Abstract: A method for determining an appropriate treatment option for a patient who has been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but who may have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and the amount of vWF in a patient that has been diagnosed with DIC is disclosed. Using the method of the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be made from among patients diagnosed with DIC, which could not previously be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers. Also disclosed is a kit for determining an appropriate treatment option, the kit comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human anti-?9 integrin antibody or an antibody fragment which specifically recognize human ?9 integrin and mouse ?9 integrin, inhibit interaction with their ligands, particularly, the antibody or antibody fragment which recognize loop regions of human and mouse ?9 integrins, a gene encoding the antibody or antibody fragment, a recombinant expression vector containing the gene, a transformant harboring the gene, production method of human anti-?9 integrin antibody or antibody fragment using the transformant, and an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of rheumatoid arthritis which contains the antibody or antibody fragment.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide hepatitis C virus inhibitors capable of inhibiting viral replication in hepatitis C virus-infected cells. The replication of hepatitis C virus can be inhibited and hepatitis C virus-infected cells can be specifically injured by specifically inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 involved in the replication of hepatitis C virus. Thus, viral inhibitors comprising a substance inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 are effective for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Abstract: A variant of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae surface protective antigen SpaA protein or of a shortened form of SpaA (?SpaA) in which a portion of SpaA protein is deleted for protection from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection and a process for preparing the same are provided. Introduction of amino acid substitution at a specific site in the amino acid sequence of SpaA or ?SpaA protein provides a variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein which is immunogenic and is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein of the present invention may easily be recovered and purified since it is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody preparation wherein antigens from patients are tested for their reactivity with the antibody. An amino acid sequence of an expressed protein is deuced from a nucleotide sequence determined by isolation and analysis of a target molecule gene in a biopsy from a patient. This is compared with the previously determined amino acid sequence recognized by the monoclonal antibody preparation in order to assess the fitness of patients for administration of the monoclonal antibody preparation.

Abstract: A Factor X (hereinafter referred to as “FX”) with a high activity is provided. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently preparing a recombinant, two-chain FX which comprises intervening glycosylation at such an amino acid sequence that is essential for glycosylation in FX to thereby allow for expression of a recombinant FX with no glycosylation, and the recombinant FX with no glycosylation obtained by said method.

Abstract: When genes encoding three kinds of proteins constituting fibrinogen, an ? chain (or variant of ? chain), a ? chain and a ? chain (or variant of ? chain) are incorporated into an animal cell, a constitutional ratio of respective genes is such that a ? chain (and/or variant of ? chain) gene is an equal amount to a 1000-fold amount relative to an ? chain (and/or variant of ? chain) gene and a ? chain gene and, further, by using a baculovirus P35 gene, a recombinant fibrinogen highly producing cell is prepared.

Abstract: A variant of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae surface protective antigen SpaA protein or of a shortened form of SpaA (?SpaA) in which a portion of SpaA protein is deleted for protection from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection and a process for preparing the same are provided. Introduction of amino acid substitution at a specific site in the amino acid sequence of SpaA or ?SpaA protein provides a variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein which is immunogenic and is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein of the present invention may easily be recovered and purified since it is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies.

Abstract: An albumin preparation may be produced efficiently on a commercial basis that has reduced possibility of contamination of infectious viruses and has high safety and stability. The process according to the present invention comprises a step of filtration of a serum albumin-containing solution with a virus-removing membrane preferably with a pore size of 10 to 20 nm. In particular, said filtration is performed before heat treatment for inactivation of viruses. In a more preferable embodiment, said serum albumin-containing solution is treated with an anion exchanger and/or a prefilter before a step of said filtration.

Abstract: A novel prophylactic/remedy for immunopathy is provided which is not neutralized by a neutralizing antibody to Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), known as one of superantigens, and may effectively act as a superantigen. A modified SEB having a reduced reactivity with a neutralizing antibody to SEB (anti-SEB antibody) and a prophylactic/remedy for immunopathy comprising as an active ingredient said modified SEB. The modified SEB of the present invention may be prepared with the evolutionary molecular engineering technique by introducing amino acid substitution in the amino acid sequence of SEB, especially at an epitope recognition site of the anti-SEB antibody in the amino acid sequence of SEB.

Abstract: A Factor X (hereinafter referred to as “FX”) with a high activity is provided. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently preparing a recombinant, two-chain FX which comprises intervening glycosylation at such an amino acid sequence that is essential for glycosylation in FX to thereby allow for expression of a recombinant FX with no glycosylation, and the recombinant FX with no glycosylation obtained by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enhancing an enzymatic activity of ADAMTS-13 and/or a method of reducing reactivity to an anti-ADAMTS-13 neutralizing antibody as well as a mutant of ADAMTS-13 prepared by the methods. The method of the present invention is characterized by substituting at least one charged amino acid in a disintegrin-like domain, a cysteine-rich domain or a spacer domain of ADAMTS-13 other than the following amino acids with a different amino acid: arginine at position 326, aspartic acid at position 330, aspartic acid at position 343 and arginine at position 349 in the disintegrin-like domain, aspartic acid at position 480, arginine at position 488, arginine at position 498, arginine at position 507, aspartic acid at position 533 and aspartic acid at position 543 in the cysteine-rich domain, and glutamic acid at position 641 and arginine at position 660 in the spacer domain.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a safe and effective method for enhancing an immune response and a medicament for preventing or treating Alzheimer disease comprising amyloid ? peptide that induces an enhanced immune response. An amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof with addition or insertion of cysteine and a method for enhancing an immune response using the peptide or a method for enhancing an immune response using the peptide together with an adjuvant. A medicament for preventing or treating Alzheimer disease comprising an amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof that induces an enhanced immune response. A DNA vaccine, that may have the same effect, comprising the gene encoding an amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof that induces an enhanced immune response with addition or insertion of cysteine.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: A safe and effective hemostatic is provided. The invention relates to a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin as an effective ingredient and a hemostatic comprising said bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention may be prepared by a process which comprises the steps of immersing a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric into a solution containing thrombin and of lyophilizing the obtained nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention allows for quicker and more effective hemostasis.

Abstract: A method for determining an appropriate treatment option for a patient who has been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but who may have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and the amount of vWF in a patient that has been diagnosed with DIC is disclosed. Using the method of the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be made from among patients diagnosed with DIC, which could not previously be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers. Also disclosed is a kit for determining an appropriate treatment option, the kit comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13.

Abstract: A peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments containing one or more selenocysteine that has a lowered toxicity than selenocystine and that exhibits a cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity. The peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments according to the present invention has preferably the amino acid sequence from 260th to 362nd amino acid residues from the C-terminal of selenoprotein P, or said amino acid sequence with one or several amino acid residues therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences. A screening method for a peptide fragment having the cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity is also provided.

Abstract: A modified Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) having resistance to a protease and a reduced toxicity and a vaccine comprising said modified SEB are provided. A modified SEB which has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 wherein each of the lysine at 97-position and the lysine at 98-position are substituted with any other amino acid, or a derivative thereof and a vaccine comprising said modified SEB or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A variant of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae surface protective antigen SpaA protein or of a shortened form of SpaA (?SpaA) in which a portion of SpaA protein is deleted for protection from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection and a process for preparing the same are provided. Introduction of amino acid substitution at a specific site in the amino acid sequence of SpaA or ?SpaA protein provides a variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein which is immunogenic and is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein of the present invention may easily be recovered and purified since it is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies.

Abstract: A gene encoding a production amount-potentiating factor is introduced into an animal cell to transform the cell. Alternatively, a protein production gene and the gene encoding the production amount-potentiating factor are introduced into the animal cell to transform the cell. Herein, as the production amount potentiating factor, there is used a factor having caspase activity inhibiting activity and/or protein biosynthesis activity potentiating action, for example, baculovirus P35. Further, the animal cell is cultured by a culturing method under a condition that apoptosis is not induced, so that a protein is mass-produced.