Abstract: The present invention relates to viral interleukin-6 (v-IL-6), which can be obtained by recombinant expression of the DNA of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), and which may be used in diagnosis and treatment of human diseases such as kaposi sarcoma, Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, kidney cell carcinoma, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis or B cell lymphoma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to viral interleukin-6 (v-IL-6), which can be obtained by recombinant expression of the DNA of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), and which may be used in diagnosis and treatment of human diseases such as kaposi sarcoma, Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, kidney cell carcinoma, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis or B cell lymphoma.

Abstract: The invention relates to the human herpesvirus type 6 protein p100 and parts thereof having its specific immunological properties. It further relates to antibodies directed to them and to the corresponding DNA sequences. They can be used in pharmaceutical or diagnostic compositions, optionally together with other HHV-6 proteins or the corresponding DNA sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for immunoassay of analytes employing mutant glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) enzymes as labels. In particular, the invention relates to the use of conjugates of an analyte or analyte analog and a mutant NAD.sup.+ dependent G6PDH differing from any precursor G6PDH by the deletion, substitution, or insertion, or any combination thereof of at least one amino acid per subunit. The invention also involves the construction of several mutations in precursor glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) enzymes. Typically, the mutations involve deletion or substitution of one or more lysine residues, or introduction of one or more cysteine residues by insertion of cysteine to precursor G6PDH or substitution of precursor G6PDH amino acids residues with cysteine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for extending a primer to produce a single stranded polydeoxynucleotide that has two or more defined sequences. A combination is provided which comprises a template polynucleotide, a blocker polynucleotide, a primer polynucleotide and a polynucleotide Q. The template polynucleotide has three sequences T1, T2 and T3 wherein T1 is non-contiguous and 3' of T3 and wherein the 5' end of T3 is 5' of the 5' end of T2. The primer polynucleotide has a second defined sequence at its 3' end that is hybridizable with T1. The blocker polynucleotide has sequence B1 that is hybridizable with T3. Polynucleotide Q has sequences S1 and S2 wherein S1 is 3' of S2 and homologous with T2 and S2 is complementary to a first defined sequence that is to be introduced at the 3' end of the polynucleotide primer, when it is extended during the method of the invention. Polynucleotide Q is either attached to the 5' end of the blocker polynucleotide or present as a separate reagent.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of stabilizing molecules, or parts of molecules, which are sensitive to hydrolysis, in particular hydrolysis-sensitive labels or label-containing tracers in aqueous solutions. The invention also concerns kits for carrying out immunological assays making use of the method proposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the immunochemical determination of one or more analytes in a sample using an immobilized specific receptor R1, which exhibits interactive bioaffinity with the analyte, and a specific receptor R2, which likewise exhibits interactive bioaffinity with the analyte and which as a rule is labeled. In the novel process, a receptor R3, which possesses one or more than one specific binding site for the analyte, is added and the resulting immune complexes are entirely or partially dissociated, after which they are reassociated and subsequently detected. According to a further embodiment, a receptor R4 is employed in addition to the receptor R3, which receptor R4 possesses an affinity towards R3 and is immobilized on the solid phase, with the resulting immune complexes being entirely or partially dissociated, after which they are reassociated and subsequently detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the immunochemical determination of an analyte in a sample by means of a first specific binding partner, where the specific binding partner being immobilized on a support and the extent of the binding of the analyte to the specific binding partner being determined by means of a further specific binding partner which directly or indirectly bears a label, wherein there is additionally added to the process a binding factor, which is not labelled.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies (mAB) which bind to water-soluble complexones such as ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) or diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) with high specificity and avidity and retain their high avidity and specificity for these complexones after complexing of EDTA or DTPA with metal ions. These mAB can therefore be used, e.g. coupled on filters or other supports, for removing toxic heavy metals which are complexed with EDTA or DTPA. Furthermore, these mAB are suitable as components of immunoassays (RIA, ELISA etc.) for the quantitative determination of EDTA or DTPA in aqueous solutions.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies (mAB) which bind to water-soluble complexones such as ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) or diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) with high specificity and avidity and retain their high avidity and specificity for these complexones after complexing of EDTA or DTPA with metal ions. These mAB can therefore be used, e.g. coupled on filters or other supports, for removing toxic heavy metals which are complexed with EDTA or DTPA. Furthermore, these mAB are suitable as components of immunoassays (RIA, ELISA etc.) for the quantitative determination of EDTA or DTPA in aqueous solutions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial positive control reagents based on antibody conjugates that are used in immunochemical detection methods and to processes for the preparation of these reagents.

Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and fragments thereof which have a specific affinity for the plasmin-antiplasmin complex and which display no affinity or only a very low affinity for the individual components of these complexes, and to antigens which can be defined and/or isolated with the aid of these antibodies or antibody fragments. The antibodies, antibody fragments and antigens can be used as diagnostic aid, active substance or active substance carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sampling kit for obtaining, in a rapid and gentle manner, a defined volume of lacrimal fluid for the purpose of reproducibly determining components of the lacrimal fluid.

Abstract: Reagent for determining the ionic strength and/or the specific weight of aqueous liquids and a reagent for this purpose, the composition of the reagent being such that the color change indicating the ionic strength is essentially directly dependent on the specific weight of the liquid to be determined and not on a pH shift.

Abstract: Compounds having detergent properties are disclosed. When a modifying reagent is brought into contact with these compounds, the detergent properties are decreased. These compounds are useful, for example, as solubilizing agents for microbial antigens and/or antibodies and for reversibly wetting hydrophobic surfaces. Accordingly, methods are disclosed for increasing the hydrophilic properties of a material, such as a microbial antigen and/or antibody, the methods generally comprising the steps of contacting the material with the compound having detergent properties and a modifiable group, and modifying the compound with a modifying reagent. Kits are also disclosed for use in accordance with this methodology.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation and use of gene banks of synthetic human antibodies (huAb) or parts of antibodies which contain the antigen-binding domain. Starting from a huAb framework in a suitable vector, the hypervariable regions of the antibody cDNA are formed by almost "randomly" combined oligonucleotides. Relatively conserved amino acids in the hypervariable regions have here been taken account of in the choice of appropriate nucleotides during the oligonucleotide synthesis and the ratio of the nucleotides used is likewise chosen such that a nonsense codon is to be expected at most in every 89th position. Expression of this synthetic huAb cDNA in microbial expression systems, e.g. in E. coli in the vector pFMT which is described below, thus makes a synthetic huAb library with a comprehensive repertoire for screening using selected antigens available in vitro.

Abstract: A novel immunodeficiency virus is disclosed which has the designation MVP-5180/91 (SEQ ID NO:56) and which has been deposited with the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC) under No. V 920 92 318. The characteristic antigens which can be obtained from it and which can be employed for detecting antibodies against retroviruses which are associated with immuno-deficiency diseases are also disclosed, as are the DNA and amino acid sequences of the virus.

Abstract: The invention relates to the epitope which binds monoclonal antibody BW 835, DSM ACC 2022, and the use of the epitope for diagnosis and therapy.

Abstract: There are disclosed hapten tracer complexes which, on the one hand, contain a hapten which is linked to an indicator component and, on the other hand, an antibody which can bind specifically to the indicator component. These hapten tracer complexes can be employed advantageously in immunoassays.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the presence of a polynucleotide analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The method comprises (a) forming as a result of the presence of an analyte a single stranded polynucleotide comprising a target polynucleotide binding sequence flanked by first and second polynucleotide sequences that differ from the sequence of the analyte or a sequence complementary to the analyte sequence, (b) forming multiple copies of the single stranded polynucleotide, and (c) detecting the single stranded polynucleotide. Also disclosed is a method of producing at least one copy of a single stranded polynucleotide.