Abstract: Provided herein are carbohydrate complement-modified bifunctional glycoproteins, and their use in tumor-selective therapy. The bifunctional glycoproteins comprise a first component that specifically binds to a tumor-specific antigen and a second component having enzymatic activity by means of which a non-toxic prodrug is cleaved into a cytotoxic drug. The carbohydrate complement comprises at least one exposed carbohydrate residue selected from the group consisting of mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetyllactose, glucose and fucose. The modified carbohydrate complement contributes to increased relative concentration of the glycoproteins at the site of the tumor, and enhanced clearance from the general circulation and non-tumor sites.

Abstract: Provided herein are carbohydrate complement-modified bifunctional glycoproteins, and their use in tumor-selective therapy. The bifunctional glycoproteins comprise a first component that specifically binds to a tumor-specific antigen and a second component having enzymatic activity by means of which a non-toxic prodrug is cleaved into a cytotoxic drug. The carbohydrate complement comprises at least one exposed carbohydrate residue selected from the group consisting of mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetyllactose, glucose and fucose. The modified carbohydrate complement contributes to increased relative concentration of the glycoproteins at the site of the tumor, and enhanced clearance from the general circulation and non-tumor sites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of an analyte in a competitive immunoassay in the presence of an analyte derivative and first and second receptor molecules, and to a kit for carrying out this detection method.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds which contain an antigen binding region which is bound to at least one enzyme which is able to metabolize a compound (prodrug) which has little or no cytotoxicity to a cytotoxic compound (drug), where the antigen binding region is composed of a single polypeptide chain. It is advantageous for covalently bonded carbohydrates to be present on the polypeptide chain.

Abstract: A novel immunodeficiency virus is disclosed which has the designation MVP-2901/94 and which has been deposited with the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC) under No. V 95012601. The characteristic antigens which can be obtained from the virus and which can be employed for detecting antibodies against retroviruses which are associated with immunodeficiency diseases are also disclosed, as are the partial DNA and amino acid sequences of the virus.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence characteristic of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is disclosed. The sequence can be the basis for hybridization type, nucleic acid-based, rapid, in vitro diagnostic assays. The unique nature of the sequence makes it possible to clearly discriminate N. gonorrhoeae from other Neisseria species thus eliminating or substantially reducing the number of false positive readings. A 350 base pair N. gonorrhoeae DNA restriction fragment was cloned after subtractive hybridization to Neisseria meningitidis DNA. In further cloning experiments the sequences adjacent to the original 350 base pair fragment were determined. A portion of this sequence was shown to detect 105 of 106 N. gonorrhoeae strains and no other Neisseria species. In addition to use as detection probes, all or portions of the nucleotide sequence can be used as a ligand for the sandwich capture of N. gonorrhoeae sequences and as primers for in vitro amplification of N. gonorrhoeae sequences.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the generation of antibodies which preferentially bind to fibrinogen fragments E1, E2, and E3, but exhibit little or no cross-reactivity against fibrin monomer and fibrinogen. Thus, the invention provides synthetic peptides containing defined amino acid sequences corresponding to the carboxy terminal regions of the E fragments which arise as a result of plasmin cleavage of fibrin and fibrinogen. The synthetic peptides may be synthesized chemically, or through genetic manipulations, and may contain additional amino acid sequences which are not contiguous with the defined E fragment sequences.

Abstract: Glycosyl-spacer-drugs compounds (prodrugs), their preparation and their use as pharmaceuticals are described.

Abstract: The use of C1-inactivator for the production of a pharmaceutical for the prophylaxis and treatment of capillary leak syndrome (generalized extravasation) and circulator shock (refractory hypotension) in severe burns or scalds, in polytrauma, in operations under conditions of extracorporeal circulation, in the use of cytokines, endogenous mediators, and mediator hybrids and growth factors produced by genetic engineering, or capillary leak syndrome and veno-occlusive disease of the liver in therapeutically or prophylactically indicated bone marrow transplantation is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the decontamination of cell cultures containing mycoplasmas. In this process the cell cultures infected by mycoplasmas undergo an antibiotic treatment in a first step, and cells still infected are then eliminated by 6-methylpurine deoxyriboside solution in a second step.

Abstract: A biosensor (10) for measuring changes in viscosity, density and/or mass in a fluid to be examined, for example a blood coagulation sensor or immunoassay system. According to the invention, the reagents necessary for the test are contained in a support (13) which is put onto the measurement surface (18) of a piezoelectric element (8). As a blood coagulation sensor, the measurement surface (18) may according to the invention itself have a coagulation activator action or else be coated with coagulation activators.

Abstract: A process for removing aromatic heterocyclic compounds from a product-containing solution, in particular a protein solution, by bringing the solution into contact with a support material. The process is preferably carried out following a virus inactivation with acridine or acridine derivatives and makes it possible to remove these virus-inactivating agents from the solution without there being any significant product losses or changes in the biological activity of the solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the genetic selection in microorganisms of proteins which are capable of ligand binding, in which process a protein which is capable of ligand binding is presented extracytoplasmically and the signal of the ligand binding is passed on by signal transduction to the biosynthetic machinery of the micoorganism for the purpose of expressing a detectable and/or selectable function. In addition to this, the patent discloses microorganisms which are suitable for use in this process, as well as replicons and processes for their preparation.

Abstract: Substrate-spacer-prodrug compounds (pro-prodrugs) suited for site specific delivery of drugs, a process of preparing them and their use are described.

Abstract: Polypeptides are disclosed that are useful for diagnosing seminoma. The polypeptides have a sequence that corresponds to the amino acid sequence of the human endogenous retrovirus K10 (HERV-K10). Also disclosed are recombinant human endogenous retrovirus K10 (HERV-K10) env and gag polypeptides that are synthesized using genetic engineering techniques, constructs and processes for producing the recombinant polypeptides, and an assay for detecting the presence of antibodies specific for HERV-K10 env and/or gag polypeptides in human bodily fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides for the immunochemical determination of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific antibodies and HCMV antigens, and to agents suitable for this method and to the use thereof.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treatment of hyperreactive inflammatory diseases of humans and animals comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of deoxyspergualin to a human or an animal.

Abstract: A permanent cell line PH2, and a process for replication of rabies viruses which have a cytopathic effect (CPE) is claimed. The process comprises: infecting the PH2 cell line with the virus to be replicated; incubating the cells; and isolating and purifying virus particles after they have reached a sufficiently high titer.

Abstract: A bovine ovary cell line (FROv), a process for its preparation, and its use for replicating viruses, are described.

Abstract: A novel HIV type O immunodeficiency virus is disclosed which has the designation MVP-2901/94 and which has been deposited with the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC) under No. V 95012601. The characteristic antigens which can be obtained from the virus and which can be employed for detecting antibodies against retroviruses which are associated with immunodeficiency diseases are also disclosed, as are the partial DNA and amino acid sequences of the virus.