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 relates to 16S-23S rRNA spacer sequences from Pseudomonas species and their use in a method for detection and/or identification of Pseudomonas species. The invention further it relates to a method for detection and identification of at least one Pseudomonas species, or for the simultaneous detection of several Pseudomonas species in a sample, involving the steps of: (i) optionally releasing, isolating and/or concentrating the polynucleic acids present in the sample; (ii) optionally amplifying the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region, or a part thereof, with at least one primer pair; (iii) detecting the presence of a 16S-23S rRNA spacer sequence; and (iv) identifying the Pseudomonas species present in the sample from the nucleic acid(s) detected in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the rapid and reliable detection of drug-selected mutations in the HIV protease gene allowing the simultaneous charaterization 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:

Abstract: The present invention relates to HCV proteins in which cysteine residues are reversibly protected during purification. Eventually, this purification procedure results in HCV proteins with biological activity and a native-like protein conformation, which present corresponding epitopes. The present invention pertains also to drug screening methods using these HCV proteins, and diagnostic and therapeutic applications, such as vaccines and drugs.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunogenic and vaccine compositions useful in prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of HCV infection. More specifically, said compositions comprise a HCV envelope peptide and a HCV non-structural peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleic acid composition comprising or consisting of at least one polynucleic acid containing 8 or more contiguous nucleotides corresponding to a nucleotide sequence from the region spanning positions 417 to 957 of the Core/E1 region of HCV type 3; and/or the region spanning positions 4664 to 4730 of the NS3 region of HCV type 3; and/or the region spanning positions 4892 to 5292 of the NS3/4 region of HCV type 3; and/or the region spanning positions 8 023 to 8 235 of the NS5 region of the BR36 subgroup of HCV type 3a; and/or the coding region of HCV type 4a starting at nucleotide 379 in the core region; and/or the coding region of HCV type 4; and/or the coding region of HCV type 5, with said nucleotide numbering being with respect to the numbering of HCV nucleic acids as shown in Table 1, and with said polynucleic acids containing at least one nucleotide difference with known HCV type 1, and/or HCV type 2 genomes in the above-indicated regions, or the complement thereof.

Abstract: Multimer peptides (e.g. 30- to 45-mer peptides) derived from hepatitis C virus envelope proteins reacting with the majority of anti-HCV antibodies present in patient sera are described. The usage of the latter peptides to diagnose, and to vaccinate against, an infection with hepatitis C virus is also disclosed.

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 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 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: This invention is directed toward a peptide corresponding to an immunologically important viral epitope. Specifically, the peptide corresponds to an immunodominant epitope identified in the envelope region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). This peptide has the following amino acid sequence: NH2-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Arg-Gly-Ile-His-Met-Gly-Trp-Gly-Arg-Thr-Phe-Tyr-Ala-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Ile-Gly-CO2H (SEQ ID NO:17). The invention also relates to the use of this peptide, particularly when biotinylated in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated peptides or of avidin-biotinylated peptides, for the in vitro determination of HIV-1-specific antibodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a probe consisting of at least about 15 nucleotides from the spacer region between rRNA genes of a non-viral organism, particularly prokaryotic organism and more particularly bacteria, and preferably from about 15 nucleotides to about the maximum number of nucleotides of the spacer region and more preferably from about 15 to about 100 nucleotides to be used for the detection of non-viral microorganisms.

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 E1, and/or E2, and/or the NS3 regions of the HCV polyprotein, with said contiguous amino acids containing a T-ell stimulating epitope.

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 finding that the human proteins annexin V, tubulin and apolipoprotein B bind to the hepatitis C virus envelope proteins E1 and/or E2 and the usage of these human proteins to diagnose and treat an infection with hepatitis C virus are described. The usage of the latter proteins to enrich HCV envelope proteins and molecules which inhibit binding of HCV to these human proteins, as well as vaccines employing the E1 and/or E2 binding domains are also disclosed.