Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a human or animal cell expressing an antibody directed against a surface antigen on an antigen-presenting cell (APC) and lacking parental tumor-derived immunoglobulin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies capable of specifically binding to and recognizing an antigenic determinant (epitope) of the protein kaposin or a derivative therof, hybridoma cell lines producing said monoclonal antibodies, diagnostic systems for the detection of the presence of a kaposin protein or a derivative thereof as well as antibodies directed against the kaposin protein or a derivative thereof, methods for detection of the expression of kaposin protein or a derivative thereof in a biological sample, methods for the detection of antibodies directed against kaposin protein or a derivative thereof, uses of the monoclonal antibodies provided according to the invention and uses of the kaposin protein or a derivative thereof, each in diagnostics and therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns medicaments containing antibodies which have at least one specificity and detect the MHCII antigen of a patient to be treated. The invention further concerns antibodies with two or more specificities which detect the MHCII antigen of a patient, and diagnostic compositions containing these antibodies.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical kit and process useful for achieving prolonged immunosuppression and tumor cell elimination, wherein the kit comprises a first antibody having binding specificity for T cells and is capable of eliminating T cells in vivo; and a second antibody, having binding specificity for T cells and is capable of eliminating T cells in vivo, capable of modulating the antigen effect of T cells or both, wherein said first antibody differs from said second antibody in the constant region of its heavy chains and thus belongs to a different animal species, wherein said first antibody and said second antibody are maintained separately in said kit, and wherein in said process said first antibody is first applied once or several times and said second antibody is applied at a different time from said first antibody.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method for the induction of a NK cell-mediated immune response ex vivo characterized in that a physiological cell suspension containing at least tumor cells or animal or human cells infected by viruses, bacteria and/or fungi (target cells) and NK cells is treated by the following process steps in the order mentioned to increase the sensitivity of the target cells for lysis by NK cells: Heat treating the cells contained in the suspension at a temperature of 38° C. to 43° C. for a period of at least 1 hour; lowering the temperature to physiological cell temperature (about 37° C.) to give the cells contained in the suspension a recovery period of at least 1 hour; addition of a compound increasing the portion of membrane-bound Hsp7O of the target cells in a concentration which is sublethal for the cells and allowing the compound to be effective for at least 30 minutes; recovery period of at least about 1 hour at 37° C.

Abstract: Cycle sequencing of DNA with marker-labeled dideoxynucleotides is performed using extremely thermophilic DNA polymerases in a one-lane technique in which dideoxynucleotides labeled with a dye as a marker are used to obtain sequence ladders of more 500 bases. Chain elongation is performed at a temperature of 65 to 75° C. Surprisingly, it was found that chain elongation temperatures of substantially more than 60° C. could be used in cycle sequencing of DNA with marker labeled dye dideoxynucleotides when using extremely thermophilic DNA polymerases.

Abstract: Mammalian cells which require contact with cell surface proteins for activation, differentiation and/or proliferation are cultured in contact with an immobilized mammalian cell, with an immobilized membrane vesicle from a mammalian cell or with immobilized membrane vesicles from at least two mammalian cell populations. The mammalian cell or membrane vesicle can be modified with a first partner of a biological binding pair, and immobilized on a solid carrier via a second partner of the biological binding pair. Culturing can be with a first immobilized membrane vesicle and subsequently with a second immobilized membrane vesicle. The membrane vesicle contains part of the natural surface of a mammalian cell that includes a signal triggering surface protein. The membrane vesicle can be immobilized via a binding partner of a cell surface molecule.

Abstract: For avoidance of cell aggregation and damage to the cells as well as for a reduction of the risk of contamination, an apparatus for the cultivation and concentration of non-adherent cells as well as for the co-culture of two different cell species consists of an elongate hollow vessel comprising a resting surface extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said vessel for positioning the hollow vessel for cell culture operation, a standing surface provided orthogonally on the longitudinal axis for positioning the hollow vessel for cell-harvesting operation or for the co-culture of two cell species, at least one closable charging and discharging opening formed on the hollow vessel on the section of the latter which is opposite to said standing surface, and a partitioning wall extending inside the hollow vessel from the standing surface thereof, which partly subdivides the interior space of the vessel, with this partitioning wall being formed at least in parts with a liquid-permeable, however cell-imper

Abstract: The present invention discloses a procedure for the destruction of contaminating tumor cells in stem cell transplants ex vivo using intact bispecific antibodies.

Abstract: T cells having a desired antigen specificity are stimulated by (a) introducing immortalizing genes into antigen-presenting cells in a manner permitting regulation of the expression and/or function of at least one of these genes to achieve conditionally immortalized antigen-presenting cells; (b) introducing a gene encoding the desired antigen into the immortalized cells in a manner permitting the antigen to be expressed after the expression and/or abolishment of the function of at least one of the immortalizing genes stops; (c) expanding the immortalized antigen-presenting cells by expression and/or functional activation of the immortalizing genes; (d) completing the proliferation of the immortalized antigen-presenting cells by stopping the expression and/or abolishing the function of at least one of the controllable immortalizing genes; (e) continuing the expression of the antigen; (f) adding leucocytic cells including T cells and cultivating the cell mixture to stimulate the T cells directed against the desi

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the preparation of a conditionally immortalized immortalization-helper cell (fuseme), the fusemes generated by said method, hybridoma cells prepared using said fusemes as well as a method for immortalization of mammalian cells using said fuseme cells. Further, the invention relates to the generation of T cells directed agaist tumor cells using a fuseme cell.

Abstract: A method of treating plants to raise their resistance to viroids and to protect them from the effects of viroid infections by administering bioassimilable boron compounds to the plants.

Abstract: In a dosimeter probe comprising a housing having two straps and including a cylindrical recess with a central extension a disc-like enclosure with an annular projection forming a circular cavity is disposed and a thermoluminescence detector is received in the cavity. At the open end of the cylindrical recess, the housing has an inwardly projecting annular flange structure which retains the enclosure in the recess and the enclosure is chamfered at the circumference of its disc portion for centering the enclosure with respect to the housing and facilitating insertion into the housing with a fit which provides for light-tight engagement between the enclosure and the housing walls.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the analytical determination of trace compounds, portions of a sample disposed on a sample carrier are irradiated with light having an energy density of 1 to 100 MW/cm.sup.2 so that any organic trace compounds are removed from the irradiated sample portions, the removed trace compounds are collected by a capillary which is adjustably supported so as to be movable in close proximity to the irradiated sample portion and the organic trace compounds collected by the capillary are supplied to an analysis apparatus for detection.

Abstract: Geometric surfaces of objects are displayed by a method which generates surface data of at least one object and stores this surface data in a first memory, generates data records for all surface data stored in the first memory and stores these data records in a second memory, generates additional surface data for the representation of object segments with a lower level of detail and stores this additional surface data in the first memory, generates and stores a hierarchical data structure with several data records addressable via pointer addresses to represent one part of the objects surface in the second memory, stores the pointer addresses of the data records stored in the second memory which are not referenced by any pointer addresses stored in other data records, computes in a arithmetic unit a minimum level of detail for representation of the object segment, compares the computed minimum level of detail for each data record whose address is stored in a third memory area with the level of detail stored in

Abstract: A hybrid fusion cell comprising:a) a malignant B cell which expresses an idiotypic antibody; andb) a hybridoma which expresses an antibody which is capable of being internalized on a professional antigen presenting cell.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a procedure for the destruction of contaminating tumor cells in stem cell transplants ex vivo using intact bispecific antibodies.

Abstract: The invention describes human colon carcinoma cell lines showing a stable expression of HSP72 of >80% or <20% and an essentially identical cell surface protein expression pattern of MHC and cell adhesion molecules.

Abstract: In order to fulfill the requirements in terms of biological compatibility and mechanical stability, a transponder-holding case is provided as implant in animal breeding and keeping, which case consists of a first case section and a second case section made of a biologically compatible synthetic material, with the two case sections being designed for being detachably fastened at one another, preferably through a self-sealing and self-locking threaded joint, so as to form a hermetically sealed holding space for a transponder to be received therein. For an improvement of the position-retaining function in the animal body at least one of the case sections presents at least one formed-in portion on ist outside, and at least on the outside of one case section a receiving area is provided for a preferably laser-engraved identifier mark.

Abstract: In a method for reducing the content of heavy metals of solid materials, particularly of soils, a 0.1-10% aqueous solution of chemically modified biomasses of waste and residue materials is applied to the solid material whereby the heavy metals are released and extracted from the solid material. The biomass solution residues remaining in the solid material after the heavy metal extraction procedure is rapidly biodegradable so that no objectionable traces remain in the solid materials or soils.