Abstract: The invention relates to a new variety of retroviruses designated human immunodeficiency virus type II, HIV-II, samples of which have been deposited at CNCM as I-502 and I-532. It also concerns purified forms of the antigens which can be obtained from this virus, in particular from the gp 36 and gp 130-140 proteins. These various antigens are useful in medical diagnosis, in particular by being placed in contact with serum of the patient to be diagnosed. Lastly, the invention relates to immunizing compositions, in particular containing at least one of glycoproteins gp 36 and gp 130-140.

Abstract: The invention concerns a probe for the detection of shigellae and entero-invasive E. coli, containing a nucleic acid sequence originating from the 140 Mdal virulence plasmid of the M 90 T strain of Shigella flexneri; having a maximum size of around 27 kb and inlcuding all or part of the 27 kb Bam HI fragment.This probe permits the in vitro diagnosis of syndromes of dysentery or diarrhea, of the Shigellosis type.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composition of fragments of DNA utilizable as a probe for the detection of specific micoorganism, notably Legionella, in environments which contain them. These compositions are obtained from the whole genomes of the microorganisms to be detected, after fragmentation of these genomes, particularly by using a restriction enzyme, and eliminating those sequences of the genomic DNA which are susceptible to being transcribed to ribosomal RNA.

Abstract: A retrovirus B-LAV associated with lymphadenopathies and with Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome, being adapted to B lymphocytes and capable of being continuously produced by continuous cell lines of B lymphoblastoid cells; continuous cell lines of B lymphoblastoid cells which produce the B-LAV retrovirus and a process for producing such cell lines are disclosed.

Abstract: A process to produce hybrid cell lines, which produce monoclonal antibodies to Legionella pneumophila. Cell lines are produced by fusion of immunized mouse splenocytes to these bacteria with non secreting myeloma cells.Monoclonal antibodies are useful for diagnosis of diseases due to Legionella pneumophilia, for detection of these bacteria in environment, for the production of vaccines.

Abstract: A magnetic device is provided for removing magnetic gel balls or the like from a liquid to be analyzed, biological or not, and transferring them to an immunoenzymatic quantitative analysis medium, which device is of the type comprising a ferromagnetic material rod, an oblong case made from a non-magnetic material partially enveloping the rod and a circuit for electromagnetically energizing the rod. The device further comprises structure for fixing and centering the rod by clamping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing in association with a pharmaceutical vehicle a collagenase of high specific activity and capable of being inhibited at least partly by myosine. It is useful for the treatment of pathologies manifested by an uncontrolled alteration of the collagen-rich structures in man or animal.

Abstract: A process for the detection and assay of a biological substance by erythroadsorption by immobilizing a substance having a binding affinity for the biological substance to be assayed; incubating the immobilized substance with a liquid medium containing the biological substance to be assayed, forming a fixed substance; incubating the fixed substance with a coupling product comprising a specific ligand and a second ligand which binds with erythrocytes; adding erythrocytes; and determining the amount of erythrocytes bound to the coupling product. The determination of the amount of bound erythrocytes can be made visually with the naked eye or determined by lysis of the erythrocytes bound to the coupling product and quantitatively measuring the released hemoglobin. The specific ligand can be an antibody or an antigen and the second ligand capable of coupling erythrocytes can, for example, be red blood cell antibodies.

Abstract: Retroviruses associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), including Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV), are isolated from the sera of patients afflicted with Lymphadenopathy Syndrome (LAS) or AIDS. LAV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Viral extract, structural proteins and other fractions of the retrovirus immunologically recognize the sera of such patients. Immunological reaction is used to detect antibodies that specifically bind to antigenic sites of the retrovirus in samples of body fluids from patients with AIDS or risk of AIDS. A kit for in vitro assay of LAS or AIDS is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA fragment containing at the most 315 parts of nucleotides coding for a peptide which can be recognized by antibodies acting both against the "C" and "D" particles of the same poliovirus and against the VP-1 structural polypeptide of the capsid of this poliovirus. This peptide contains in particular the following sequence:Asp Asn Pro Ala Ser Thr Thr Asn Lys Asp Lys Leu.

Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic peptide comprising at least 5 of the 11 amino acids common to the .gamma.chain of sub-unit A of the cholera toxin and the .gamma.chain of the LT toxin of Escherichia coli. The peptide is preferably constituted by a pentadecapeptide which corresponds to the following formula (I): ##STR1## The process of synthesis is by the step by step construction of the peptide chain starting form the C terminal end of said chain, by the successive fixing of the amino acids which constitute the peptide. A novel medicament for the treatment of cholera and infectious gastro-enterites is also disclosed which comprises said synthetic peptide as an active constituent. A diagnosis agent for cholera and/or infectious gastroenterites comprises a sequence of at least the 5 amino acids of the synthetic peptide.

Abstract: A process for the immunobacteriological detection of pathogenic germs possessing specific antigenic determinants, and a kit for carrying out the process, with the aid of a magnetic gel to which are coupled anti-specific antigenic determinant antibodies, characterized by the following steps:(a) a biological medium supposedly contaminated by a pathogenic germ possessing a specific antigenic determinant is brought into contact with particles of the magnetic gel,(b) the particles of magnetic gel are then removed by magnetic means and(c) are inoculated onto a nutrient agar medium,(d) the agar medium is incubated to develop culture colonies of the pathogenic germs;(e) areas containing serum containing antibodies specific to the pathogenic germ to be detected are formed in the agar,(f) the germs are lysed by means of lysing agents,(g) the lysate is incubated with the serum for a time enabling the serological antibody-antigen reaction to take place by immunodiffusion on the agar, and(h) the quantity of germs containe

Abstract: A process for the detection of a biological substance immobilized on a support including(1) incubating, after washing, the substance immobilized on a support with the product of coupling of a specific ligand with a ligand capable of reacting with erythrocytes;(2) adding erythrocytes;(3) immersing the whole in a solution of a fixing agent and(4) measuring the erythroadsorption, after having turned the support over in order to permit the removal of the red cells which have not reacted.

Abstract: Magnetic device for withdrawing magnetic gel beads or the like from a biological fluid and transferring them to an immunoenzymatic assay medium. This device includes a housing of insulating material, particularly of plastic material, into which is inserted a magnet and over the height of which is formed a traversing orifice in which is housed a rod formed of a lower portion of magnetizable material and an upper portion of non-magnetizable material on which is mounted a return spring, between a stop washer fixed in the vicinity of the upper end of the rod and the upper surface of the housing. The device can advantageously be included in a ready-for-use kit for carrying out immunoenzymatic assays.

Abstract: The reagent is constituted by a suspension of basophil granulocytes bearing specific IgE's, containing from 300 to 1000 basophils per mm.sup.3. This suspension is obtained from a blood sample taken from a human or animal patient, by means of a liquid of density 1.079-1.085. It is deposited in the various wells of a diagnosis read-out slide or the like, for diagnosing parasitoses or allergies. The diagnosis method is applied particularly to worm parasitoses which causes an increase in the circulating specific IgE's. The diagnosis may be carried by using ready-for-use kits.

Abstract: According to the invention, the antitumor agent such as daunorubicin and a well-defined quantity of a bifunctional crosslinking agent, such as glutaraldehyde, are brought together. A form of polymeric product is obtained, which is insoluble in aqueous media but which, on being resuspended in an aqueous medium in the absence of glutaraldehyde, gradually releases the antitumor agent in a soluble form, preserving its antitumor activity. Improvement of the conditions of treatment with antitumor agents.

Abstract: A perfected laser nephelometer, characterized in that the measuring cell is comprised of a capillary tube (3) of which the inner diameter is close to the diameter of the laser beam (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new thiolated polypeptide compound derived from a fragment of tetanus toxin.This thiolated polypeptide compound is constituted by the B-II.sub.b fragment of tetanus toxin to which at least one --SH group is directly or indirectly bound.Application: neuropharmacological retrograde axonal transport agent for transporting a medicine to the central nervous system.

Abstract: This process involves the use of benzoquinone as cross-linking agent in large excess compared with the substance to be activated. The activation reaction is realized in a homogeneous liquid medium. Said process making it possible for example to couple antibodies to enzymes for determining or detecting said antibodies. The process can be used for the determination of antitetanic antibodies in human serum.

Abstract: Method for detecting the possible presence of a DNA fragment, notably of a gene, in the midst of a complex sample of nucleic acids.It comprises the hybridization of the sought fragment with a RNA probe, this being, prior or subsequent to the hybridization reaction, modified by an enzyme.Application to seeking of particular genes or DNA fragments in the midst of a biological sample.