Abstract: A method of targeting a diagnostic or therapeutic agent to a focus of infection comprises injecting a patient infected with a pathogen parenterally with an antibody conjugate which specifically binds to an accessible epitope of the pathogen or of a pathogen-associated antigen accreted at the focus of infection, the antibody conjugate further comprising a bound diagnostic or therapeutic agent for detecting, imaging or treating the infection. Polyspecific composite conjugates enhance the efficacy of the method, which is especially useful for treating infections that are refractory towards systemic chemotherapy.

Abstract: Assays that are prognostic for patients that will develop nephritis have been developed where patient serum is screened for the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies that are cross reactive with A and D SnRNP proteins. The assays are based on the use of either peptides containing epitopes bound by the anti-dsDNA antibodies, or the antigens for the antibodies, A and D SnRNP proteins. Therapeutic compositions have also been developed using either antibodies that block the pathogenicity of the anti-dsDNA antibodies, such as the naturally occurring anti-La/SSB, anti-Ro/SSA and anti-U1RNP antibodies that are cross reactive with the anti-dsDNA or using the peptides or A and D proteins to induce tolerance.

Abstract: The present invention for the first time discloses a health problem in broilers at about 3-5 weeks, resulting in significant production losses, and demonstrates that these production losses can be prevented by a live attenuated CAA vaccine for mucosal administration.

Abstract: An indirect agglutination immunoassay includes the steps of providing, in a container, an immunoassay system comprising a test sample containing a desired analyte, and a reagent composed of magnetic particles or magnetic-material containing particles containing iron therein, wherein the magnetic particles or magnetic-material containing particles have been sensitized to allow specific binding to the desired analyte, and have a particle size in the range of 1 to 5 &mgr;m, with the content of the iron being in the range of 8 to 20 wt. %, precipitating the magnetic particles or magnetic-material containing particles by the application of magnetic force, allowing the container to stand at an inclination, and detecting the presence or absence of an immune reaction from the absence or presence of slippage observed of the precipitated magnetic particles or magnetic-material containing particles on the bottom of the container.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to novel methods and compositions for protecting cats from infection by a broad range of FIV strains using a multi-subtype FIV vaccine. Multi-subtype FIV vaccines comprising either cell free whole virus or cell lines infected with viruses are described. Methods for vaccinating cats with the subject vaccine compositions are also described. Cats vaccinated according to the methods and compositions of the subject invention exhibit protective humoral and cellular immune responses to FIV when challenged with homologous or heterologous strains of FIV. The subject invention also pertains to novel feline cell lines that are susceptible to infection by FIV and their methods of use.

Abstract: The instant invention addresses the need for a more accurate method of quantitating infectious viral particles in a population. The methods of the instant invention are based on the unexpected and surprising result that flow cytometry analysis of cells infected using specified ranges of viral particle concentration and/or adsorption time yields a more accurate measurement of infectious virus titer than traditional titration methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of rapidly screening ligands on the basis of their binding affinity and binding enthalpy by carrying out binding assays at a minimum of two temperatures. This technique permits the selection for further optimization of lead ligands that bind to the target molecules with favorable enthalpies. Those ligands will exhibit higher solubilities in aqueous solution than ligands selected by conventional means, and may exhibit lower susceptibilities to resistant mutations. The method may be utilized as a standalone technique, or may be adapted to, for example, known high throughput screening technologies. The present invention further comprises an apparatus for carrying out the described methods.

Abstract: A method for the removal of psoralens and psoralen degradation products is disclosed. The method of the present invention is useful for any biological fluid that has been treated with psoralens, including blood and blood fractions and components derived therefrom. Biological fluids treated according to the method of the present invention are substantially free from any residual psoralens or psoralen degradation products.

Abstract: Antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material derived from Mycobacterium vaccae is useful for delaying the onset of AIDS with or without associated tuberculosis.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody, or fragments thereof, having binding specificity for both endoglin expressed on human vascular endothelial cells and on murine endothelial cells. Antiangiogenic therapy in mammals can be effected by administering to the mammalian host a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-endoglin monoclonal antibody, or fragment thereof, which is conjugated to at least one angiogenesis inhibitor or antitumor agent. The composition is useful for treating tumor and angiogenesis-associated diseases.

Abstract: Adhesives having a microreplicated topography are prepared from contacting a microembossed pattern to a layer of adhesive. When an adhesion interface is established between the layer of adhesive and a supporting substrate, the topography of the adhesive surface controls the performance of the adhesion interface. Articles having microreplicated adhesive surfaces are also disclosed that have an advantage of providing microchannels for fluid egress for an effective period of time. Multiple microembossed patterns produce microreplicated adhesive surfaces having both microchannels for fluid egress and pegs for improved adhesive properties.

Abstract: A composition which elicits antibodies to greater than 95%, and even greater than 99%, of the known variants of HIV-1 Tat protein contains at least one peptide or polypeptide of the formula of Epitope I (based on amino acids 2-10 of HIV-1 Tat consensus sequence) and optionally one or more of a peptide or polypeptide of Epitope II (based on amino acids 41 to 51 of that sequence), of Epitope III (based on amino acids 52-62 of that sequence), or of Epitope IV (based on amino acids 62 through 72 of that sequence with a C-terminal Pro). Vaccinal and pharmaceutical compositions can contain one or more such peptides associated with carrier proteins, in multiple antigenic peptides or as part of recombinant proteins. Various combinations of the Epitope I through IV peptides can provide other compositions useful in eliciting anti-Tat antibodies which cross-react with multiple strains and variants of HIV-1 Tat protein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to non-instrumented assays giving quantitative and/or qualitative results. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process and kit determining analyte in a sample wherein the solid support has a contact zone and binder distributed and immobilized throughout the solid support. A sample and a tracer are added to the contact zone and a visible zone is obtained. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process and test wherein the solid support has two contact zones and the binder is not immobilized on the solid support. In this embodiment, the binder is mobile and is added to the second contact zone. At the same time, sample and a tracer are added to the first contact zone. A visible zone is obtained.

Abstract: The invention features immunoreagents which neutralize the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) by binding to a novel conserved epitope of the HIV-1 gp120. These immunoreagents exhibit a broad neutralizing effect upon HIV attachment to host cells, and are therefore useful in the detection, prevention, amelioration and treatment of HIV disease, primarily AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and ARC (AIDS Related Complex). More particularly, the invention relates to novel human monoclonal antibodies selectively reactive to a conserved conformation dependent determinant of the HIV-1 gp120, derivatives thereof, cell lines that produce these antibodies, and the use of the monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives for the detection, prevention, amelioration and treatment of HIV related disease.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody, or fragments thereof, having binding specificity for both endoglin expressed on human vascular endothelial cells and on murine endothelial cells. Antiangiogenic therapy in mammals can be effected by administering to the mammalian host a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-endoglin monoclonal antibody, or fragment thereof, either unconjugated or conjugated to at least one angiogenesis inhibitor or antitumor agent. The composition is useful for treating tumor and angiogenesis-associated diseases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of treating subjects exhibiting thrombocytopenia or at risk of developing thrombocytopenia. The method includes the step of administering to the subject exhibiting thrombocytopenia or at risk of developing thrombocytopenia, an effective amount of a Pseudomonas solvent extract or active fraction thereof. The Pseudomonas solvent extract is administered in an amount effective to increase platelet levels in the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence corresponding to a classical swine fever virus (CSFV) genome or a part or a mutant thereof, which comprises at least a part of the nucleotide sequence of the CSFV C-strain depicted in SEQ ID No. 1, or a complement or RNA equivalent of such nucleotide sequence, or which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding at least the amino acid sequence 268-494 of the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID No. 1, or a complement or RNA equivalent of such nucleotide sequence. Also provided is a pestivirus polypeptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence 690-1063 of SEQ ID No. 1 or part thereof, which contains a mutation in one of the epitopes within amino acid sequences 691-750 or 785-870, said mutation altering said epitope.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting a hormone or antihormone resistance in cancers. The invention is intended for use in medicine, biology and the pharmaceutical industry. The aim of the invention is to consistently improve the use of antihormones in the treatment of cancer so that unnecessary treatment can be avoided as much as possible. The aim is to develop a method which can be used to identify the type of cancer before corresponding antihormone treatment is given. This aim is achieved by measuring the immune reactivity of the hormone receptors of cancers.

Abstract: Double-stranded cDNA was synthesized from nucleic acid extracted from Norwalk virus purified from stool specimens of volunteers. One clone was isolated from a cDNA library constructed in a pUC-13 vector after amplification of the cDNA. The specificity of this cDNA (pUCNV-953) was shown by hybridization assays. The cDNA reacted with post- (but not pre-) infection stool samples from Norwalk volunteers and with highly purified Norwalk virus, but not with other common enteric viruses such as hepatitis A virus and rotavirus. Finally, the probe detected virus in the same fractions of CsCl gradients in which viral antigen was detected using a specific Norwalk virus radioimmunoassay, and particles were detected by immune electron microscopy. Single-stranded RNA probes derived from the DNA clone after subcloning into an in vitro transcription vector were also used to show that the Norwalk virus contains a ssRNA genome of about 8 kb in size.

Abstract: A complex comprised of the HBcAg and an albumin or an unprocessed structural protein from a positive stranded RNA virus. Pursuant to such complexing, the antigenicity of the HBcAg is enhanced when compared to HBcAg alone, in terms of both or either affinity or specificity. This complexed HBcAg can be recognized by the immune system, which produces antibodies that have a high specificity and affinity for the complexed HBcAg, although such antibodies typically do also bind the uncomplexed antigen to a lower specificity and affinity. Also, methods and devices using the same.