Abstract: A recombinant avian infectious coryza vaccine and a process for preparing the same are provided. A process for preparing a recombinant avian infectious coryza vaccine which comprises step of constructing E. coli that may produce as an inclusion body a fusion peptide consisting of peptides derived from outer-membrane protein of Avibacterium paragarinarum serotype A and serotype C, step of culturing said E. coli and colleting and purifying inclusion body from culture, and step of preparing a preparation comprising said purified inclusion body, and an avian infectious coryza vaccine comprising as an active ingredient the fusion peptide. A linker sequence may be inserted between the respective peptides comprising the fusion peptide. For the peptide derived from the serotypes A and C, an amino acid sequence region of Region 2 or its vicinity responsible for protection from infection may be used.

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: Provided is a recombinant virus which is efficacious in preventing the onset of hepatitis C infection and has a high safety. Also provided is a vaccine for hepatitis C virus which contains the recombinant virus. A recombinant vaccinia virus which can express hepatitis C virus gene. The hepatitis C virus vaccine as described above contains the recombinant virus as described above.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a peptide based on a sequence of an amyloid ? peptide that may allow for induction of enhanced immune response and is safe and efficacious for prophylaxis and treatment of Alzheimer disease. An amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof with addition or insertion of cysteine or a cysteine analogue, and a method for enhancing immune response to amyloid ? using said peptide, a medicament for prophylaxis and treatment of Alzheimer disease using said amyloid ? peptide that induces an enhanced immune response, and a DNA vaccine comprising a gene coding for an amyloid ? peptide or a sequence derived from an amyloid ? peptide with addition or insertion of cysteine or a cysteine analogue, as expected to be similarly efficacious.

Abstract: A process for preparing an inclusion body-forming protein is provided.

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 safer live smallpox vaccine, which contains a lowered content of revertants, is provided. A process for manufacturing a live smallpox vaccine which comprises steps of: inoculating a master seed solution of an attenuated vaccinia virus to an appropriate number of containers (1 to n wherein n is an integer) of rabbit kidney cells and incubating them; inoculating a portion of the cultured solution obtained from each container to RK-13 cells and to Vero E6 cells and incubating them to thereby select containers which contain a cultured solution that forms plaques in RK-13 cells but not in Vero E6 cells; and preparing a drug substance of vaccine using the aforementioned cultured solution (working seed solution), and a live smallpox vaccine prepared in the aforementioned process.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer material, the histocompatibility of which has been improved by irradiation of ion beam, which prevents an aneurysm having a risk of rupture from actually rupturing. The present invention provides a material for treating aneurysms, which is composed of a polymer material containing carbon as a constitutional element, and which is produced by modifying at least a portion of the surface thereof by ion bombardment.

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 method for using inactivated Japanese encephalitis virus particles as an adjuvant of a vaccine is provided. A method for using inactivated Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) particles as an adjuvant of various vaccines or a mixed vaccine, said JEV particles being obtained by inoculating JEV Beijing-1 strain to Vero cells, culturing said JEV-infected cells to give cultured cells or culture supernatant, purifying JEV particles from said cultured cells or culture supernatant and inactivating said JEV particles with formalin, a method for preparing a (mixed) vaccine which comprises a step of letting inactivated Japanese encephalitis virus be contained, and a mixed vaccine prepared by said method.

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 process for preparing a bioabsorbable sheet preparation holding thrombin is provided. A process for preparing a bioabsorbable sheet preparation holding thrombin which comprises immersing a bioabsorbable sheet consisting of polyglycolic acid in a thrombin solution containing thrombin as an active ingredient, glycerol as a softening agent, Tween 80 as a permeating agent, and optionally histidine and trehalose as a stabilizing agent followed by drying to hold thrombin on said bioabsorbable sheet, and a bioabsorbable sheet preparation holding thrombin prepared by said process.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation for use in a patient who has a neutralizing antibody to a botulinum toxin from type A1 Clostridium botulinum (type A1 botulinum toxin), said preparation comprising as an active ingredient 150 kDa type A neurotoxin from type A2 Clostridium botulinum (A2 NTX); a medicament for treating a disease with muscle overactivity for use in a patient who has a neutralizing antibody to a type A1 botulinum toxin, said medicament comprising as an active ingredient said A2 NTX; a method for treating a patient who has a neutralizing antibody to a type A1 botulinum toxin, said method comprising administering said A2 NTX to the patient; and a method for use of A2 NTX in a patient who has said neutralizing antibody. In accordance with the present invention, a problem can be solved of decrease in clinical response caused by a neutralizing antibody to a type A1 botulinum toxin produced when a patient is treated with a pharmaceutical preparation comprising a type A1 botulinum toxin.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a humanized anti-human osteopontin antibody having better activities (antigen binding activity, leukocyte migration inhibitory activity and the like) and/or stability (resistance to heat, low-pH conditions, denaturants and the like) than those of conventional anti-human osteopontin antibodies.

Abstract: A human anti-amyloid ? peptide (hereinafter referred to as “A?”) antibody that binds to A? to thereby inhibit aggregation of A? molecules, and a fragment of said antibody are provided. The antibody and a fragment thereof according to the present invention, comprising a variable region of a human-derived anti-A? antibody, strongly reacts with A? to thereby inhibit its aggregation and hence may be used as a medicament for the prophylaxis and treatment of Alzheimer dementia.

Abstract: A novel type A botulinum toxin preparation is provided. A neuromuscular transmission blocking agent comprising as an active ingredient a highly purified type A botulinum toxin from Clostridium botulinum as infant botulism pathogen and a medicament for treating a disease with a muscle overactivity comprising as an active ingredient said toxin. In particular, the medicament of the present invention, as compared to the conventional known botulinum toxin preparations, has rapid efficacy of potential and is less diffusive and thus, having a broader safety margin, may be used as therapeutic medicament for decreasing local, muscle overactivity in a disease with a muscle overactivity.

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.