Abstract: The invention concerns a reagent for diagnosing an infection caused by a virus, characterized in that it comprises essentially a mixture consisting of (1) an immunodominant fragment of a protein of said virus comprising not more than 60 aminoacids, preferably between 20 and 30 aminoacids and (2) a mixture (called mixotope) of convergent combining peptides, derived from said immunodominant fragment, which peptides are obtained by total or partial artificial degeneration of said immunodominant fragment by systematic or partial replacement of each aminoacid by another according to an appropriate substitution matrix. The invention concerns a reagent for detecting and monitoring infections caused by the Epstein-Barr virus of EBV, which is, in particular, the causal agent of infectious mononucleose and its applications for detecting an EBV infection at any stage of the infection (primo-infection, healthy carriers and induced tumors).

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the susceptibility of a NIDDM patient towards sulfonylurea therapy by obtaining a sample from a NIDDM patient where the sample includes nucleic acid molecules containing a fragment of the SUR1 gene comprising the nucleotide in position −3 of exon 16 and detecting the presence or absence of the −3 t allele in position −3 of exon 6 whereby the presence of at least one −3 t allele identifies a NIDDM patient with a high susceptibility towards sulfonylurea therapy.

Abstract: A composition for forming a dried lens-shaped pellet and processes therefore, are provided. The composition comprises 20 to 40% by weight albumin, about 2 to 5% by weight starch, about 40 to 90% by weight of sugar and/or salt, and about 102 to 1011 microorganisms per gram of the composition. The microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, yeasts, protozoa, and fungi. A process for producing the pellet includes mixing the microorganisms with the albumin and starch to form a mixture, reducing water activity of the mixture by adding the sugar and/or salt to the mixture, shaping the mixture into pellets and drying the pellets under vacuum and at a temperature lower than about −10° C. Also a process for producing a suspension of microorganisms includes resuspending the pellet into a suitable medium. Further, other processes using the pellet include fermentation, reconstituting for purposes of testing, and preserving.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assessing in vitro the genotoxicity of a compound, which consist in contacting said compound with at least a cell or cell type overexpressing bcl2 protooncogene and/or related anti-apoptotic protein, and observing the genotoxic effects of said compound on said cell.

Abstract: The invention concerns any lipopeptide characterized in that it comprises: a peptide part comprising the peptide sequence consisting of about 30 to about 50 of the last contiguous amino acids of the interferon-&ggr; (IFN-&ggr;) C-terminal end of mammals, whereof, if required, the last 3 to 20 amino acids have been suppressed; and one or several lipophilic parts comprising C4-C20 chain of carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, or a steroid group. The invention also concerns any lipopeptide such as defined above containing one or several CD8, and/or CD4, and/or B epitopes. The invention further concerns medicines or vaccines containing any polypeptide such as defined above.

Abstract: Proteins and peptides derived from protein ESM-1 are used in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases linked to leukocyte migration.

Abstract: The invention concerns a Bordetella strain deficient in the production of toxin and expressing a hybrid protein comprising at least part of the filamentous hemagglutin (FHA) and at least part of a protein heterologous to FHA. The gene coding for the toxin has been eliminated, or at least partially deleted or mutated so as to produce an inactive toxin. This strain can be used as vaccine. The invention also concerns liposomes containing at least part of the FHA protein and at least one protein heterologous to the FHA protein, and the use of FHA for the stimulation of immune responses.

Abstract: The invention concerns substituted dithio-bis-nitrobenzenes (dithio-bis-nitrobenzylamines, dithio-bis-nitrobenzamides or dithio-bis-nitrophenacyls) and their uses as alternative substrates for NAD(P)H-dependent disulphide-reductase enzymes, such as trypanothion reductase and thioredoxine reductase and as a means for screening inhibitors of said enzymes. The invention also concerns an enzymatic test using said substrates and assay kits containing them. Said dithio-bis-nitrobenzenes correspond to general formula (I).

Abstract: A fragment of a nucleic acid specific to mycobacteria of M. tuberculosis complex having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 1 and SEQ ID No: 2 and their complimentary sequences.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for diagnosing Alzheimer disease, consisting in demonstrating one or several mutations in the genomic DNA region regulating the expression of the apolipoprotein E gene, inducing a modification of the apolipoprotein E gene, with respect to a control population or a modification of the expression relative to the alleles of the apolipoprotein E gene.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for treating a patient with a neurological disease by determining a patient's BCHE allele status.

Abstract: Shuttle vectors for inserting DNA in mycobacteria comprising at least one origin of functional replication in said mycobacteria, another origin of functional replication in other bacteria, an enzyme cutting site allowing the insertion of DNA coding for a protein capable of being expressed in the mycobacteria, characterized in that they also carry a gene providing on said mycobacteria resistance to a compound containing a heavy metal.

Abstract: Cytotoxic lymphocyte-inducing lipopeptides comprising a peptide part having between 10 and 40 amino acids approximately and comprising at least one tigenic determinant. The lipopeptides also comprise one or more chains derived from fatty acids and one or more modified steroid groups. Said lipopeptides may be used for immunizing the human or animal body against pathogenic agents such as viruses or parasites. The peptide part may, in particular, be a fragment of the protein encoded by the ENV gene, by the NEF gene or by the GAG gene of HIV viruses.

Abstract: Cytotoxic lymphocyte-inducing lipopeptides comprising a peptide fragment having approximately between 10 and 40 amino acids and comprising at least one antigenic determinant and also comprising one or more chains derived from fatty acids and one or more modified steroid groups useful for immunizing a human or animal body against pathogenic agents such as viruses or parasites which fragment is preferably a fragment of the protein encoded by the ENV gene, by the NEF gene or by the GAG gene of HIV viruses.

Abstract: Combined use of at least two genetic markers selected from apolipoprotein E, D19S178 and apolipoprotein CII, for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, especially apolipoprotein .epsilon.4, long apolipoprotein CII (30.+-.3 repeat patterns (CA) and short D19S178 (less than 167.+-.4 nucleotides) alleles. The invention also concerns a method for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and a kit for carrying out said method.

Abstract: Cytotoxic lymphocyte-inducing lipopeptides comprising a peptide part having between 10 and 40 amino acids approximately and comprising at least one antigenic determinant. The lipopeptides also comprise one or more chains derived from fatty acids and one or more modified steroid groups.Said lipopeptides may be used for immunizing the human or animal body against pathogenic agents such as viruses or parasites. The peptide part may, in particular, be a fragment of the protein encoded by the ENV gene, by the NEF gene or by the GAG gene of HIV viruses. DA.

Abstract: The invention relates to cloning of the gene for the toxoplasma GP28.5 anen. It also encompasses purified GP28.5 antigen preparations and antigenic polypeptides derived from said antigen, and their applications.

Abstract: An antigenic composition against S. mansoni comprising an 8 kD peptidic fragment associated with a suitable vehicle, the 8 kD peptidic fragment being obtained by controlled proteolysis using V8 protease of a 28 kD protein obtained from S. mansoni is described.

Abstract: The immunogenic peptide sequence from Echinococcus granulosus antigen 5 is recognized both by sera from patients suffering from hydatidosis and by a monoclonal antibody of isotype IgG1 produced by hybridoma EG 02154/12 and registered with the C.N.C.M. on Jun. 25, 1990 under number 1-957.

Abstract: A hybridoma is provided which provides a monoclonal antibody of isotope IgG2a, which recognizes a strip corresponding to a peptidic fragment of 8kD, isolated by controlled proteolysis of the 28kD polypeptide of S. mansoni.