Abstract: The present invention concerns a biomaterial for the selective adhesion of cell and/or tissue, which comprises a polymeric support having an heterogeneous surface conditioned with a surfactant and an extracellular matrix protein or a portion of said protein. The present invention concerns also the biosensor, the diagnostic device, the bioreactor, the tissue and the organ comprising the biomaterial according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a LO-CD2a antibody and methods of using such antibodies or molecules that bind to the same epitope (or a portion thereof) to prevent and inhibit an immune response in human patients, preferably, where the immune response is mediated by the activation and proliferation of T cells or natural killer cells. The administration of an effective amount of the LO-CD2a antibody to a human patient will prevent or inhibit graft rejection, graft versus host disease or autoimmune disease.

Abstract: Provided herein are human proteins or xenogeneic homologs thereof, which are predictive markers for acute allograft rejection, processes for obtaining the proteins of the invention, nucleotide sequences which encode the proteins, and antibodies to the proteins. Also provided are methods of assaying biological samples for the presence, and optionally the amounts of proteins of the invention, a kit for assaying such proteins in a bodily sample, and a method and kit related to diagnosis and prognosis of organ rejection in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a LO-CD2a antibody and methods of using such antibodies or molecules that bind to the same epitope (or a portion thereof) to prevent and inhibit an immune response in human patients, preferably, where the immune response is mediated by the activation and proliferation of T cells or natural killer cells. The administration of an effective amount of the LO-CD2a antibody to a human patient will prevent or inhibit graft rejection, graft versus host disease or autoimmune disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing perforations in a solid material in sheet form, an irradiation device for working the method and the resulting perforated material.

Abstract: The conjugate according to the invention is constituted by a wall adhesin of Streptococcus mutans, of a proteinic nature, capable of binding the components of saliva, or an active fraction of such a protein, covalently coupled to a Streptococcus mutans polysaccharide, or to a fraction of such a polysaccharide.Preferably, the adhesin is constituted by a single polypeptide chain having a molecular weight of about 74,000; it is common to the different serotypes of Streptococcus mutans where it has a crossed antigenicity; and it is capable of interacting with the salivary glycoproteins and polysaccharide derived from the same serotype of S. mutans, particularly serotype f.Use for the preparation of immunogenic compositions, particularly for the preparation of vaccines against dental caries.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilization comprises a treatment chamber (1) with constant temperature control (3, 4, 5) connected to a source of vacuum (6, 7, 8, 9), and to a circuit for admitting a carrier gas comprising a means (10) for sterilizing a gas and a means (14) for heating the gas at constant temperature as well as a steam generator (16) connected to a water supply (19) and to a system (20) for controlling the temperature and/or pressure (20). In addition, a sterilizing gas generator (21) contains a solution of a sterilizing agent (22) and is equipped with means for heating and/or cooling and for temperature control (24, 25, 26, 27). Also, suitable means (33) for circulating the atmosphere in the chamber (1) in contact with the solution (22) are provided.

Abstract: A sterilization method comprising subjecting a sterilization chamber to an initial vacuum and then introducing steam to increase chamber pressure. The introduction of steam is interrupted and the chamber is brought into communication with a solution in a gaseous sterilant generator. The mixture of gaseous sterilant and chamber atmosphere are continuously circulated whereby equilibrium is established and the material to be sterilized is subject to constant temperature, pressure, sterilant concentration, and relative humidity for a period of time sufficient for sterilization. Also disclosed is an apparatus capable of performing the sterilization method comprising a sterilization chamber in combination with a gaseous sterilant generator. Formaldehyde is the preferred sterilizing agent.