Abstract: The specification describes an antibody capture process comprising (i) obtaining a biological sample comprising antibodies, (ii) contacting the biological sample with recombinant pIgR or a dIgA-binding variant, wherein the pIgR or variant binds dIgA and forms a pIgR-dIgA complex. The process may further comprise (iii) directly or indirectly assessing the level of the pIgR-dIgA complex or the level of a complex between pIgR-dIgA and an antigen of interest. There is also an antibody capture process for determining gut wall integrity in a test subject, wherein the level or ratio of SIgA to dIgA is compared to a corresponding level or ratio from a control subject. The specification provides kits embodying the process and recombinant pIgR when used for, or for use, in capturing or detecting dIgA and/or IgM.

Abstract: The specification describes an antibody capture process comprising (i) obtaining a biological sample comprising antibodies, (ii) contacting the biological sample with recombinant pIgR or a dIgA-binding variant, wherein the pIgR or variant binds dIgA and forms a pIgR-dIgA complex. The process may further comprise (iii) directly or indirectly assessing the level of the pIgR-dIgA complex or the level of a complex between pIgR-dIgA and an antigen of interest. There is also an antibody capture process for determining gut wall integrity in a test subject, wherein the level or ratio of SIgA to dIgA is compared to a corresponding level or ratio from a control subject. The specification provides kits embodying the process and recombinant pIgR when used for, or for use, in capturing or detecting dIgA and/or IgM.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medical diagnostics. In particular, it relates to compositions, methods and kits for detecting immune cells for diagnosis of allergy, for monitoring of vaccination responses, for determining immune response to pathogens and of treatment efficacy of allergen immunotherapy. For example, the invention provides a method of determining allergic reactivity in a subject, the method comprising, providing a sample from a subject, contacting the sample with a recombinant or synthetic allergen linked to a detectable label in conditions for permitting the binding of the allergen to an IgE molecule present in the sample, determining the binding of the allergen to an IgE molecule in the sample by detecting the label, wherein the detection of the label indicates the subject has allergic reactivity.

Abstract: The specification describes an antibody capture process comprising (i) obtaining a biological sample comprising antibodies, (ii) contacting the biological sample with recombinant pIgR or a dIgA-binding variant, wherein the pIgR or variant binds dIgA and forms a pIgR-dIgA complex. The process may further comprise (iii) directly or indirectly assessing the level of the pIgR-dIgA complex or the level of a complex between pIgR-dIgA and an antigen of interest. There is also an antibody capture process for determining gut wall integrity in a test subject, wherein the level or ratio of SIgA to dIgA is compared to a corresponding level or ratio from a control subject. The specification provides kits embodying the process and recombinant pIgR when used for, or for use, in capturing or detecting dIgA and/or IgM.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising hepatitis C virus (HCV) Envelope 2 (E2) glycoprotein, wherein the HCV E2 is substantially monomer depleted HCV E2. Also provide are methods of inducing an HCV immune response.

Abstract: A composition comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) Envelope 2 (E2) polypeptide including a receptor binding variant, wherein the polypeptide is modified to comprise: (i) a cysteine mutated or disrupted at 2, 3, or 4 cysteines selected from C452, C486, C569, and C597; and wherein the polypeptide forms substantially fewer multimers by intermolecular disulfide bonding relative to the HCV E2 polypeptide without cysteine modification, and substantially retains CD81 binding; and various uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of eliciting a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to an antigen in an animal, the method comprising pulsing mannose receptor-bearing antigen presenting cells in vitro or ex vivo with a conjugate comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose, wherein said carbohydrate polymer is a fully oxidized carbohydrate polymer comprising free aldehydes; and administering the pulsed antigen presenting cells to an animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to chimeric proteins comprising an antigen and a trimer forming portion or a trimer and virus-like particle forming portion of foamy virus envelope protein (FV TM). The trimer or trimer and virus-like particle forming portion comprises i) full length foamy virus transmembrane protein; ii) foamy virus transmembrane protein absent a functional cytoplasmic domain; iii) foamy virus transmembrane protein absent a functional cytoplasmic domain and transmembrane domain; iv) foamy virus ectodomain comprising N-terminal heptad repeat region and cysteine rich region between N-terminal heptad repeat region and C-terminal ?-helical region; v) N-terminal heptad repeat region; vi) a functional variant of any one of i) to v); or vii) any one of i) to vi) lacking an FV fusion peptide domain. In particular, the antigen is an antigen of a virus envelope protein, such as HIV gp 120.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine composition comprising a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose and flu antigen(s) (e.g. whole inactivated influenza virus) in admixture, and a method of immunising a subject comprising the step of administering the vaccine composition to a subject.

Abstract: A method for quantifying apoptosis in absolute terms in a cellular sample by real-time ligation-mediated PCR, the method comprising: (a) obtaining first control genomic nucleic acid which is apoptotic nucleic acid from a cellular sample that is substantially 100% apoptotic; (b) obtaining test genomic nucleic acid derived from a test cellular sample; (c) subjecting a plurality of different known concentrations of first control genomic nucleic acid to real-time apoptosis-specific multi-product PCR in the presence of a nucleic acid-binding fluorophore or other detectable tag to obtain a threshold cycle number (Ct) or other equivalent value at different nucleic acid concentrations and establishing a linear numerical relationship between Ct or equivalent value and apoptotic nucleic acid concentration; (d) subjecting test nucleic acid to real-time apoptosis-specific multi-product PCR in the presence of a nucleic acid-binding fluorophore or other detectable tag to obtain a Ct or other equivalent value; and (e) estab

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a conjugate between an antigen and an oxidized mannan comprising mannose units and aldehyde groups, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: An isolated binding partner of a Cripto-1 protein, Pim-1 protein or an antigen present in a colon cancer cell lysate is described. The binding partner inhibits growth of one or more cancer cell types and may be used in an anti-cancer agent for treating cancer in a subject. The binding partner may also be used in a method of inducing apoptosis in a cancer cell, as well as in a method of sensitising a cancer cell to a cytotoxic compound. In addition, a cancer vaccine is described wherein the vaccine comprises a Cripto-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof), Pim-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof) or an antigen present in a colon cancer cell lysate or, alternatively, comprises an expressible DNA molecule encoding a Cripto-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof), Pim-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof) or an antigen present in a colon cancer cell lysate.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an immune response to a nucleic acid vaccine comprising administering to an animal a nucleic acid construct encoding a fusion protein comprising a processing component and an antigenic polypeptide of interest wherein said processing component provides heterogeneous processing of the antigenic polypeptide when the nucleic acid construct is expressed in a host cell and a resulting enhancement of the immune response. The processing component is derived from an N-terminal portion of PORF2 of Hepatitis E virus.

Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of the three-dimensional structures of Fc receptor proteins, particularly wild-type Fc?RIIa, by X-ray crystallography and the use of the structure in identifying and modifying agents for modulating the biological activity of Fc receptors. Also disclosed is a novel dimeric structure for Fc?RIIa and novel target sites for agents for modulating the biological activity of Fc receptor proteins.