Abstract: Antibodies against citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA) have shown their relevance for the diagnosis and possibly pathogenesis in arthritis. Described are means and methods for determining antibodies against homocitrulline-containing proteins or carbamylated proteins/peptides (anti-CarP) for the classification of individuals suffering from, or at risk of suffering from, arthritis.

Abstract: Described are methods for removing a proteolytic cleavage site, the HCHWA-D mutation or the amino acids encoded by a trinucleotide repeat expansion from a protein comprising providing a cell that expresses pre-mRNA encoding the protein with an anti-sense oligonucleotide that induces skipping of the exonic sequence that comprises the proteolytic cleavage site, HCHWA-D mutation or trinucleotide repeat expansion, respectively, the method further comprising allowing translation of mRNA produced from the pre-mRNA.

Abstract: The invention provides a polynucleotide comprising a reporter sequence operatively linked to a regulatory element of a gene selected from Bscl2, Srxnl, Cbr3, Ephxl, Nope, Cdknla, Perp, Pltp, Cgrefl, Ltb4r1, Btg2, Gpx2, Ltb4r2, Ddit4l, Fosl1, and Egr1, which regulatory element stimulates expression of the reporter sequence in response to a genotoxic agent or to an oxidative stress-inducing agent. The invention also provides a method of detecting a genotoxic or oxidative stress-inducing agent comprising subjecting a cell containing the polynucleotide of the invention to a test agent; and assessing the expression of the reporter sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to means and methods for removing a proteolytic cleavage site from a protein comprising providing a cell that expresses pre-mRNA encoding the protein with an anti-sense oligonucleotide that induces skipping of the exonic sequence that encodes the proteolytic cleavage site, the method further comprising allowing translation of mRNA produced from the pre-mRNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a peptide derived from HPV-E2, -E6 and/or E7 protein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of an HPV related disease, wherein the medicament is for interdermal administration.

Abstract: A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.

Abstract: Epitopes derived from human papilloma virus and peptides having a size of about 22-45 amino acid residues comprising minimal T cell epitopes are disclosed. Also disclosed are clinically relevant approaches for immunizing subjects against (Myco) bacterially and/or virally infected cells or tumor cells. Peptide sequences of 22-35 amino acid residues in length can induce both peptide-specific CD8+ cytolytic cells and CD4+ T-helper cells. Moreover, vaccination with 22-35 residue long peptides results in a more vigorous CD8+ cytolytic T-cell response than vaccination with peptides of the exact minimal CTL epitope length. The intrinsic capacity of certain minimal CTL epitopes which instead of activating cytolytic effector cells tolerize these cytolytic cells, can be overcome by use of these 22-35 amino acid long peptides.

Abstract: The invention provides the discovery and characterization of a novel arterivirus protein (nsp2TF), whose expression is dependent on ?2 ribosomal frameshifting at a site located in the nsp2 coding region. The coding region for the unique TF domain of nsp2TF overlaps the part of ORF1a that encodes the transmembrane region of nsp2 in arteriviruses, including PRRSV, LDV and SHFV. Mutations affecting the expression of nsp2TF impair PRRSV replication and result in a smaller plaque phenotype. Provided herein are arteriviruses that display reduced translation of nsp2TF and/or altered translation of one or more downstream products, arteriviruses in which nsp2TF function is reduced and/or absent, and vaccines comprising said arteriviruses. Also provided herein are diagnostic methods, methods for identifying compounds that inhibit ?2 frameshifting, and gene expression tools for eukaryotic systems utilizing ?2 frameshifting.

Abstract: Described are means and methods for removing a proteolytic cleavage site from a protein, the method comprising providing a cell that expresses pre-mRNA encoding the protein with an anti-sense oligonucleotide that induces skipping of the exonic sequence that encodes the proteolytic cleavage site, and allowing translation of mRNA produced from the pre-mRNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a peptide derived from HPV-E2, E6 and/or E7 protein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of an HPV related disease, wherein the medicament is for intradermal administration.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to antimicrobial peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides and to uses thereof for treatment or prevention of microbial, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inducing or promoting skipping of exon 45 of DMD pre-mRNA in a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patient, preferably in an isolated (muscle) cell, the method comprising providing an isolated muscle cell with a molecule that binds to a continuous stretch of at least 21 nucleotides within the exon. The invention further relates to such molecule used in the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates comprising a peptide of at least 10 amino acid residues comprising the amino acid sequence GITELKKL (residues 383-390 of SEQ ID NO: 3) for induction of potent humoral and cellular immune responses when administered to subjects having antibodies against tetanus toxoid. In one embodiment the invention relates to a prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine and in a further embodiment the invention relates to the treatment or prevention of cancer or an infectious disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method where a molecule is used for inducing and/or promoting the skipping of at least one of the exons 51-53, 55, 57 and 59 of the DMD pre-mRNA in a patient, preferably in an isolated cell of a patient. The method comprising providing the cell and/or the patient with a molecule. The invention also relates to the molecule and its composition that is being used for inducing exon skipping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide having a length of no more than 100 amino acids and comprising at least 19 contiguous amino acids from the amino acid sequence of the human PRAME protein, wherein the peptide comprises at least one HLA class II epitope and at least one HLA class I epitope from the amino acid sequence of the human PRAME protein and to its use as such or in a composition as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to antimicrobial peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides and to uses thereof for in the treatment or prevention of microbial, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide having a length of no more than 100 amino acids and comprising at least 19 contiguous amino acids from the amino acid sequence of the human PRAME protein, wherein the peptide comprises at least one HLA class II epitope and at least one HLA class I epitope from the amino acid sequence of the human PRAME protein and to its use as such or in a composition as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a treatment of diabetes, a scaffold and a method of preparing a scaffold. In a first aspect, this object is met by providing a scaffold comprising beta cell aggregates, wherein the aggregates are distributed over the scaffold in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: The metabolization of certain phenols, monophenols or benzenediols into reactive quinone compounds, in particular ortho-quinones and related reactive intermediates, which is brought about by oxidation of monophenols and benzenediols by proteins exhibiting tyrosinase activity, such as human tyrosinase and the related proteins TRP1 and TRP2. The compounds function as haptens that become covalently bound to the tyrosinase enzymes, in particular to histidine moieties, in or near the catalytic site of proteins exhibiting tyrosinase activity, such as tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2. An immune response is then to be mounted against these haptenized auto-antigens to treat malignancies.

Abstract: The invention among other provides means and methods for modulating NOTCH3 expression and/or protein coding domain. In one aspect the invention provides a method for at least reducing an elevated level of NOTCH3 protein in a NOTCH3 expressing cell or the immediate vicinity thereof said method comprising providing said cell with an anti-sense oligonucleotide specific for NOTCH3 mRNA or pre-mRNA thereby decreasing production of said NOTCH3 protein or thereby altering the protein coding region in said NOTCH3 mRNA or pre-mRNA.