Abstract: Method of stimulating an immune response (e.g., to treat cancer) include administering to a subject a composition including dendritic cells incubated with (i) oHSV-infected tumor cells or a composition derived therefrom, or (ii) tumor cells plus oHSV, as well as methods of preparing such compositions, are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for systemic immune activation which is effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in a mammal. The method is particularly effective for protecting a mammal from herpes simplex virus. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions useful in such a method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for systemic immune activation which is effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in a mammal. The method is particularly effective for protecting a mammal from herpes simplex virus. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions useful in such a method.

Abstract: Disclosed are a recombinant DNA molecule encoding a fusion protein comprising a SlpA chaperone and a target polypeptide wherein human FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) are excluded as target polypeptides, a corresponding expression vector encoding said fusion protein as well as host cells transformed with said expression vector. Also disclosed are a method for producing the fusion protein, a recombinantly produced fusion protein comprising a SlpA chaperone and a target polypeptide. A further aspect of the invention is the use of the recombinantly produced fusion protein, and a reagent kit containing a recombinantly produced fusion protein comprising a SlpA chaperone and a target polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide of a protective antigenic determinant (PAD polypeptide) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide. The PAD polypeptide and nucleic acids encoding a PAD polypeptide are useful in the development of antibodies directed to PAD, vaccines effective in providing protection against PRRSV infection, and diagnostic assays detecting the presence of PAD antibodies generated by a PAD-specific vaccine. The invention also discloses methods of generating antibodies to PAD, for vaccinating a pig to provide protection from PRRSV infections, a method of preparing the vaccine, a method of treating PRRSV infections in a pig, and a method of detecting antibodies to PAD of PRRSV.

Abstract: The invention generally features the use of Yaba monkey tumor virus nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides for the treatment or prevention of immunoinflammatory disorders.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating arthritic joints found in patients with autoinflammation, e.g., systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, by administering at the site of inflammation a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent that reduces or blocks the bioavailability of interleukin-1?.

Abstract: Aspects of the present inventions discloses a Super-Virulent Variant Strain of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, characterized in that nucleotides 1594th-1680th are deleted in its Nsp2 gene. The present invention also discloses a Vaccine prepared with the Super-Virulent Variant Strain of the Virus for prevention of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome. The present invention may further discloses preparations, assay methods and/or the application of the Vaccine in preparing medicaments to resist Super-Virulent Variant Strain of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus by immunizing pigs.

Abstract: Described is a method of identifying an immunologically active antigen of a virus that attacks skin, as well as a method of enriching a population of lymphocytes for T lymphocytes that are specific to a virus that attacks skin. Also provided are HSV antigens and epitopes that are useful for the prevention and treatment of HSV infection that have been identified via the methods of the invention. T-cells having specificity for antigens of the invention have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against cells loaded with virally-encoded peptide epitopes, and in many cases, against cells infected with HSV. The identification of immunogenic antigens responsible for T-cell specificity provides improved anti-viral therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Compositions containing antigen or polynucleotides encoding antigens of the invention provide effectively targeted vaccines for prevention and treatment of HSV infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fusion protein comprising an immunostimulatory polypeptide and a mutant E7 protein of a human papilloma virus. The present invention also provides a gene encoding the fusion protein, expression vectors containing the gene, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the fusion protein, a method for treating or preventing a human papilloma virus related disease by using the fusion protein and uses of the fusion protein in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of the human papilloma virus related disease.

Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major problem in the pork industry worldwide. The inclusion of markers in vaccines will allow for diagnostic differentiation of vaccinated animals from those naturally infected with wild-type virus. Using a cDNA infectious clone of North American Type 1 PRRSV, a recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged PRRSV has been made, containing deletion of an immunogenic epitope, ES4, in the nsp2 region. GFP and ES4 epitope-based ELISAs compliment the marker identification.

Abstract: This invention relates to two attenuated strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and immunogenic compositions comprising one or more strains of attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular of Equine Herpes Viruses (EHV) wherein the gene encoding the protein gM is absent, and which is free of heterologous elements. Further aspects of the invention relate to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said viruses, uses thereof, and methods for the prophylaxis and treatment of EHV infections. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the combination of EHV-1 and EHV-4 viruses wherein the gene encoding the protein gM is absent and which is free of heterologous elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel strains of avian reovirus that were isolated from severe cases of Runting Stunting Syndrome in young broiler chickens in southeast United States. The invention is directed to avian reoviruses that impair digestion in poultry, diagnostic assays using nucleotide- or amino acid-specific components of such viruses, and to vaccines that protect chickens from disease caused by such viruses. Nucleotide sequences for the S1 gene, encoding the sigma C minor outer capsid protein, were amplified, and the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were compared with sequences from other recently isolated reovirus field isolates and vaccine strains. Antigenic and molecular characterization of the newly isolated reoviruses revealed a lack of homogeneity with current U.S. isolates, with less than 60% percent amino acid similarity across the sigma C protein.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions and prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines for use in protecting and treating against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) are disclosed. Subunit vaccines comprising a human CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, and nucleic acid vaccines comprising at least one nucleic acid encoding a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130 are described. Also disclosed are therapeutic antibodies reactive against a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, as well as methods for screening compounds that inhibit CMV infection of epithelial and endothelial cells, methods for immunizing a subject against CMV infection, methods for determining the capability of neutralizing antibodies to inhibit CMV infection of cell types other than fibroblasts, and methods of diminishing an CMV infection.

Abstract: A method of detecting malignancy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a nasopharyngeal carcinoma malignancy biomarker are disclosed. Firstly, a specimen is obtained from a testee. Next, the specimen is tested for its MIP-3? expression level. Then, the MIP-3? expression level of the specimen is compared with that of a control. Finally, the malignancy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is determined according to a relative MIP-3? expression level between the specimen and the control.

Abstract: A recombinant herpesvirus, a method for producing the recombinant herpesvirus, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the recombinant herpesvirus, are provided with a method for producing a recombinant herpesvirus using a BAC vector sequence. In addition, a vector comprising a herpesvirus genomic gene and a BAC vector sequence, a cell comprising the vector, and a nucleic acid cassette comprising a fragment, which is capable of homologous recombination with a herpesvirus genome, and a BAC vector sequence, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of diagnostic microbiology, and, more particularly, to compositions and methods for detecting and differentiating one or more viruses or other intracellular parasites present in a specimen. The present invention also provides compositions and methods to evaluate the susceptibility of organisms to antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising a fusion polypeptide of E6 and E7 of a human papilloma virus, a signal peptide for secreting the polypeptide out of the cell, and an immune enhancing peptide for a subject; a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein; and a vector containing the polynucleotide. The present invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the fusion protein or the vector; and a method for treating a disease caused by a human papilloma virus using the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to tumor cell lines useful for increasing the proliferation potential of any human or animal cell in culture, thereby providing immortalized or continuous cell lines and cultures. The invention also concerns proliferation factors, and compositions containing the factors, which are capable of increasing the proliferation potential of any human or other animal cell in culture. The subject invention further pertains to a method for proliferating cells in culture by containing cells with the proliferation factors. The proliferated cells can range in plasticity and can include, for example, blast cells, fertilized ova, non-fertilized gametes, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, precursor or progenitor cells, and highly specialized cells. Optionally, the cells can be induced to cease proliferation.