Abstract: KAL protein is identified the active agent in a therapeutic composition for treatment of injury to nerve tissue, including spinal cord tissue, as well as support of treatment for renal grafts. Additionally, therapeutic treatment of renal injury, and kidney transplantation and renal surgery, is effected by administration of KAL protein. The therapeutic agent may be administered locally, or intravenously. Retinal disorders may be similarly treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant protein comprising a 19 kDa C-terminal fragment of the surface protein 1 of the merozoite form of a Plasmodium type parasite other than Plasmodium vivax which is infectious in man.

Abstract: Methods for regulating the serine protease of Plasmodium. Recombinant DNA constructs which express the Plasmodium serine protease, especially those comprising a sub2 3?UTR and coding segment which express a SUB2 a serine protease. Recombinant Plasmodium containing such constructs and exhibiting increased virulence. Methods for detecting virulent Plasmodium strains by detecting the presence or amount of sub2 3?UTR sequences, sub2 mRNA or cDNA, SUB2 polypeptide expression, or other Plasmodium proteins, such as AMA1 or MSP1, which have been post-translationally modified by SUB2.

Abstract: An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognised by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

Abstract: A method for treating or reducing the severity of a disease or disorder mediated by a membrane metallopeptidase by administering to a mammal a SMR1-peptide or a pharmaceutically active amount of a SMR1-peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods for combating cell degeneration or dysfunction resulting from neuroinflammatory conditions. The invention especially relates to the use, in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease associated with neuroinflammation, of an immunogenic compound which is capable of inducing an immune response against a proapoptotic neurotrophin, or an effective amount of a hapten combined with appropriate carriers and/or adjuvants to render the resulting combination capable of inducing an immune response against a proapoptotic neurotrophin. Also disclosed are compositions for the active or passive immunization against neuronal or glial cell apoptosis caused by neuroinflammation as well as methods and means useful for said active or passive immunization.

Abstract: Recombinant polypeptides are prepared using novel nucleic acids with transcription promoter activity. The recombinant cells containing said nucleic acids are described. A novel method for preparing antigens or antigen fragments, in particular bacterial toxins, preferably Clostridum toxins, for preparing immunogenic and/or vaccine compositions is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to the genome sequence and the nucleotide sequences coding for polypeptides of cyanophage S-2L. According to the invention, the polypeptides include, but are not limited to, polypeptides involved in the synthesis, transcription and replication of purine bases. In particular, determining the genome of cyanophage S-2L is useful for supplying genes which, expressed in recombinant bacteria, enable the synthesis of DNA monomers incorporating base D (2,6 diaminopurine instead of base A (adenine), thereby producing chemically-remodelled nucleic acids in the bacteria.

Abstract: A retroviral vector that eliminates cis-acting retroviral elements, which are not useful to and may cause problems for, an integrated provirus utilizes a recombination system, such as the bacteriophage P1 cre-lox recombination system. A gene of interest and a loxP site are inserted into a long terminal repeat, which is then duplicated. The enzyme cre is inserted between the long terminal repeats and combines them. The structure of the resulting provirus in the host genome is that of a single, long terminal repeat carrying a single copy of the gene of interest. Following infection, the retrovirus produces proviral structures having only a single long terminal repeat.

Abstract: A method for modifying a wild strain of an entero-invasive Shigella to produce a modified strain of Shigella that can be used for making a vaccine against the wild strain of Shigella. The genome of the wild strain of Shigella is transformed so that it cannot substantially invade cells of a human host and cannot spread substantially within infected cells and from infected to uninfected cells of the host and cannot produce toxins which will kill substantial numbers of the host's infected, as well as uninfected, cells. A first gene of the wild strain of Shigella, coding for a protein necessary for the Shigella to invade cells of the host, and a second gene, coding for a protein necessary for the Shigella to spread within infected cells and between the infected and uninfected cells of the host, are mutagenized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel computer program product to extract and gather peak information from an automated sequencer or bioinformatics tool into a peak database, and to manipulate and analyze the peak information within the database.

Abstract: The present invention provides hybridomas and antibodies which specifically react with native P. falciparum at a surface of ring stage infected erythrocytes and uses thereof.

Abstract: A product includes a surface on which a coupled complex is aligned, adherent, and stationary, obtained by a process that includes providing a support having a surface with a molecule with biological activity attached, contacting the surface with a sample containing a macromolecule to couple the macromolecule to the molecule on the surface, passing a meniscus over the coupled complex to align the coupled complex, and detecting the macromolecule in the coupled complex. The product is alternatively obtained by passing a meniscus over the molecule with biological activity prior to contacting the surface with a sample containing a macromolecule to couple the macromolecule to the molecule on the surface.

Abstract: This invention provides antibodies which bind with p12 and p18 proteins of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), antibodies which bind with immune complexes comprising p12 or p18 proteins of HIV-1, mixtures of antibodies which bind with p12, p15, p18, p25, p36, p42, and p80 proteins of HIV-1, mixtures of antibodies which bind with immune complexes comprising the HIV-1 proteins, immune complexes comprising p12 or p18 proteins of HIV-1, and methods for production of antibodies against p2 or p18 proteins of HIV-1.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of lymphadenopathy virus, which has been designated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). This invention relates to a diagnostic means and method to detect the presence of DNA, RNA or antibodies of the lymphadenopathy retrovirus associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome or of the lymphadenopathy syndrome by the use of DNA fragments or the peptides encoded by said DNA fragments. The invention further relates to the DNA fragments, vectors comprising them and the proteins expressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new class of retroviruses, designated by HIV-2, of which samples have been deposited to the ECACC under numbers 87.01.1001 and 87.01.1002 and to the NCIB under numbers 12.398 and 12.399. It relates also to antigens capable to be obtained from this virus, particularly proteins p12, p16, p26 and gp140. These various antigens can be used for the diagnosis of the disease, especially by contacting these antigens with a serum of a patient submitted to the diagnosis. It relates to immunogenic compositions containing more particularly the glycoprotein gp140. Finally it concerns nucleotidic sequences, which can be used especially as hybridization probes, derived from the RNA of HIV-2.

Abstract: The invention provides novel preparations for a broad-spectrum antiplasmodial vaccine.

Abstract: A method for isolating a polynucleotide of interest that is present in the genome of a first mycobacterium strain and/or is expressed by the first mycobacterium strain, where the polynucleotide of interest is also absent or altered in the genome of a second mycobacterium strain and/or is not expressed in the second mycobacterium. The method includes (a) contacting the genomic DNA of the first mycobacterium strain under hybridizing conditions with the DNA of a least one clone that belongs to a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) genomic DNA library of the second mycobacterium strain, and (b) isolating the polynucleotide of interest that does not form a hybrid with the DNA of the second mycobacterium strain. This invention further pertains to a Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv genomic DNA library, as well as a Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain Pasteur genomic DNA library, and the recombinant BAC vectors that belong to those genomic DNA libraries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nine residue peptides (M32-40) from flavivirus M ectodomain able to modulate specifically the apoptotic activity of diverse flavivirus, to pharmaceutical composition comprising the same and their use for the treatment and/or the prevention of flavivirus-linked infections and cancers.

Abstract: This invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a bacterial extract containing at least one expression products of the vrg genes of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, or B. bronchiseptica. The invention also relates to a method for producing the extract, comprising culturing the bacteria on blood medium to obtain isolated nonhemolytic colonies; inoculating cells of one or more colonies in liquid medium to give a suspension of cells; separating the cells from the liquid medium after culture; suspending the separated cells in a buffer comprising urea for at least an amount of time sufficient to form a bacterial lysate; and separating intact cells and insoluble material from soluble material, wherein the extract comprises the soluble material.