steps of selecting a highly productive clonal subtype of a strain of E. coli, including but not limited to the DH5 strain, harboring a DNA plasmid and cultivating said clonal subtype with fed-batch fermentation in a chemically-defined medium. The plasmid DNA production process described herein can generate record quantities of plasmid DNA when said highly productive clonal subtypes are cultivated on an industrial scale. The disclosed method can be used for the production of pharmaceutical grade DNA for use in polynucleotide vaccination and gene therapy treatment regimens.

Abstract: The present invention features antigen binding protein that bind to a SR-BI target region identified herein as a region involved in HCV E2 binding. Identified target regions are regions bound by a single-chain antibody of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel forward mutation assay based on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance which utilizes a strain of Salmonella typhimurium derived from the Ames strain TA100. More specifically, the invention provides a high throughput alternative to the standard Ames mutation assay for the evaluation of the genotoxicity activity of compounds during an early stage of the drug development process. The invention also identifies the upp locus as a mutational target that is capable of detecting a diverse spectrum of mutagenic events and further describes a S. typhimurium tester strain, designated FU100 (his+, rfa, ?uvrB, pkM101, 5-fluorouridine resistant) for use in the assay of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention features HCV NS3 protease substrates containing a europium label and a quenching group. The europium label and quenching group are located on different sides of an ester HCV NS3 protease cleavage site. The substrate can be used in a time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) assay to measure HCV protease activity.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for producing HCV replicons using HCV encoding sequences from different isolates. The featured methods are based on the discovered importance of NS3 amino acid position 470 in conferring cell culture replication activity to different HCV isolates.

Abstract: The present invention features assays employing a beta-lactamase reporter system, an HCV replicon enhanced cell, and/or a chimeric HCV replicon containing a 3? UTR based on the HCV-1a 3? UTR. These features can be employed alone or together, and are preferably combined together to measure HCV replicon activity and the affect of compounds on such activity.

Abstract: The present invention features NS5B polypeptides from different clinically important HCV genotypes. The polypeptides can be used individually, or as part of a panel of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, to evaluate the effectiveness of a compound to inhibit NS5B activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the molecular biology and virology of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). An object of the present invention is a method to reproduce in vitro the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of HCV that makes use of sequences contained in the HCV NS5B protein.

Abstract: The present invention features NS5B polypeptides from different clinically important HCV genotypes. The polypeptides can be used individually, or as part of a panel of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, to evaluate the effectiveness of a compound to inhibit NS5B activity.