Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides enabling the rapid, simple and specific detection of Group B Streptococcus highly-virulent ST-17 clones. The present invention also relates to the polypeptides encoded by said polynucleotides, as well as to antibodies directed or raised against said polypeptides. The present invention also relates to kits and methods for the specific detection of Group B Streptococcus highly-virulent ST-17 clones, using the polynucleotides, the polypeptides or the antibodies according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for artificial in vivo evolution of proteins, said method making it possible to bring about the evolution of a protein X by complementation of a relative protein Y, X and Y both belonging to the same class of enzyme commission (EC) nomenclature or belonging to related classes. The mutants D133E and R104Q of desoxycytidine kinase (DCK) were obtained; both of said mutations result in acquisition of thymidine kinase activity by DCK.

Abstract: Reagents and methods for making and using HIV recombinant vaccines are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for regulating migration of neuronal progenitor cells in the nervous system of a mammal. The method comprises providing a mammal with TNR, a biologically active fragment of TNR, or a TNR agonist in an amount sufficient to direct migration of the neuronal progenitor cells. The invention provides a method of treating neurological diseases by replenishing diseased, damaged, or destroyed neural cells in the central nervous system or in the peripheral nervous system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of selection of purified nucleotidic sequences or polynucleotides encoding proteins or part of proteins carrying at least an essential function for the survival or the virulence of mycobacterium species by a comparative genomic analysis of the sequence of the genome of M. tuberculosis aligned on the genome sequence of M. leprae and M. tuberculosis and M. leprae marker polypeptides of nucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods for using the nucleotides and the encoded polypeptides are disclosed.

Abstract: Retroviral strains of the non-M, non-O HIV-1 group, in particular a strain designated YBE30, its fragments and also its uses as a diagnostic reagent and as an immunogenic agent. The HIV-1 viruses which differ both from the M group and the O group exhibit the following characteristics: little or no serological reactivity with regard to the proteins of the M and O groups and strong serological reactivity with regard to the proteins which are derived from the strain YBF30 according to the invention or the strain CPZGAB SIV; absence of genomic amplification when using primers from the env and gag regions of the M and O HIV-1 groups; genomic amplification in the presence of primers which are derived from the YBF30 strain according to the invention; and homology of the products of the envelope gene which is greater than 70% with regard to the YBF30 strain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a kit for diagnosing autism linked to a mutation in a protein belonging to the family of human neuroligins.

Abstract: Antibodies that bind to the M. tuberculosis Des protein are provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns an acellular immunogenic or vaccine composition for producing antibodies against Bacillus anthracis comprising a protective antigen (PA) and killed and optionally purified spores, obtained from mutating strains of Bacillus anthracis and their uses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method to diversify the chemical composition of proteins produced in vivo comprising the step of disabling, particularly by mutagenesis, the editing function of one of its aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid sequences encoding such mutated aminoacyl tRNA synthetases having their editing site mutated and capable of mischarging its cognate tRNA with a noncanonical amino acid. Also described herein is an improved method for obtaining transformed cells capable of synthetizing in vivo proteins comprising at least a noncanonical amino acid and their use for the production of such proteins.

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 melanocytic 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 melanocytic cell of a mammal, comprising the detection of overexpression of RACK-1 protein in the melanocytic cell, and the deduction of the tumoral state of said cell from the overexpression of RACK-1 protein.

Abstract: This application relates to methods of screening molecules capable of inhibiting the survival of Helicobacter pylori in vivo by specifically inhibiting the activity of UreI, to the molecules identified by these methods, and to the use of these molecules to treat or prevent H. pylori infection.

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: DNA encoding core+1 polypeptides of hepatitis C virus (HCV), nucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods for using the nucleotides and the encoded polypeptides are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a subject a patient in need thereof. The methods of the present invention involve measuring the expression profile of two known genes: LPL and ADAM29; and comparing the ratio of their expression to diagnose the presence of CLL or to prognose the likelihood of developing CLL or the symptoms consistent with CLL.

Abstract: Four glycoproteins of apparent molecular weights 300,000, 140,000, 125,000, and 36,000 (gp300, gp140, gp125, and gp36) are detectable in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infected cells. The gp125 and gp36 are the external and transmembrane components, respectively, of the envelope glycoproteins of HIV-2 mature virions. The gp300, which is a dimeric form of gp140, the precursor of HIV-2 envelope glycoprotein, is probably formed by a pH dependent fusion in the endoplasmic reticulum. Such a doublet is also observed in cells infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a virus closely related to HIV-2. On the other hand, the envelope glycoprotein precursor of HIV-1 does not form a dimer during its processing. Experiments carried out with various inhibitors of oligosaccharide trimming enzymes suggest that transient dimerization of the glycoprotein precursor is required for its efficient transport to the Golgi apparatus and for its processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding a modulator of NF-?B, and to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and the polypeptides encoded thereby, wherein the polypeptides are involved in the response to NF-?B-activating stimuli, including HTLV-1 Tax, LPS, PMA and IL-1. The invention also relates to antibodies to the modulator of NF-?B, methods of detecting modulator of NF-?B using the antibodies, methods of treatment associated with NF-?B activation and to methods of identifying compounds which modulate the activity of the modulator of NF-?B.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel Plasmodium falciparum antigens and their vaccine and diagnostic applications. More particularly, the invention concerns immunogenic polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules, compositions comprising them, and methods for diagnosis and vaccination of malaria.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel synthetic or natural E4orf4 or Bcl-2 peptides particularly useful in antitumoral, antiviral and antiparasitic treatments, said peptides being less than 30 amino acids long and binding in vitro to a phosphatase 2A protein holoenzyme or one of its subunits. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the novel peptides, vectors expressing same, as well as antibodies identifying same and probes identifying transcripts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a penicillin-binding protein expressed by Neisseria meningitidis, or a fragment, or a variant, or a variant fragment thereof, or nucleic acids encoding them, or antibodies or antibody fragments directed against them, as medicaments or in pharmaceutical compositions. The invention is also directed to the use of penicillin-binding proteins expressed by Neisseria meningitidis, or nucleic acids encoding them, or antibodies directed against them for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic immunotherapy of mammals, preferably human beings, against infection by Neisseria meningitidis and/or by a bacterial strain expressing a variant of a Neisseria meningitidis penicillin-binding protein.