Abstract: A genetically disabled mutant virus has a genome which is defective in respect of a selected gene that is essential for the production of infectious new virus particles, and which carries heterologous genetic material encoding an immunomodulatory protein such as GM-CSF, IL-2, or others, such that the mutant virus can infect normal host cells and cause expression of immunomodulatory protein, but the mutant virus cannot cause production of infectious new virus particles except when the virus infects recombinant complementing host cells expressing a gene that provides the function of the essential viral gene; the site of insertion of the heterologous genetic material encoding the immunomodulatory protein preferably being at the site of the defect in the selected essential viral gene. Uses include prophylactic and therapeutic use in generating an immune response in a subject treated therewith; use in the preparation of an immunogen such as a vaccine for use in tumour therapy; use in the in-vitro expansion of (e.

Abstract: A genetically disabled mutant virus has a genome which is defective in respect of a selected gene that is essential for the production of infectious new virus particles, and which carries heterologous genetic material encoding an immunomodulatory protein such as GM-CSF, IL-2, or others, such that the mutant virus can infect normal host cells and cause expression of immunomodulatory protein, but the mutant virus cannot cause production of infectious new virus particles except when the virus infects recombinant complementing host cells expressing a gene that provides the function of the essential viral gene; the site of insertion of the heterologous genetic material encoding the immunomodulatory protein preferably being at the site of the defect in the selected essential viral gene. Uses include prophylactic and therapeutic use in generating an immune response in a subject treated therewith; use in the preparation of an immunogen such as a vaccine for use in tumour therapy; use in the in-vitro expansion of (e.

Abstract: Methods for treating cells, e.g. proliferating cells such as tumor cells, comprise exposing them to cell-damaging agents (which can cause indirect damage, e.g. as vectors for delivery of a gene encoding a cytokine or antigen) and to antigen-presenting cells so as to damage them or reduce their proliferation.

Abstract: Hapten-carrier conjugates capable of eliciting anti-hapten antibodies in vivo by administering, in a therapeutic composition, are disclosed. Methods of preparing said conjugates and therapeutic compositions are also disclosed. Where the hapten is a drug of abuse, a therapeutic composition containing the hapten-carrier conjugate is particularly useful in the treatment of drug addiction, more particularly, cocaine addiction. Passive immunization using antibodies raised against conjugates of the instant invention is also disclosed. The therapeutic composition is suitable for co-therapy with other conventional drugs.

Abstract: A process of treating a human or non-human animal cell to introduce heterologous genetic material into said cell and express said material in said cell, comprises (a) providing a recombinant herpesviral vector which is an attenuated or replication-defective and non-transforming mutant herpesvirus, and which carries heterologous genetic material, and (b) transducing human or non-human animal cells selected from: hemopoietic cells, malignant cells related to blood cells, and malignant or non-malignant CD34+cells; by contacting said cells with said virus vector to transduce said cells and express said genetic material. Among applications of the technique is modification of hemopoietic cells by transfer of genes, e.g. to generate tumor immunogens from malignant cells.

Abstract: A genetically disabled mutant virus has a genome which is defective in respect of a selected gene that is essential for the production of infectious new virus particles, and which carries heterologous genetic material encoding an immunomodulatory protein such as GM-CSF, IL-2, or others, such that the mutant virus can infect normal host cells and cause expression of immunomodulatory protein, but the mutant virus cannot cause production of infectious new virus particles except when the virus infects recombinant complementing host cells expressing a gene that provides the function of the essential viral gene; the site of insertion of the heterologous genetic material encoding the immunomodulatory protein preferably being at the site of the defect in the selected essential viral gene. Uses include prophylactic and therapeutic use in generating an immune response in a subject treated therewith; use in the preparation of an immunogen such as a vaccine for use in tumor therapy; use in the in-vitro expansion of (e.g.

Abstract: Herpesvirus preparations, e.g. cultured HSV type 2, e.g. genetically disabled virus for vaccine use, can be purified, e.g. for subsequent pharmaceutical formulation, with solid phase affinity reagents containing sulfate- or sulfonate-comprising binding groups, e.g. sulfated polysacharide groups, e.g. heparin or dextran sulfate, and eluting e.g. with salt solutions. The process can be combined with other culture and harvesting steps.

Abstract: Fusion polypeptides and aggregates of polypeptides comprising papillomavirus-derived antigens, and compositions thereof and their use e.g. with adjuvants for immunogenic and vaccine purposes in eliciting e.g. HPV-specific immune responses. The polypeptides can be purified to result in aggregates which when in solution or dispersion can pass through a sterilisation filter, and in amorphous aggregates. An example of such a polypeptide is a fusion protein of human papillomavirus proteins L2 and E7.

Abstract: Fusion polypeptides and aggregates of polypeptides comprising papillomavirus-derived antigens, and compositions thereof and their use e.g. with adjuvants for immunogenic and vaccine purposes in eliciting e.g. HPV-specific immune responses. The polypeptides can be purified to result in aggregates which when in solution or dispersion can pass through a sterilisation filter, and in amorphous aggregates. An example of such a polypeptide is a fusion protein of human papillomavirus proteins L2 and E7.

Abstract: The application provides a pharmaceutical which comprises a mutant non-retroviral virus (particularly HSV-1 and/or HSV-2) whose genome is defective in respect of a gene essential for the production of infectious virus. The virus can infect normal cells and undergo replication and expression of viral antigen genes in those cells but cannot produce normal infectious virus. The pharmaceutical is for prophylactic or therapeutic use in generating an immune response in a subject infected therewith. Where the non-retroviral virus is a herpes simplex virus eg HSV-1 or HSV-2, the defect can be in the glycoprotein gH gene. Vaccines and therapeutic pharmaceuticals are provided especially for epithelial, oral, vaginal and nasal administration. Also provided is use of a mutant based on HSV-1 for the preparation of a pharmaceutical for prophylactic or therapeutic use in generating an immune response in a subject against type-2 HSV infection.

Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant virus vector for use as an immunotherapeutic or vaccine. The recombinant virus vector comprises at least one pair of nucleotide sequences heterologous to the virus and which have sufficient sequence homology that recombination between them might be expected. The pair of nucleotide sequences are arranged in the virus vector such that they are inverted with respect to each other. The virus vector is able to infect a mammalian host cell and express as polypeptide the heterologous nucleotide sequences in the host cell. For infection thought to be caused by HPV infection, the pair of nucleotide sequences encode part or all of human papillomavirus (HPV) wild-type proteins or mutant proteins immunologically cross-reactive therewith. For an immunotherapeutic or vaccine against cervical cancer, the recombinant virus vector encodes part or all of the HPV wild-type proteins HPV16E7 and HPV18E7 or mutant proteins immunologically cross-reactive therewith.

Abstract: A mutant virus for use as a vaccine, wherein the genome of the virus is defective in respect of a gene essential for the production of infectious virus. In one aspect the mutant virus is capable of protecting a susceptible species immunized therewith against infection by the corresponding wild-type virus. In another aspect, the mutant virus acts as a vector for an immunogenic protein derived from a pathogen and which is encoded by foreign DNA incorporated in the mutant virus. The mutant virus can be produced in a recombinant host cell which expresses a gene complementing the defect. The mutant virus is preferably infectious for the host to be protected, but the defective gene allows expression in the infected host of at least some of the vital genes, which can provoke a cell-mediated immune response.