Abstract: The invention is directed to compounds of formula (I) wherein X is O or NH; R? is a hydrocarbon chain; R3 and R4 are hydrogen, OH or a monosaccharide; R5 is hydrogen or a monosaccharide; Q? is optionally present and may be a C1-10 hydrocarbon; X? is optionally present and may be O, S or NR8; and Q3 may be a hydrocarbon or hydrogen. The invention is also directed to the use of the compounds for treating cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. The invention is also directed to syntheses of the compounds of formula (I).

Abstract: Data consistent with autoimmune disease being caused by Epstein-Barr virus are shown. Based on this evidence, an effective vaccine would prevent the autoimmune disease in those vaccinated, modified or administered so that the vaccine is not itself capable of inducing autoimmune disease. In the case of anti-Sm, structures to be avoided in an Epstein-Barr virus-derived vaccine have been identified. Differences have been identified in the immune responses to Epstein-Barr infection between individuals who develop a specific autoimmune disease and those who do not. These differences are used to distinguish those who are at greater risk for developing specific autoimmune diseases from those who are a lesser risk. Assuming Epstein-Barr virus causes autoimmune disease and that Epstein-Barr virus remains latent in the patient for life, reactivation of the virus from the latent state is important in generating or maintaining the autoimmune response that culminates in autoimmune disease.

Abstract: An improved process for recovery of virus from allantoic fluid of virus-infected chick embryos. Virus associated with granular and fibrous debris in the allantoic fluid can be disassociated from the debris and recovered, thereby increasing viral yield. Dissociation can be achieved by subjecting the virus-debris complex to conditions of increased salt concentrations, e.g., 0.5 M or greater.

Abstract: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid is made up of a single species of protein called the core antigen (HBcAg) which self-assembles into particles. The particles are highly immunogenic and are able to present heterologous epitopes to the immune system when the epitopes are inserted into a surface-exposed region of the particles called the “e1 loop”. The structural building blocks of the particles are tightly associated dimers of HBcAg in which the adjacent e1 loops are closely juxtaposed. It is proposed that sequences inserted into the e1 loop are conformationally restrained in the assembled particles when presented in monomeric core protein. The invention seeks to solve this problem by covalently linking core proteins as tandem copies (e.g., as dimers) so that insertions can be made independently in each copy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of cancers containing Sindbis virus as an active ingredient, a method for treatment of cancers, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of Sindbis virus to a mammal having cancers, a method for identifying cancers, which includes introducing Sindbis virus into an animal, thereby detecting a Sindbis virus protein or Sindbis virus RNA in vital tissues of the above animal, a method of identifying cancers, which includes introducing into an animal Sindbis virus having a reporter gene incorporated therein, thereby, detecting the product of the reporter gene in vital tissues of the animal, and a method of identifying cancers, which includes detecting a increase in antibody titer to the Sindbis virus protein or the product of the reporter gene in the aforementioned animals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a parvovirus vector having a parvovirus DNA excisable from the vector DNA in a parvovirus-permissive cell, the parvovirus DNA having a left terminus which comprises a parvovirus minimal origin of replication, and a system comprising the parvovirus vector. Furthermore, this invention concerns a method of producing the parvovirus vector, parvoviral particles as well as their use.

Abstract: The application discloses novel polypeptides and nucleic acids involved in a variety of biological processes, including viral reproduction. Related methods and compositions are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of extracting virus genes, which is excellent in quickness and convenience and can be automated, and this invention also provides an apparatus for such extraction of virus genes. A conductive hollow fiber membrane (module) 12 is immersed in a virus suspension 20 and thus viral particles suspended in the virus suspension 20 are captured in the conductive hollow fiber membrane (module) 12. The coating of the thus captured virus is lysed and the virus genes are released. Next, the virus genes are collected by subjecting the conductive hollow fiber membrane (module) 12 to at least one of an electrical treatment and a physical treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and assays for detecting bacteriophage MS2 in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modulating the nature and/or level of an immune response to a molecule. In particular, the invention relates to effecting an increase in the TH1 immune response to molecules such as, but not limited to, antigens or immunogens. The invention also relates to reducing a TH2 immune response to molecules. More particularly, the invention relates to altering the level of TH1- and TH2-associated immunoglobulins, the level of proliferation of TH1- and TH2-associated cytokines, and the level of proliferation of TH1 and TH2 cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides variants of cyanovirin-N and water-soluble polymer conjugates thereof. The cyanovirin-N of the invention are particularly suited for site-selective covalent attachment of one or more water soluble polymers, to provide polymer conjugates of cyanovirin-N variants exhibiting antiviral activity.

Abstract: Peptides having, as constitutive amino acids, (1) 4 glutamine residues, 1 glutamic acid residue, 1 serine residue, 2 valine residues, 1 isoleucine residue and 5 leucine residues, and having a 3-hydroxydecanoyl group bonded, via an amide linkage, to the N-terminal leucine residue thereof; (2) 4 glutamine residues, 1 glutamic acid residue, 1 serine residue, 3 valine residues, and 5 leucine residues, and having a 3-hydroxydecanoyl group bonded, via an amide linkage, to the N-terminal leucine residue thereof; or (3) 4 glutamine residues, 1 glutamic acid residue, 1 serine residue, 2 valine residues, 1 isoleucine residue and 5 leucine residues, and having a 3-hydroxydodec-5-enoyl group bonded, via an amide linkage, to the N-terminal leucine residue thereof. The peptides have an antiviral activity. A strain capable of producing the above peptides and belonging to a new species of genus Pseudomonas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of neoplastic cells to chemotherapeutic agents by using a virus, a method of treating proliferative disorders with a virus and chemotherapeutic agents, and a method for preventing a neoplasm from developing drug resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. The virus is preferably a reovirus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine for immunization against a viral infection caused by a virulent systemic feline calicivirus (VS-FCV), a novel, atypical and unusually virulent form of a calicivirus that results in a highly contagious and fatal hemorrhagic fever syndrome. The present invention further encompasses methods of immunizing cats against particular strains of VS-FCV.

Abstract: A library of mutants of metastable proteins, such as proteinase inhibitors, can be screened for the specific loss of a wild-type capability to bind an antibody, yielding valuable drug-design information which otherwise is unavailable. By this approach, for example, a mutant proteinase inhibitor can be obtained that has the amino acid sequence of a wild-type protein, or an active fragment thereof, save for the presence of one or more mutations in at least one epitope, thereby altering interaction of the mutant with an anti-proteinase inhibitor antibody.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and assays for detecting bacteriophage MS2 in a sample.

Abstract: A norovirus-permissive cell culture infected with a norovirus, and methods of culturing a norovirus, are disclosed. Norovirus-permissive cells include dendritic cell-lineage cells, and macrophage-lineage cells, such as dendritic cells, and macrophages having a deficiency in a cellular anti-viral pathway such as a STAT-1-dependent pathway, an interferon receptor-dependent pathway, or a PKR-dependent pathway. Also disclosed are methods of screening anti-viral compounds against norovirus-permissive cells infected with norovirus, and norovirus adapted to grow in fibroblasts as well as macrophages that are not deficient in a cellular anti-viral pathway. Methods of making a norovirus vaccine are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a composition comprising an ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant array. The invention also provides a process for producing an antigen or antigenic determinant in an ordered and repetitive array. The ordered and repetitive antigen or antigenic determinant is useful in the production of vaccines for the treatment of infectious diseases, the treatment of allergies and as a pharmaccine to prevent or cure cancer and to efficiently induce self-specific immune responses, in particular antibody responses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a purified preparation containing a polynucleic acid encoding at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of proteins encoded by one or more open reading frames (ORF's) of an Iowa strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), proteins at least 80% but less than 100% homologous with those encoded by one or more of ORF 2, ORF 3, ORF 4 and ORF 5 of an Iowa strain of PRRSV, proteins at least 97% but less than 100% homologous with proteins encoded by one or both of ORF 6 and ORF 7 of an Iowa strain of PRRSV, antigenic regions of such proteins which are at least 5 amino acids in length and which effectively stimulate immunological protection in a porcine host against a subsequent challenge with a PRRSV isolate, and combinations thereof, in which amino acids non-essential for antigenicity may be conservatively substituted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of bicistronic DNA constructs for identifying compounds that inhibits IRES-dependent translation activity of an infectious enterovirus (EV) or encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) without affecting CAP-dependent translation activity of a host subject. The compounds thus identified are useful in preparation of a medicament for treating EV or EMCV infection.