Abstract: The present invention relates to an influenza antigen, comprising a fusion product of at least (1) the extracellular part of a conserved influenza membrane protein (e.g., M2) or a functional equivalent thereof and (2) a presenting carrier. The presenting carrier may be a (poly)peptide or a non-peptidic structure such as glycans, peptide mimetics, and synthetic polymers. The invention further relates to methods of making and using the antigen, and to influenza vaccines comprising the antigen and optionally one or more excipients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of motoneuron diseases. More particularly the invention relates to the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is found that the intracerebroventricular delivery of low amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor into a preclinical ALS animal model induces a significant motor performance and prolongation of survival time of said animals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pathological angiogenesis and arteriogenesis and, in particular, to a stress-induced phenotype in a transgenic mouse (PIGF?/?) that does not produce Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and that demonstrates an impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent response. PIGF deficiency has a negative influence on diverse pathological processes of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vascular leakage comprising ischemic retinopathy, tumor formation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular leakage (edema formation) and inflammatory disorders. The invention thus relates to molecules that can inhibit the binding of PIGF to its receptor (VEGFR-1), such as monocloncal antibodies and tetrameric peptides, and to the use of these molecules to treat the above-mentioned pathological processes.

Abstract: Described is a method of modulating E-cadherin mediated cell adhesion. More specifically, described is the use of hECRep1a and homologues thereof to modulate and/or control tumor cell invasiveness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pathological angiogenesis and arteriogenesis and, in particular, to a stress-induced phenotype in a transgenic mouse (PIGF?/?) that does not produce Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and that demonstrates an impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent response PIGF deficiency has a negative influence on diverse pathological processes of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vascular leakage comprising ischemic retinopathy, tumor formation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular leakage (edema formation) and inflammatory disorders. The invention thus relates to molecules that can inhibit the binding of PIGF to its receptor (VEGFR-1), such as monoclonal antibodies and tetrameric peptides, and to the use of these molecules to treat the above-mentioned pathological processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel markers for alternatively activated macrophages. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of galactose-type C-type lectins as surface markers that allows rapid identification and sorting of the alternative macrophages. Such identifications can be useful in diseases where there is an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pathological angiogenesis and arteriogenesis and, in particular, to a stress-induced phenotype in a transgenic mouse (PIGF?/?) that does not produce Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and that demonstrates an impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent response. PIGF deficiency has a negative influence on diverse pathological processes of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vascular leakage comprising ischemic retinopathy, tumor formation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular leakage (edema formation) and inflammatory disorders. The invention thus relates to molecules that can inhibit the binding of PIGF to its receptor (VEGFR-1), such as monoclonal antibodies and tetrameric peptides, and to the use of these molecules to treat the above-mentioned pathological processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pathological angiogenesis and arteriogenesis and, in particular, to a stress-induced phenotype in a transgenic mouse (PIGF?/?) that does not produce Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and that demonstrates an impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent response. PIGF deficiency has a negative influence on diverse pathological processes of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vascular leakage comprising ischemic retinopathy, tumor formation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular leakage (edema formation) and inflammatory disorders. The invention thus relates to molecules that can inhibit the binding of PIGF to its receptor (VEGFR-1), such as monoclonal antibodies and tetrameric peptides, and to the use of these molecules to treat the above-mentioned pathological processes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing recombinant neuraminidase by culturing in a suitable culture medium host cells which are transformed with a neuraminidase expression vector or infected with a virus which is transformed with a neuraminidase expression vector, wherein the expression vector comprises at least a part of the coding region of a neuraminidase gene of an influenza virus minus the region which codes for the membrane anchor, or a modified version thereof, preceded in phase by a signal sequence; and isolating the expression product neuraminidase from the culture medium. The invention further relates to vectors expressing the neuraminidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of motoneuron diseases. More particularly the invention relates to the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is found that the intracerebroventricular delivery of low amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor into a preclinical ALS animal model induces a significant motor performance and prolongation of survival time of said animals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chimeric protein comprising an antigen and an oligomerisation domain. The present invention relates further to recombinant oligomeric protein complexes comprising said chimeric protein and the use thereof for the manufacture of a vaccine.

Abstract: A method of identifying transcription factors comprising providing cells with a nucleic acid sequence at least comprising a sequence CACCT (SEQ ID NO:1) as bait for the screening of a library encoding potential transcription factors and performing a specificity test to isolate said factors. Preferably, the bait comprises twice the CACCT (SEQ ID NO:1) sequence, more particularly the bait comprises one of the sequences CACCT-N-CACCT (a first SEQ ID NO:1 and a second SEQ ID NO:1 separated by N), CACCT-N-AGGTG (SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:3 separated by N), AGGTG-N-CACCT (SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:1 separated by N), or AGGTG-N-AGGTG (a first SEQ ID NO:3 and a second SEQ ID NO:3 separated by N), wherein N is a spacer sequence. The transcription factors identified using the methods of the invention include separated clusters of zinc fingers, such as, for example, a two-handed zinc finger transcription factor.

Abstract: The present invention reates to the use of a polypeptide domain to modulate the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of cancer cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a domain of a Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) to modulate tumor invasiveness and/or metastasis. It further relates to compounds, such as antibodies, that interact with the domain and repress the tumor invasiveness and/or the metastasis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of the Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B) activating pathway useful in the treatment of NF-?B related diseases and/or in the improvement of anti-tumor treatments. These inhibitors interfere early in the TRAF induced signaling pathway and are therefore more specific than I?B.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and compositions capable of inhibiting the attachment of Gram-negative bacteria on a host epithelium.

Abstract: This invention relates to antagonists of placental growth factor and signalling thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing such antagonists and the use of such antagonists to prevent bone loss or bone mass and to enhance bone healing including the treatment of conditions which present with low bone mass and/or bone defects in vertebrates, and particularly mammals, including humans.

Abstract: The in vivo role of the N-terminal lectin-like domain of thrombomodulin was studied by using homologous recombination in murine ES cells to create mutant mice that lack this region of thrombomodulin. Phenotypic analysis shows that said mice respond identically to their wild type littermates following pro-coagulant challenges meaning that the protein C pathway is not altered by the mutation. However, following several inflammatory stimuli, it was observed that the mutant mice showed an elevated neutrophil extravasation in several organs. It is found that leukocyte adhesion could be abrogated by addition of recombinant lectin-domain meaning that said domain has direct anti-inflammatory properties which means that the lectin-like domain can be used to manufacture a medicament useful for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory disease processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel ?-catenin with a new, specific expression pattern in mainly heart and testis. The invention further relates to the use of this ?-catenin in the prediction, diagnosis, and/or treatment of cadherin-catenin related diseases, in particular cardiomyopathies and male infertility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a marker that can be used as aging biomarker. More specifically, the present invention relates to the analysis of N-glycans in serum and its relation to the virtual age of the subject. This aging biomarker can be used to study the effect of medication, food compounds and/or special diets on the wellness and virtual age of animals, including humans.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the field of hypoxia-induced disorders and more specifically to the use of hypoxia inducible factor 2? as a target in a method for the screening for molecules that can be used for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The invention further relates to the use of HIF-2? and/or of the HIF-2? inducible protein VEGF for the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.