Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of constructing an integrated artificial immune system that comprises appropriate in vitro cellular and tissue constructs or their equivalents to mimic the normal tissues that interact with vaccines in mammals. The artificial immune system can be used to test the efficacy of vaccine candidates in vitro and thus, is useful to accelerate vaccine development and testing drug and chemical interactions with the immune system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing an artificial immune system. The artificial immune system comprises a cell culture comprising a three-dimensional matrix comprising lymphoid tissue, a three-dimensional matrix comprising epithelial and/or endothelial cells, and diseased cells. The artificial immune system of the present invention can be used for in vitro testing of vaccines, adjuvants, immunotherapy candidates, cosmetics, drugs, biologics and other chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays use inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing the tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment uses simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and are readily conducted by a trained technician. The assays are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibody at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing an artificial immune system. The artificial immune system comprises a cell culture comprising a three-dimensional matrix comprising lymphoid tissue, a three-dimensional matrix comprising epithelial and/or endothelial cells, and diseased cells. The artificial immune system of the present invention can be used for in vitro testing of vaccines, adjuvants, immunotherapy candidates, cosmetics, drugs, biologics and other chemicals.

Abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) for research and clinical applications are typically derived from purified blood monocytes that are cultured in a cocktail of cytokines for a week or more. Because it has been suggested that these cytokine-derived DCs may be deficient in some important immunological functions and might not accurately represent antigen-presenting cell (APC) populations found under physiologic conditions, there is a need for methods that allow the generation of DCs in a more physiologically relevant manner. The present invention comprises a simple and reliable technique for generating large numbers of highly purified DCs, based on a single migration of blood monocytes through endothelial cells that are cultured in, for example, a Transwell® device.