Abstract: The present invention describes the preparation and use of biologically and immunologically active humanized monoclonal antibodies to Shiga toxin, a toxin associated with HC and the potentially life-threatening sequela HUS transmitted by strains of pathogenic bacteria. The present invention describes how these humanized antibodies may be used in the treatment or prevention of Shiga toxin induced diseases. One aspect of the invention is the humanized monoclonal antibody which binds Shiga toxin where the constant regions are IgG1-kappa and the variable regions are murine in origin. Yet another aspect of the invention is expression vectors and host cells transformed with such vectors which express the humanized monoclonal antibodies of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses monoclonal and chimeric antibodies that bind to lipoteichoic acid of Gram positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro and enhance protection from lethal infection in vivo. The mouse monoclonal antibody has been humanized and the resulting chimeric antibody provides a previously unknown means to diagnose, prevent and/or treat infections caused by gram positive bacteria bearing lipoteichoic acid. This invention also encompasses a peptide mimic of the lipoteichoic acid epitope binding site defined by the monoclonal antibody. This epitope or epitope peptide mimic identifies other antibodies that may bind to the lipoteichoic acid epitope. Moreover, the epitope or epitope peptide mimic provides a valuable substrate for the generation of vaccines or other therapeutics.

Abstract: The invention includes pharmaceutically active compounds and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more such compounds. Compounds of the invention are particularly useful for treating or prophylaxis of undesired thrombosis.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for identifying compounds that modulate an immune complex that includes a T cell receptor (TCR) and a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen. The invention has many useful applications including providing high throughput screening assays for detecting compositions that can modulate an immune response.

Abstract: The invention includes pharmaceutically active compounds and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more such compounds. Compounds of the invention are particularly useful for treatment or prophylaxis of undesired thrombosis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating blood coagulation in a mammal that has or is suspected of having septic shock syndrome. In one embodiment, the method includes administering to the mammal an effective amount of an antibody that binds tissue factor in a way that excludes Factor X (FX) binding. The invention has a wide range of useful applications including use to inhibit unwanted blood coagulation associated with sepsis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rapid, versatile method for production of biopharmaceutical proteins and other valuable proteins in a eukaryotic system. It features an efficient and inexpensive method for transient production of monoclonal antibodies and other pharmaceutically important proteins by introduction of Agrobacterium bearing genes for the protein of interest into already grown plant hosts, followed by recovery of the protein of interest.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses monoclonal and chimeric antibodies that bind to lipoteichoic acid of Gram positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro and enhance protection from lethal infection in vivo. The mouse monoclonal antibody has been humanized and the resulting chimeric antibody provides a previously unknown means to diagnose, prevent and/or treat infections caused by gram positive bacteria bearing lipoteichoic acid. This invention also encompasses a peptide mimic of the lipoteichoic acid epitope binding site defined by the monoclonal antibody. This epitope or epitope peptide mimic identifies other antibodies that may bind to the lipoteichoic acid epitope. Moreover, the epitope or epitope peptide mimic provides a valuable substrate for the generation of vaccines or other therapeutics.

Abstract: The invention includes pharmaceutically active compounds and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more such compounds. Compounds of the invention are particularly useful for treating or prophylaxis of undesired thrombosis.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making immune system molecules, particularly humanized antibodies and fragments thereof. A typical method optimizes similarity between individual antibody framework regions to help identify human framework regions suitable for making the molecules. Comparisons between larger antibody frameworks, hypervariable domains or both is avoided. Also disclosed are antibodies that have been humanized by the method. The invention has a wide spectrum of applications including use in the production of humanized monoclonal antibodies with suitable binding affinity and minimized human immunogenicity.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses monoclonal and chimeric antibodies that bind to lipoteichoic acid of Gram positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro and enhance protection from lethal infection in vivo. The mouse monoclonal antibody has been humanized and the resulting chimeric antibody provides a previously unknown means to diagnose, prevent and/or treat infections caused by gram positive bacteria bearing lipoteichoic acid. This invention also encompasses a peptide mimic of the lipoteichoic acid epitope binding site defined by the monoclonal antibody. This epitope or epitope peptide mimic identifies other antibodies that may bind to the lipoteichoic acid epitope. Moreover, the epitope or epitope peptide mimic provides a valuable substrate for the generation of vaccines or other therapeutics.

Abstract: The invention includes pharmaceutically active compounds and methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions that utilize or comprise one or more such compounds. Compounds of the invention are particularly useful for treating or prophylaxis of undesired thrombosis.

Abstract: Featured is T cell receptor complexes designed to redirect the immune system against various diseases. The T cell receptor complexes of the invention have been engineered to recognize target antigen in a functionally bispecific nature. Fusion protein complexes and protein conjugate complexes are comprised of high affinity antigen-specific TCR and biologically active proteins and/or effector molecules. Also featured is methods of production of T cell receptor fusion and conjugate complexes as well as therapeutic compositions for use of the complexes.

Abstract: The invention includes antibodies that provide superior anti-coagulant activity by binding native human TF with high affinity and specificity. Antibodies of the invention can effectively inhibit blood coagulation in vivo. Antibodies of the invention can bind native human TF, either alone or present in a TF:FVIIa complex, effectively preventing factor X or FIX binding to TF or that complex, and thereby reducing blood coagulation. Preferred antibodies of the invention specifically bind a conformational epitope predominant to native human TF, which epitope provides an unexpectedly strong antibody binding site. Also provided are humanized antibodies and fragments thereof that bind to the TF.

Abstract: The invention includes antibodies that provide superior anti-coagulant activity by binding native human TF with high affinity and specificity. Antibodies of the invention can effectively inhibit blood coagulation in vivo. Antibodies of the invention can bind native human TF, either alone or present in a TF:VIIa complex, effectively preventing factor X binding to TF or that complex, and thereby reducing blood coagulation. Preferred antibodies of the invention specifically bind a conformational epitope predominant to native human TF, which epitope provides an unexpectedly strong antibody binding site.

Abstract: The invention includes antibodies that provide superior anti-coagulant activity by binding native human TF with high affinity and specificity. Antibodies of the invention can effectively inhibit blood coagulation in vivo. Antibodies of the invention can bind native human TF, either alone or present in a TF:VIIa complex, effectively preventing factor X binding to TF or that complex, and thereby reducing blood coagulation. Preferred antibodies of the invention specifically bind a conformational epitope predominant to native human TF, which epitope provides an unexpectedly strong antibody binding site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel complexes of major histocompability complex (MHC) molecules and uses of such complexes. In one aspect, the invention relates to single chain MHC class II complexes that include a class II &bgr;2 chain modification, e.g., deletion of essentially the entire class II &bgr;2 chain. In another aspect, the invention features single chain MHC class II which comprise an immunoglobin constant chain or fragment. Further provided are polyspecific MHC complexes comprising at least one single chain MHC class II molecule. MHC complexes of the invention are useful for a variety of applications including: 1) in vitro screens for identification and isolation of peptides that modulate activity of selected T cells, including peptides that are T cell receptor antagonists and partial agonists, and 2) methods for suppressing or inducing an immune response in a mammal.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses monoclonal and chimeric antibodies that bind to lipoteichoic acid of Gram positive bacteria. The antibodies also bind to whole bacteria and enhance phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria in vitro and enhance protection from lethal infection in vivo. The mouse monoclonal antibody has been humanized and the resulting chimeric antibody provides a previously unknown means to diagnose, prevent and/or treat infections caused by gram positive bacteria bearing lipoteichoic acid. This invention also encompasses a peptide mimic of the lipoteichoic acid epitope binding site defined by the monoclonal antibody. This epitope or epitope peptide mimic identifies other antibodies that may bind to the lipoteichoic acid epitope. Moreover, the epitope or epitope peptide mimic provides a valuable substrate for the generation of vaccines or other therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel complexes of major histocompability complex (MHC) molecules and uses of such complexes. In one aspect, the invention relates to loaded MHC complexes that include at least one MHC molecule with a peptide-binding groove and a presenting peptide non-covalently linked to the MHC protein. In another aspect, the invention features single chain MHC class II peptide fusion complexes with a presenting peptide covalently linked to the peptide binding grove of the complex. MHC complexes of the invention are useful for a variety of applications including: 1) in vitro screens for identification and isolation of peptides that modulate activity of selected T cells, including peptides that are T cell receptor antagonists and partial agonists, and 2) methods for suppressing or inducing an immune response in a mammal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel complexes of major histocomability complex (MHC) molecules and uses of such complexes. In one aspect, the invention relates to loaded MHC complexes that include at least one MHC molecule with a peptide-binding groove and a presenting peptide non-covalently linked to the MHC protein. In another aspect, the invention features single chain MHC class II peptide fusion complexes with a presenting peptide covalently linked to the peptide binding grove of the complex. MHC complexes of the invention are useful for a variety of applications including: 1) in vitro screens for identification and isolation of peptides that modulate activity of selected T cells, including peptides that are T cell receptor antagonists and partial agonists, and 2) methods for suppressing or inducing an immune response in a mammal.