Abstract: The invention demonstrates that, contrary to apoptotic rabies virus G proteins, certain non-apoptotic rabies virus G proteins, such as the G protein of the CVS-NIV strain, have a neurite outgrowth promoting effect. The invention further demonstrates that this neurite outgrowth promoting effect is due to the cytoplasmic tail of the non-apoptotic rabies virus G proteins, more particularly to their PDZ-BS, which shows a single-point mutation compared to the one of apoptotic rabies virus G proteins. The invention provides methods for inducing and/or stimulating neurite outgrowth, which are useful in inducing neuron differentiation, for example for the treatment of a neoplasm of the nervous system, as well as in regenerating impaired neurons, for example for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disease, disorder or condition or in the treatment of a microbial infection, or in protecting neurons from neurotoxic agents or oxidative stress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enhancer of protein production in host cells. It discloses a vector for expressing recombinant proteins in these cells, comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a) a secretion peptidic signal, b) a 6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase enzyme (MGMT, EC 2.1.1.63), a mutant or a catalytic domain thereof, and c) a recombinant protein. Said MGMT enzyme is preferably the so-called SNAP protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to in vitro method for quantitating the antibodies specific for High mobility group box I (HMGB1) contained in a sample, in particular a serum sample or a cerebrospinal fluid sample obtained from a patient, and the use of this method in the prognostic and/or diagnosis of neurological disorders. These methods are in particular applicable to the monitoring of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of a subject who is known to be infected with HIV and in the prognostic and/or diagnostic of the state of progression of Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the state of progression toward AIDS, in particular the state of progression or the state of progression toward neurological disorders associated with AIDS. Finally, the invention is also about method to determine the immune deficiency or level of immune activation of a patient, in particular a HIV-infected patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid, vectors, viruses, and recombinant cells comprising triple-stranded structures, such as those resulting from central initiation and termination of HIV-1 reverse transcription at the center of HIV-1 linear DNA genomes. These triplex structures can act as a cis-determinant of HIV-1 DNA nuclear import, allowing infection of non-dividing target cells. In one aspect, the presence of the DNA triplex sequence in an HIV vector strongly stimulates gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides methods of using these triplex structures for making recombinant cells, as well as methods of using the recombinant cells to express proteins of interest both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of protein engineering, and provides means for obtaining stable molecules that specifically bind to a target selected amongst a large variety of ligands families. In particular, the present invention provides methods for obtaining a molecule specifically binding to a target of interest, through a combinatorial mutation/selection approach with an OB-fold protein as a starting molecule. In particular, the target of interest can be of a different chemical nature form that of the native target of the OB-fold protein used as the starting molecule.

Abstract: The application provides products, which may trigger pro-apoptotic or pro-death effects on neoplastic cells and/or tissues of the human nervous system, more particularly on neoplastic cells and/or tissues of the human CNS. The products of the application can be used as anti-proliferative or tumoricid agents in the treatment and/or palliation and/or prevention of neoplasms of the human nervous system, more particularly of glioblastoma or brain stem glioma. Therefore, the application also relates to compositions, such as pharmaceutical compositions or drugs, which comprise at least one of said products, as well as to the biotechnological and medical applications of said products and compositions.

Abstract: A method and device for locating an emitting source of which measurements of emission propagation at locations different from that of the emitting source can be obtained from those locations, lacking space perception, using a sensor mobile along a self-generated path. After having obtained an emission propagation measurement from the mobile sensor at the mobile sensor location, a free energy variation for moving the sensor from its current location to each of plural possible next locations of the mobile sensor is computed, the free energy being computed as a function of a standardized projected probability field of the location of the diffusing source based on previous emission propagation measurements obtained along the self-generated path. A minimum free energy variation value amongst the computed free energy variations is determined and the location associated with the determined minimum free energy variation is identified as being the next location of the sensor.

Abstract: A polypeptide comprises a mutated Bordetella pertussis CyaA (SEQ ID NO:1), Bordetella parapertussis CyaA (SEQ ID NO:7), Bordetella hinzii CyaA (SEQ ID NO:8), or Bordetella bronchiseptica CyaA (SEQ ID NO:9), or a fragment thereof lacking all or part of the N-terminal catalytic domain of the CyaA, or a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NOS: 1, 7, 8, or 9. The glutamic acid residue at position 570 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or at position 569 of SEQ ID NO:9 has been substituted by a conservative amino acid residue. The lysine residue at position 860 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or at position 859 of SEQ ID NO:9 has been substituted by a conservative amino acid residue. The polypeptide retains the binding activity of native CyaA to CD11b expressing cell, and has a pore-forming activity which is reduced or suppressed as compared to that of the native CyaA toxin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an agonist of NOD2 for use in therapy for increasing the autonomous capacity of survival of vertebrate adult stem cells, without loss of their capacity to multiply and differentiate, and preferably the capacity of survival of intestinal stem cells, especially in response to a stress. The invention also concerns the use of an agonist of Nod2 for increasing in vitro or ex vivo the autonomous capacity of survival, without loss of multiplication and differentiation capacity of mammalian adult stem cell. The invention also discloses different media and support for mammalian adult stem cells. The invention also concerns an in vitro screening process for identifying molecules capable increasing, in response to a stress, the autonomous capacity of survival, without loss of multiplication and differentiation capacity of mammalian adult stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for diagnosing a melanoma in a mammal comprising the detection of the overexpression of RACK-1 protein in a melanocyte cell of said mammal, and the deduction of the presence of a melanoma from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein. The invention is also directed to a method for determining the tumoral status of a melanocyte cell of a mammal, comprising the detection of overexpression of RACK-1 protein in the melanocyte cell, and the deduction of the tumoral state of said cell from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides derived from human Basic Proline-rich Lacrimal Protein (BPLP), notably opiorphin, for use as psychostimulants. These peptides are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), narcolepsy, hypersomnia, vigilance drop, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit and/or hyperactivity in adults and in children, depression, bipolar disease, dysthymic disorder and cyclothymic disorder.

Abstract: A mutated Bordetella strain comprising at least a mutated ptx gene, a deleted or mutated dnt gene and a heterologous ampG gene is provided. The attenuated mutated Bordetella strain can be used in an immunogenic composition or a vaccine for the treatment or prevention of a Bordetella infection. Use of the attenuated Bordetella strain for the manufacture of a vaccine or immunogenic composition, as well as methods for protecting mammals against infection by Bordetella are also provided.

Abstract: A purified polynucleotide having a chain of nucleotides corresponding to a mutated sequence, which in a wild form encodes a polypeptide implicated in hereditary sensory defect, wherein said mutated purified polynucleotide presents a mutation responsible for prelingual non-syndromic deafness selected from the group consisting of a specific deletion of at least one nucleotide.

Abstract: The invention relates to in vitro method for quantitating the antibodies specific for High mobility group box I (HMGB1) contained in a sample, in particular a serum sample or a cerebrospinal fluid sample obtained from a patient, and the use of this method in the prognostic and/or diagnosis of neurological disorders. These methods are in particular applicable to the monitoring of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of a subject who is known to be infected with HIV and in the prognostic and/or diagnostic of the state of progression of Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the state of progression toward AIDS, in particular the state of progression or the state of progression toward neurological disorders associated with AIDS. Finally, the invention is also about method to determine the immune deficiency or level of immune activation of a patient, in particular a HIV-infected patient.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection involving substances that inhibit the ability of high mobility box 1 (HMGB1) protein to interact with natural killer (NK) cells. Therapeutic compositions comprising antibodies and drugs, such as glycyrrhizin, which bind to HMGB1. Methods of detecting or monitoring HIV infection involving detection or quantitation of HMGB1 or antibodies specific for HMGB1 in a biological sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cDNA molecule which encodes the nucleotide sequence of the full length antigenomic (+)RNA strand of a measles virus (MV) originating from an approved vaccine strain. It also concerns the preparation of immunogenic compositions using said cDNA.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the identification of patients capable of controlling HIV progression, as well as to the identification of an antagonist form of IP-10 associated to HIV progression control and the uses thereof for improving the immunological response of HIV patients.

Abstract: A mutated Bordetella strain comprising at least a mutated ptx gene, a deleted or mutated dnt gene and a heterologous ampG gene is provided. The attenuated mutated Bordetella strain can be used in an immunogenic composition or a vaccine for the treatment or prevention of a Bordetella infection. Use of the attenuated Bordetella strain for the manufacture of a vaccine or immunogenic composition, as well as methods for protecting mammals against infection by Bordetella are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant Measles virus expressing Chikungunya virus polypeptides, and concerns in particular virus like particles (VLP) that contain envelope and capsid proteins of a Chikungunya virus at their surface. These particles are recombinant infectious particles able to replicate in a host after an administration. The invention provides means, in particular nucleic acids, vectors, cells and rescue systems to produce these recombinant infectious particles. The invention also relates to the use of these recombinant infectious particles, in particular under the form of a composition, more particularly in a vaccine formulation, for the treatment or prevention of an infection by Chikungunya virus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enhancer of protein production in host cells. It discloses a vector for expressing recombinant proteins in these cells, comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a) a secretion peptidic signal, b) a 6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase enzyme (MGMT, EC 2.1.1.63), a mutant or a catalytic domain thereof, and c) a recombinant protein. Said MGMT enzyme is preferably the so-called SNAP protein.