Abstract: The present invention relates more particularly to a monoclonal antibody which forms an immunological complex with a phosphorylated epitope of an antigen belonging to abnormally phosphorylated tau (PHF-tau) residing in the region spanning positions (143-254), and with said monoclonal antibody being characterized by the fact that it is capable of specifically detecting abnormally phosphorylated tau protein (PHF-tau) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detection and/or genetic analysis of HBV in a biological sample, comprising hybridizing the polynucleic acids of the sample with a combination of at least two nucleotide probes, with said combination hybridizing specifically to a mutant target sequence chosen from the HBV RT pol gene region and/or to a mutant target sequence chosen from the HBV preCore region and/or to a mutant target sequence chosen from the HBsAg region of HBV and/or to a HBV genotype-specific target sequence, with said target sequences being chosen from FIG.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide of about 8 to about 100 amino acids comprising or consisting of at least 8 contiguous amino acids selected from the core, and/or the NS3 regions of the HCV polyprotein, with said contiguous amino acids containing a T-cell stimulating epitope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methods for the specific detection, quantification and/or differential diagnosis of neurodegeneration in an individual making use of a combination assay detecting at least three neurological markers in one or more body fluids of said individual, the type and degree of neurodegeneration being reflected in the quantitative changes in the level of all of said neurological markers compared to the control sample. The present invention also relates to methods for the detection of Rab3a, SNAP25 and &agr;-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid and to the use of these methods in a combination assay for specific detection, quantification and/or differential diagnosis of neurodegeneration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the diagnosis of tauopathies in an individual and/or for the differential diagnosis of a tauopathy versus a non-tauopathy based on the detection of the ratio of phospho-tau (181)/total tau in said individual. The present invention further provides a phospho-peptide for standardization in a method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease versus and individual suffering from another neurological disease. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease versus an individual suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, versus an individual suffering from Parkinson's disease without dementia, versus an individual suffering from multi-system atrophy and/or versus an individual suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, said method characterized that phospho-tau is used as a neurological marker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detection and identification of at least one microorganism, or for the simultaneous detection of several microorganisms in a sample.

Abstract: Method for the detection of the antibiotic resistance spectrum of Mycobacterium species present in a sample, possibly caused to the identification of the Mycobacterium species involved, comprising the steps of: (i) if need be releasing, isolating or concentrating the polynucleic acids present in the sample; (ii) if need be amplifying the relevant part of the antibiotic resistance genes present in said sample with at least one suitable primer pair; (iii) hybridizing the polynucleic acids of step (i) or (ii) with at least one of the rpoB gene probes, as specified in table 2, under the appropriate hybridization and wash conditions; (iv) detecting the hybrids formed in step (iii); (v) inferring the Mycobacterium antibiotic resistance spectrum, and possibly the Mycobacterium species involved from the differential hybridization signal(s) obtained in step (iv).

Abstract: The current invention relates to new HIV-1 group O antigens, nucleic acids encoding them, and the use of said antigens and/or nucleic acids as reagents in the diagnosis and prophylaxis of AIDS. It also relates to new HIV-1 group O strains comprising these antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the typing of HLA alleles. The sequence of exon 2 and exon 3 of the alleles HLA-B*3913, HLA-B*1406, and HLA-B*51new and of exon 2 of the alleles HLA-DRB1*0820, HLA-DRB1*04new and HLA-DRB4*01new are disclosed. The present invention relates to methods for typing of said alleles. According to a preferred embodiment, said typing comprises the following steps: i) amplifying a relevant fragment of said alleles using at least one suitable pair of primers; ii) hybridizing the amplification product of step i) to at least one probe that specifically hybridizes to a target region comprising one or more polymorphic nucleotides in said relevant fragment; iii) determining from the result of step ii) the absence or presence of said alleles in the sample. The present invention further provides primers and probes to be used in said methods for typing. A diagnostic kit comprising said primers and probes is also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide of about 8 to about 100 amino acids comprising or consisting of at least 8 contiguous amino acids selected from the core, and/or the NS3 regions of the HCV polyprotein, with said contiguous amino acids containing a T-cell stimulating epitope.

Abstract: A peptide from 6 to 100 amino acids long, including an amino acid sequence depicted by one of a) Val-Arg-Thr-Pro-Pro (amino acid 229-233; human tau numbering, SEQ ID NO 2) wherein the peptide is able to form an immunological complex with the monoclonal antibody AT180 produced by the hybridoma deposited at the ECACC on Dec. 22, 1992 under No.92122204 and b) Pro-Lys-Thr-Pro-Pro (amino acid 179-183; human tau numbering, SEQ ID NO 3) wherein the peptide is able to form an immunological complex with the monoclonal antibody AT270 produced by the hybridoma deposited at the ECACC on Jul. 7,1993 under No.93070774, with Thr being phosphorylated. A method of detecting PHF-tau protein one of the peptides is also disclosed.

Abstract: Antibodies to two new epitopes on the HCV envelope proteins were identified which allow routine detection of native HCV envelope antigens, in tissue or cells derived from the host. The new epitopes are: the E1 region aa 307-326 and the N-terminal hyper variable region of E2 aa 395-415. Surprisingly, we characterised an antibody that reacts with various sequences of the hypervariable domain of E2. Specific monoclonal antibodies directed against these epitopes and allowing routine detection of viral antigen are described.

Abstract: Transfusion of contaminated blood has become the major route of transmission for Chagas' disease. Current screening tests are insensitive and yield conflicting results, while confirmatory assays do not exist. The present invention relates to antigens and their use for serological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. More specifically, the present invention concerns assays which are able to reliably and accurately detect the presence of antibodies to various specific antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi in a highly sensitive and specific manner.

Abstract: Peptide sequences are provided which are capable of mimicking proteins encoded by HCV for use as reagents for screening of blood and blood products for prior exposure to HCV. The peptides are at least 5 amino acids long and can be used in various specific assays for the detection of antibodies to HCV, for the detection of HCV antigens, or as immunogens.

Abstract: The present invention concerns molecules which bind and neutralize the cytokine interferon-gamma. More specifically, the present invention relates to sheep-derived antibodies and engineered antibody constructs, such as humanized single-chain Fv fragments, chimeric antibodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetravalent antibodies, peptabodies and hexabodies which can be used to treat diseases wherein interferon-gamma activity is pathogenic. Examples of such diseases are: septic shock, cachexia, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alternative PCR amplification which does not draw upon the use of thermostable DNA polymerases. It provides means for the controlled manipulation of denaturing conditions which do not demand the use of high denaturing temperature. More particularly, it provides means for the controlled oscillation of divalent metal ions, preferably of divalent metal ions such as Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+ and Cd2+, which are known to destabilize the DNA helix and thereby decrease the melting temperature of the DNA helix. The invention also provides methods for the automatization of this process. For instance, by means of cathodic reduction of the divalent metal species the concentration can be decreased to levels that allows for reannealing of separated strands with the primers; while oxidation of deposited metals or oxidation of monovalent metal ions, can restore the initially high concentration that allows for separation of both strands that make up the DNA helix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide of about 8 to about 100 amino acids containing at least about 8 contiguous amino acids selected from the core, and/or the E1, and/or E2, and/or the NS3 regions of the HCV polyprotein, with the contiguous amino acids containing a T-cell stimulating epitope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the rapid and reliable detection of drug-induced mutations in the reverse transcriptase gene allowing the simultaneous characterization of a range of codons involved in drug resistance using specific sets of probes optimized to function together in a reverse-hybridization assay.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for genotyping any HCV isolate present in a biological sample, previously identified as being HCV positive, and for classifying said isolate according to the percentage of homology with other HCV isolates, comprising the steps of: contacting said sample in which the ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides have been made accessible, if need be, under suitable denaturation, with at least one probe from about 10 to about 40 nucleotides, with said probe being liable to hybridize to a region being in the domain extending from nucleotide at position −291 to nucleotide at position −66 of the 5′ untranslated region of one of the HCV isolates represented by their cDNA sequences, with said numbering of position beginning with the first ATG codon of the open reading frame encoding the HCV polyprotein, or with said probe being complementary to the above-defined probes, detecting the complexes possibly formed between said probe and the nucleotide sequence of the HCV i