Abstract: The present invention relates to passive immunization for treating or preventing atherosclerosis using an isolated human antibody directed towards at least one oxidized fragment of apolipoprotein B in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for therapeutical or prophylactical treatment of atherosclerosis by means of passive immunization, as well as method for preparing such antibodies, and a method for treating a mammal, preferably a human using such an antibody to provide for passive immunization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for in vitro creation of molecular libraries evolution of protein function. Particularly, it relates to variability and modification of protein function by shuffling polynucleotide sequence segments. A protein of desired characteristics can be obtained by incorporating variant peptide regions (variant motifs) into defined peptide regions (scaffold sequence). The variant motifs can be obtained from parent DNA which has been subjected to mutagenesis to create a plurality of differently mutated derivatives thereof or they can be obtained from in vivo sequences. These variant motifs can then be incorporated into a scaffold sequence and the resulting coded protein screened for desired characteristics. This method is ideally used for obtaining antibodies with desired characteristics by isolating individual CDR DNA sequences and incorporating them into a scaffold which may, for example, be from a totally different antibody.

Abstract: A method for selecting nucleic acid sequences encoding ligand and receptor molecules capable of specific binding to each other is disclosed in which nucleic acid encoding ligand or receptor molecules is expressed in a host microorganism in combination with a surface molecule, such as E. coli pili, so that the ligand or receptor are displayed on the surface of the host microorganism. A replicable genetic unit, such as a filamentous bacteriophage, is used to display candidate binding partners to the ligand or receptor, with the binding of the ligand or receptor to the candidate binding partner mediating the transfer of nucleic acid from the replicable genetic unit to the microorganism. The method can be highly selective as the host microorganism is modified so that it does not display the surface molecule other than as a fusion with the ligand or receptor molecule. The method is rapid and simple and opens up new applications based on the detection of ligand and receptors where both are unknown.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for in vitro evolution of protein function. In particular, the method relates to the shuffling of nucleotide segments obtained from exonuclease digestion. The present inventors have shown that polynucleotide fragments derived from a parent polynucleotide sequence digested with an exonuclease can be combined to generate a polynucleofide sequence which encodes for a polypeptide having desired characteristics. This method may be usefully applied to the generation of new antibodies or parts thereof having modified characteristics as compared to the parent antibody.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for in vitro evolution of protein function. In particular, the method relates to the shuffling of nucleotide segments obtained from exonuclease digestion. The present inventors have shown that polynucleotide fragments derived from a parent polynucleotide sequence digested with an exonuclease can be combined to generate a polynucleotide sequence which encodes for a polypeptide having desired characteristics. This method may be usefully applied to the generation of new antibodies or parts thereof having modified characteristics as compared to the parent antibody.

Abstract: An improved method for selecting a molecule such as an antibody, antigen, peptide, protein or fragment thereof and its encoding sequence, which molecule is expressed together with a phage coat protein on the phages surface. The improvement is achieved through a new mutant filamentous helper phage which has retained the gene III promoter, whereas the gene III encoding sequence is deleted. Amplification of phage titer of 10.sup.6 times were achieved in M13-derived phages, when used for the selection of specific antibody.

Abstract: A method for selecting a molecule such as an antibody, antigen, peptide, protein or fragment thereof, which molecule is expressed together with a phage coat protein on the phage's surface. The method is characterised by linking phage replication to recognition of the molecule on the surface of the phage. The linkage can be achieved by use of a fusion protein between phage protein 3 and a specific binding ligand for the molecule.

Abstract: A method for the removal of, for in vitro immunization, undesired cells from human lymphocyte containing cell populations is disclosed. For the method, use is made of lysosomotropic agents which are caused to act in vitro on human lymphocyte containing cell populations.Also disclosed is a method in the in vitro immunization of lymphocytes for use in the production of human monoclonal antibodies. In this method, lysosomotropic agents are caused to act in vitro on human lymphocyte containing cell populations for removing cell populations having a negative effect on the in vitro immunization, whereupon the lymphocytes are in vitro immunized antigen-specifically and immortalized.Finally, a kit for in vitro immunization of lymphocytes for use in the production of human monoclonal antibodies is disclosed. The kit comprises as active constituents a container containing lymphokines and a container containing lysosomotropic agents.