Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies or fragments thereof that specifically bind Fc?RIIB, particularly human Fc?RIIB, with greater affinity than said antibodies or fragments thereof bind Fc?RIIA, particularly human Fc?RIIA. The invention provides methods of enhancing the therapeutic effect of therapeutic antibodies by administering the antibodies of the invention to enhance the effector function of the therapeutic antibodies. The invention also provides methods of enhancing efficacy of a vaccine composition by administering the antibodies of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds Fc?RIIIA and/or Fc?RIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder where an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function (e.g., ADCC) mediated by Fc?R is desired, e.g., cancer, infectious disease, and in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of therapeutic antibodies the effect of which is mediated by ADCC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing cancer and other diseases using molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds an Fc?R that activates a cellular effector (“Fc?RActivating,” such as Fc?RIIA or Fc?RIIIA) and an Fc?R that inhibits a cellular effector (“Fc?RInhibiting,” such as Fc?RIIA) with an altered Ratio of Affinities relative to the respective binding affinities of such Fc?R for the Fc region of the wild-type immunoglobulin. The methods of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection where either an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function mediated by Fc?R is desired (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds Fc?RIIIA and/or Fc?RIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder where an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function (e.g., ADCC) mediated by Fc?R is desired, e.g., cancer, infectious disease, and in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of therapeutic antibodies the effect of which is mediated by ADCC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing cancer and other diseases using molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds Fc?RIIIA and/or Fc?RIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The methods of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection where an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function (e.g., ADCC) mediated by Fc?R is desired, e.g., cancer, infectious disease. The methods of the invention are also of use in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of therapeutic antibodies the effect of which is mediated by ADCC.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating, preventing, slowing the progression of, or ameliorating the symptoms of T cell mediated immunological diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases (e.g., autoimmune diabetes (i.e. type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)) and multiple sclerosis) through the use of anti-human CD3 antibodies. The antibodies of the invention of the invention are preferably used in low dose dosing regimens, chronic dosing regimens or regimens that involve redosing after a certain period of time. The methods of the invention provide for administration of antibodies that specifically bind the epsilon subunit within the human CD3 complex. Such antibodies modulate the T cell receptor/alloantigen interaction and, thus, regulate the T cell mediated cytotoxicity associated with autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds Fc?RIIA and/or Fc?RIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder where an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function (e.g., ADCC) mediated by Fc?R is desired, e.g., cancer, infectious disease, and in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of therapeutic antibodies the effect of which is mediated by ADCC.

Abstract: CD16A binding proteins useful for the reduction of a deleterious immune response are described. In one aspect, humanized anti-CD16A antibodies, optionally lacking effector function, are used for treatment of immune disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Abstract: CD16A binding proteins useful for the reduction of a deleterious immune response asre described. In one aspect, humanized anti-cd16A antibodies, optionally lacking effector function, are used for the treatment of immune disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimme hemolytic anemia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies or fragments thereof that specifically bind Fc?RIIB, particularly human Fc?RIIB, with greater affinity than said antibodies or fragments thereof bind Fc?RIIA, particularly human Fc?RIIA. The present invention also provides the use of an anti-Fc?RIIB antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, as a single agent therapy for the treatment, prevention, management, or amelioration of a cancer, preferably a B-cell malignancy, particularly, B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an autoimmune disorder, an inflammatory disorder, an IgE-mediated allergic disorder, or one or more symptoms thereof. The invention provides methods of enhancing the therapeutic effect of therapeutic antibodies by administering the antibodies of the invention to enhance the effector function of the therapeutic antibodies. The invention also provides methods of enhancing efficacy of a vaccine composition by administering the antibodies of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to humanized Fc?RIIB antibodies, fragments, and variants thereof that bind human Fc?RIIB with a greater affinity than said antibody binds Fc?RIIA. The invention encompasses the use of the humanized antibodies of the invention for the treatment of any disease related to loss of balance of Fc receptor mediated signaling, such as cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The invention provides methods of enhancing the therapeutic effect of therapeutic antibodies by administering the humanized antibodies of the invention to enhance the effector function of the therapeutic antibodies. The invention also provides methods of enhancing the efficacy of a vaccine composition by administering the humanized antibodies of the invention. The invention encompasses methods for treating an autoimmune disease and methods for elimination of cancer cells that express Fc?RIIB.

Abstract: CD16A binding proteins useful for the reduction of a deleterious immune response are described. In one aspect, humanized anti-cd16A antibodies, optionally lacking effector function, are used for the treatment of immune disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual expression vector, and methods for its use, for the expression and secretion of a full-length polypeptide of interest in eukaryotic cells, and a soluble domain or fragment of the polypeptide in bacteria. When expressed in bacteria, transcription from a bacterial promoter within a first intron and termination at the stop codon in a second intron results in expression of a fragment of the polypeptide, e.g., a Fab fragment, whereas in mammalian cells, splicing removes the bacterial regulatory sequences located in the two introns and generates the mammalian signal sequence, allowing expression of the full-length polypeptide, e.g., IgG heavy or light chain polypeptide. The dual expression vector system of the invention can be used to select and screen for new monoclonal antibodies, as well as to optimize monoclonal antibodies for binding to antigenic molecules of interest.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens obtainable by screening a herpesvirus genome, in particular an HSV-1 genome. In more specific aspects, the invention relates to methods of isolating such antigens and nucleic acids and to methods of using such isolated antigens for producing immune responses. The ability of an antigen to produce an immune response may be employed in vaccination or antibody preparation technique.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual expression vector, and methods for its use, for the expression and secretion of a full-length polypeptide of interest in eukaryotic cells, and a soluble domain or fragment of the polypeptide in bacteria. When expressed in bacteria, transcription from a bacterial promoter within a first intron and termination at the stop codon in a second intron results in expression of a fragment of the polypeptide, e.g., a Fab fragment, whereas in mammalian cells, splicing removes the bacterial regulatory sequences located in the two introns and generates the mammalian signal sequence, allowing expression of the full-length polypeptide, e.g., IgG heavy or light chain polypeptide. The dual expression vector system of the invention can be used to select and screen for new monoclonal antibodies, as well as to optimize monoclonal antibodies for binding to antigenic molecules of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies or fragments thereof that specifically bind Fc&ggr;RIIB, particularly human Fc&ggr;RIIB, with greater affinity than said antibodies or fragments thereof bind Fc&ggr;RIIA, particularly human Fc&ggr;RIIA. The invention provides methods of enhancing the therapeutic effect of therapeutic antibodies by administering the antibodies of the invention to enhance the effector function of the therapeutic antibodies. The invention also provides methods of enhancing efficacy of a vaccine composition by administering the antibodies of the invention.