Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of improving the stability and maintaining the potency of recombinant hemagglutinin formulations, in particular, recombinant influenza hemagglutinin (rHA). In particular, Applicants have shown that the stability of rHA formulations may be significantly improved by mutating cysteine residues or by formulating with a reducing agent and sodium citrate.

Abstract: SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome virus, a coronavirus) immunogens, antigens, or epitopes, nucleic acid molecules encoding such immunogens, antigens, or epitopes; vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., viral vectors such as baculovirus vectors, DNA vectors, such as DNA plasmid vectors, e.g., DNA plasmids that express a nucleic acid molecule in a mammalian cell, uses for such immunogens, antigens or epitopes and vectors, e.g., as an active component immunogenic, immunological or vaccine compositions, or to generate antibodies, such as monoclonal antibodies, and methods for making, and using such immunogens, antigens or epitopes, vectors, antibodies, including in methods for eliciting an immunological or immunogenic or vaccine response, as well as in assays or diagnostic kits or methods, are discussed, as well as a seamless fusion of sequences in a plasmid or vector, e.g., a sequence encoding a leader sequence and a sequence encoding a protein, epitope or immunogen or antigen.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a human erythropoietin (EPO) expressed and produced in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf900+ cell line (ATCC: CRL 12579) transfected with a baculovirus construct containing the EPO gene. The EPO has an in vivo activity of 200,000 U/mg to 500,000 U/mg.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is apparatus and methods for the growth of cells to high density, products therefrom and uses thereof. Also disclosed and claimed is the use of this method for the growth to high-density insect cells, such as the Spodoptera frugiperda Sf900+ cell line (ATCC: CRL 12579). Further disclosed is the infection of Sf900+ cells at high cell density with wild type and recombinant baculoviruses to produce baculovirus and DNA or gene or expression products.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is apparatus and methods for the growth of cells to high density, products therefrom and uses thereof. Also disclosed and claimed is the use of this method for the growth to high-density insect cells, such as the Spodoptera frugiperda Sf900+ cell line (ATCC: CRL 12579). Further disclosed is the infection of Sf900+ cells at high cell density with wild type and recombinant baculoviruses to produce baculovirus and DNA or gene or expression products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for formulating a vaccine composition which comprises an anti-influenza vaccine, wherein the improvement of the vaccine composition is that the vaccine includes, as an additive, neuraminidase (NA). The base anti-influenza vaccine can be any commercially available anti-influenza vaccine. The improved composition can include and be administered with an adjuvant. The improved vaccine composition provides protection in a host, animal or human, against influenza infection, including viral replication and systemic infection.

Abstract: An anti-influenza vaccine composition wherein the improvement is that the vaccine includes, as an additive, neuraminidase (NA). The base anti-influenza vaccine can be any commercially available anti-influenza vaccine. The composition can include and be administered with an adjuvant. The vaccine composition provides protection in a host, animal or human, against influenza infection, including viral replication and systemic infection. Oral, nasal or other mucosal or per needle administration, including intracutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, intravascular, and intravenous, are included.

Abstract: A method of preparing a recombinant influenza vaccine using DNA technology is provided. The resulting vaccine is a multivalent, preferably trivalent, influenza vaccine based on a mixture of recombinant hemagglutinin antigens cloned from influenza viruses having epidemic potential. The recombinant hemagglutinin antigens are full length, uncleaved (HA0), glycoproteins produced from baculovirus expression vectors in cultured insect cells and purified under non-denaturing conditions. The recombinant vaccine can be developed from primary sources of influenza, for example, nasal secretions from infected individuals, rather than from virus adapted to and cultured in chicken eggs. The process for cloning influenza hemagglutinin genes from influenza A and B viruses uses specially designed oligonucleotide probes and PCR. In the preferred embodiment, the cloned HA genes are then modified by deletion of the natural hydrophobic signal peptide sequences and replacing them with a new baculovirus signal peptide.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a new insect cell line, Sf900+, ATCC CRL-12579. The insect cell line was established from Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-9 (ATCC CRL-1771) through multiple rounds of limiting dilution and selection in a serum-free insect medium supplemented with added human insulin. The insect cell line is useful in BEVS or as an adjuvant and has many characteristics and advantages. Also disclosed and claimed are recombinant proteins from recombinant baculovirus expression in insect cells such as Sf900+ cells, for instance, HA, NA, EPO, CD4, CEA, and thrombospondin.

Abstract: Improved mammalian virus vaccines are combinations that contain an immunogenic amount of inactivated virus, such as influenza virus, Herpes varicella virus, measles virus, Epstein Barr virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza 3, Herpes simplex type 1 virus, and Herpes simplex type 2 virus, and an immunogenic amount of a purified recombinant envelope protein from the virus, or a fragment or precursor of the protein. Alternatively, they contain either inactivated virus and/or envelope protein antigens and an adjuvant such as granulocyte-microphage colony stimulating factor. One embodiment of an influenza vaccine is prepared by combining inactivated virus, preferably three strains of the virus, and hemagglutinin, preferably a combination of respective hemagglutinins for each of the three strains present.

Abstract: A method of preparing a recombinant influenza vaccine using DNA technology is provided. The resulting vaccine is a multivalent, preferably trivalent, influenza vaccine based on a mixture of recombinant hemagglutinin antigens cloned from influenza viruses having epidemic potential. The recombinant hemagglutinin antigens are full length, uncleaved (HAO), glycoproteins produced from baculovirus expression vectors in cultured insect cells and purified under non-denaturing conditions. The recombinant vaccine can be developed from primary sources of influenza, for example, nasal secretions from infected individuals, rather than from virus adapted to and cultured in chicken eggs. The process for cloning influenza hemagglutinin genes from influenza A and B viruses uses specially designed oligonucleotide probes and PCR. In the preferred embodiment, the cloned HA genes are then modified by deletion of the natural hydrophobic signal peptide sequences and replacing them with a new baculovirus signal peptide.