Abstract: Fragments of CXCL12 Gamma A chemokine having improved chemotaxis activity in vivo defined by an unprecedented capacity to associate and immobilise on extracellular glycans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a strain of M. bovis BCG or M. microti, wherein said strain has integrated part or all of the RD1 region responsible for enhanced immunogenicity of the tubercle bacilli, especially the ESAT-6 and CFP-10 genes. These strains will be referred as the M bovis BCG::RDI or M. microti::RD1 strains and are useful as a new improved vaccine for preventing tuberculosis and as a therapeutical product enhancing the stimulation of the immune system for the treatment of bladder cancer. These strains are also useful for the expression and presentation of heterologous antigens and molecule that are of therapeutic or prophylactic interest.

Abstract: Nucleotide vector composition containing such vector and vaccine for immunization against hepatitis. Nucleotide vector comprising at least one gene or one complementary DNA coding for at least a portion of a virus, and a promoter providing for the expression of such gene in muscle cells. The gene may be the S gene of the hepatitis B virus. A nucleotide vector composition when administered to even chronic HBV carriers is capable of breaking T cell tolerance to the surface antigens of hepatitis B virus. A vaccine preparation containing said bare DNA is injected into the host previously treated with a substance capable of inducing a coagulating necrosis of the muscle fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for identifying novel PP1-interacting polypeptides and proteins, compounds which are able to inhibit the binding of PP1c to certain factors naturally interacting with it, especially proteins of the Bcl-2 family (such as Bcl-xL and Bcl-w).

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-stranded polynucleotide comprising on its positive strand considered from its 5? end to its 3? end, (i) a promoter of a gene of interest or several promoters of various genes of interest selected among genes which are endogenous to a determined cell, and, (ii) one or several barcode(s) wherein each barcode contains at least one barcode unit formed of at least one, especially of multiple, recognition binding sites each binding site being composed of a nucleotide sequence, and wherein each of said barcode(s) is under the control of at least one of said promoter(s) for transcription. It further concerns use of said polynucleotide to monitor gene expression patterns in living cells, especially in single cells, with a rapid and high spatio-temporal resolution.

Abstract: A method of transferring a biologically active principle of interest into a cell by coupling an antibody or a fragment of an antibody, which recognizes an epitope contained in a nucleic acid, with the biologically active principle, to form a coupled biologically active principle; and incubating the coupled biologically active principle, which is transferred through the cell membrane and into the cell, with the cell.

Abstract: Compositions comprising components prepared from Gram positive bacteria such as Gram positive facultative intra-cellular bacteria, for example mycobacteria, including extended freeze-dried killed Gram positive bacteria, their method of preparation and their use in humans and animals, for the prevention and/or the treatment of disorders comprising an immune dysregulation such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, allergy and tuberculosis.

Abstract: A method for enriching a mutant nucleic acid in a mixture of nucleic acids, wherein the method comprises: (a) providing a nucleic acid mixture comprising a parental nucleic acid and a mutant nucleic acid of the parental nucleic acid; and (b) amplifying the nucleic acids in the nucleic acid mixture by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); wherein the mutant nucleic acid is a G?A mutant of the parental nucleic acid, which pairs with a fully complementary nucleic acid sequence to form an AT-rich nucleic acid variant of the parental nucleic acid; and wherein the AT-rich nucleic acid variant is denatured and selectively amplified by carrying out PCR using a denaturation temperature 1-3° C. lower than the lowest denaturation temperature (Tp) that allows amplification of the parental nucleic acid to thereby enrich the mutant nucleic acid in the nucleic acid mixture.

Abstract: A modified bioluminescent system comprising a fluorescent molecule covalently linked with a photoprotein, wherein said link between the two proteins has the function to stabilize the modified bioluminescent system and allowing the transfer of the energy by Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (CRET).

Abstract: An immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant protein comprising a Bordetella CyaA, or a fragment thereof, and a peptide that corresponds to a tumor antigen is provided as a cancer treatment. Methods of treatment with this immunogenic composition are also provided. In an embodiment, the therapeutic composition is a treatment for melanoma, and comprises epitopes from the HLA*0201 epitope. These epitopes include Tyr or GnT-V, and are present in the recombinant proteins CyaA-E5-Tyr and CyaA-E5-GnT-V.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for in vitro prognosticating and/or diagnosing cerebral cerebral malaria, wherein said method comprises a step of detecting non-erythroid spectrin or fragments thereof, and/or antibodies directed against non-erythroid spectrin, in a biological sample. Reagents and kits for performing this method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening for substances which inhibit the oligomerization of NEMO and/or IKK-related complexes and/or signaling pathways based on the interference with NEMO oligomerization.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for isolating a polynucleotide of interest that is present or is expressed in a genome of a first mycobacterium strain and that is absent or altered in a genome of a second mycobacterium strain which is different from the first mycobacterium strain using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector. The invention further relates to a polynucleotide isolated by this method and recombinant BAC vector used in this method. In addition the present invention comprises method and kit for detecting the presence of a mycobacteria in a biological sample.

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 the design of gene transfer vectors and especially provides lentiviral gene transfer vectors suitable for either a unique administration or, for iterative administration in a host, and to their medicinal application (such as vaccination against Immunodeficiency Virus, especially suitable in human hosts). Gene transfer vectors are either integrative or non-integrative (NI) vectors, dependently upon the purpose of their use. The invention relates to the use of gene transfer vectors for unique or for multiple in vivo administration into a host in need thereof. The field of application of the present application concerns in particular animal treatment or treatment of human being (e.g. prophylactic or therapeutic or symptomatic or curative treatment), gene therapy or vaccination in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel form of core+1 protein of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), designated shorter form core+1 protein. The shorter form core+1 protein of Hepatitis C virus is the product of translation of a coding sequence consisting of all or part of a nucleotide sequence extending from nucleotide 598 to nucleotide 920 within the core+1 ORF of HCV represented on FIG. 3B. The invention also provides methods for detecting infection by Hepatitis C virus in biological samples, methods of screening compounds which interact with viral propagation in HCV infected cells or screening of compounds impaction on the expression of shorter form core+1 protein and uses of these compounds for the preparation of compositions useful for their anti-viral activities.

Abstract: Antigenic and immunogenic determinants of Merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3). Antigenicity and functional assays identified a 68-amino acid conserved domain of MSP3 as a target of biologically active antibodies. A peptide comprising amino acid residues 184-251 of SEQ ID NO: 2, may also be employed as may peptides consisting of different combinations of the MSP3 a, b, c, d, e and f peptides. Particular non-overlapping or overlapping segments of MSP3 a, b, c, d, e and f peptides may also be used. The various overlapping segments and nonoverlapping segments among the different MSP3 peptides are shown in FIG. 6. MSP3 determinants include targets of antibody-dependent cellular inhibition (ADCI) which is a protective mechanism against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Six overlapping peptides were derived from the C-terminal end of the MSP3 polypeptide. Each of these peptides defined at least 1 non-crossreactive B cell epitope and contained T helper epitopes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant protein fabricated in a baculovirus system, of which the essential constitutive polypeptide sequence is that of a C-terminal fragment of 19 kilodalton (p19) of the surface protein 1 (protein MSP-1) of the merozoite parasite of the Plasmodium type, particularly Plasmodium falciparum, which is infectious for humans, said C-terminal fragment remaining normally anchored at the surface of the parasite at the end of its penetration phase into human erythrocytes, in the occurrence of an infectious cycle. Said recombinant protein is applicable to the production of vaccines against malaria.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for in vitro detection of an infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mammals, and methods for in vitro distinction between mammals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in which the disease is declared (active form) and mammals which are infected but asymptomatic for tuberculosis (latent form), and a method for in vitro distinction between mammals presenting an active form of tuberculosis and mammals not infected by M. tuberculosis or presenting a latent form of tuberculosis. The present invention also pertains to kits for detection and distinction between infected mammals presenting tuberculosis symptoms and infected mammals with no disease development, and a kit for distinguishing between mammals presenting an active form of tuberculosis and mammals not infected by M. tuberculosis or presenting a latent form of tuberculosis.

Abstract: The invention concerns a methylated immunogenic recombinant peptide sequence comprising mycobacterial heparin-binding hemagglutinin. The invention also concerns chemical and enzymatic methods for preparing such a sequence, the sequence being previously produced in a non-methylated recombinant form then methylated by post-translational modification. The invention further concerns recombinant tools, vectors and host cells for implementing post-translational enzymatic methylation of the recombinant HBHA. The invention finally concerns immunogenic compositions comprising methylated, native or recombinant HBHA, such compositions being useful for preparing vaccines against mycobacterial infections.