Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus wherein each pair of jaws (42) is mounted on a carriage (29, 31) freely mobile on longitudinal slide rails and subjected to the action of springs (28, 32) pushing them towards a retractable stop borne by the frame of the other carriage, while the frame (1) of one of the carriages (29) is itself mounted sliding on transverse slide rails (8) and is coupled to drive means (10) capable of moving it on said rails (8) between an initial position, wherein the pairs of jaws (42, 43) are aligned, and a connecting position, wherein the pairs of jaws are offset and the retractable stops retracted, and the hot blade is borne by a carriage vertically mobile, in both directions, on vertical slide rails (20), said carriage (27) having the shape of a wedge whereof the two lateral sides are profiled and co-operate each, after the retractable stops are retracted and while the blade (27) is being raised, with a roller having a horizontal axis projecting rearward of the corresponding frame or

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing antibodies neutralizing HIV primary isolates in a mammal, comprising administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide represented by the formula N-L-C, in which: N represents the amino acid sequence 25–81 of gp41, C represents the amino acid sequence 112–157 of gp41, and L represents a flexible linking sequence comprising from 2 to 30 amino acids.

Abstract: Multivalent immunogenic molecules comprise a carrier molecule containing at least one functional T-cell epitope and multiple different carbohydrate fragments each linker to the carrier molecule and each containing at least one functional B-cell epitope. The carrier molecule inputs enhanced immunogenicity to the multiple carbohydrate fragments. The carbohydrate fragments may be capsular oligosaccharide fragments from Streptococcus pneumoniae, which may be serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F or 23F, or Neisseria meningitidis, which may be serotype A, B, C, W-135 or Y. Such oligosaccharide fragments may be sized from 2 to 5 kDa. Alternatively, the carbohydrate fragments may be fragments of carbohydrate-based tumor antigens, such as Globo H, LeY or STn. The multivalent molecules may be produced by random conjugation or site-directed conjugation of the carbohydrate fragments to the carrier molecule.

Abstract: Expression vectors are described which permit the recombinant expression of proteins which essentially contain, in addition to nucleic acid encoding the recombinant protein, nucleic acid encoding a non-proteolytic analog of Haemophilus Hin47 protein, with or without leader sequence, or nucleic acid encoding high molecular weight proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus, which are hmwB, hmwC or hmwBC.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods for the production of non-infectious, replication-deficient, immunogenic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-like particles. These particles are prepared from a recombinant expression vector comprising a heterologous promoter operatively connected to a DNA molecule comprising a modified HIV genome devoid of the long terminal repeat (LTR) regulatory regions but containing at least the gag and pol genes in their natural genomic arrangement. This vector is introduced into mammalian cells to produce the particles of interest. These particles should prove useful in a number of diagnostic, virologic, and immunologic applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides reagents and methods for producing and utilizing targeted immunogens. In preferred embodiments, an immunogen is conjugated to an amino acid sequence that targets the immunogen to the MHC presentation pathway. Using the reagents and methods provided herein, immunization protocols may be enhanced resulting in increased immunity of the host.

Abstract: The invention concerns the stabilization of a vaccine composition maintained in liquid state by the use of high molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidone, hence eliminating the use of albumen. The invention is of particular interest for vaccine compositions comprising attenuated live viruses such as oral vaccine against poliomyelitis.

Abstract: A multi-component immunogenic composition confers protection on an immunized host against infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Such composition comprises at least two different antigens of Haemophilus influenzae, one of which is an adhesin. High molecular weight (HMW) proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae enhance the immune response in a host to a non-proteolytic analog of Hin47 protein in such immunogenic compositions with one component not impairing the immunogenicity of the other. The Haemophilus vaccine may be combined with DTP component vaccines to provide a multi-valent component vaccine without impairment of the immunogenic properties of the other antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one vaccine antigen, which also comprises at least one phosphoric ester derivative of phosphatidylcholine having the structure: in which: R1 is a lower alkyl, R2 and R3 are identical or different, and can each represent linear hydrocarbon-based chains having from 13 to 21 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Animal-free meninge fermentation media and process is developed based upon use of a chemically defined medium. To improve polysaccharide production, fed-batch fermentation is examined using different feed solutions and feeding strategies. A feed solution containing glucose, amino acids, and trace metal elements produces Group A polysaccharide at approximately 3 times the level observed with batch fermentation. This process is used successfully to produce polysaccharides of N. meningitidis serotypes, A, C, Y and W-135 and is run reproducibly at the 20 L scale and can be scaled to 400 L or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical compositions for use in immunization against HIV-related infections, and concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least an HIV antigen and DCchol. Such a composition has proved to be particularly interesting for inducing through the mucus system IgG and IgA specific to the administered antigen. The inventive pharmaceutical composition, in a particularly advantageous manner, can be in the form of a liposome suspension or emulsion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide and the use of the nucleic acid or polypeptide in preventing and/or treating cancer. In particular, the invention relates to improved vectors for the insertion and expression of foreign genes encoding tumor antigens for use in immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer.

Abstract: In summary of this disclosure, the present invention provides a method of nucleic acid, including DNA, immunization of a host, including humans, against disease caused by infection by a strain of Chlamydia, specifically C. pneumoniae, employing a vector, containing a nucleotide sequence encoding an 98 kDa putative outer membrane protein of a strain of Chlamydia pneumoniae and a promoter to effect expression of the 98 kDa putative outer membrane protein gene in the host. Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention thus provides a polypeptide capable of forming a structure corresponding to or mimicking the intermediate of gp41 as well as its use in a vaccine for treating or preventing HIV infections.

Abstract: Strains of Leishmania and other macrophage-infecting parasites are provided which express the GM-CSF gene which are useful in treating hosts infected by the parasite and in protecting hosts against disease caused by infection of hosts by parasites. The parasites are reduced in their ability to infect or survive in macrophages and hence are attenuated. At least one gene of the parasite contributing to the virulence thereto may be functionally disabled. The attenuated strains may be used for administration to a host (a) to treat a host infected by Leishmania or (b) to confer protection against disease caused by a virulent Leishmania strain, or as a diagnostic reagent.

Abstract: Protective high molecular weight (HMW) proteins are produced recombinantly by expression from E. coli by using a promoter effective in E. coli and a nucleic acid molecule which contains a modified operon of a non-typeable strain of Haemophilus. The modified operon contains the portion only of the A region which encodes the mature HMW protein and the complete B and C regions of the operon. Enhanced levels of expression of the HMW proteins can be achieved by including the E. coli cer gene, a further copy of the portion of the A region of the operon encoding the mature protein or both in the expression vector. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the hmw1 and hmw2 genes and HMW1 and HMW2 proteins, respectively of several non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae strain have been identified.

Abstract: The invention concerns nucleic acids coding for polypeptides specific of the Neisseria genus pathogenic strains, the corresponding polypeptides, and their diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to reagents and methods for enhancing an immune response using CD36 binding region/antigen hybrid polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding the hybrid polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention comprises novel polypeptide antigens that can be used for therapeutic and prophylactic immunization against HIV-related infections. The polypeptide of the invention mimics the intermediate state of gp41 and is capable of inducing antibodies which neutralize primary isolates of HIV. The invention also comprises compositions comprising the polypeptide and methods of using it.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vaccine compositions comprising iron phosphate as adjuvant. This iron phosphate is in the form of particles, the size of which is between 0.01 &mgr;m and 300 &mgr;m; it can be obtained by mixing a solution of iron salt and of phosphate salt.