Abstract: The present invention concerns a recently discovered macrophage specific receptor, STIgMA, and its use in the treatment of complement-associated disorders.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods useful in the preparation of immunostimulatory vaccines which include as one of their components, activated antigen presenting cells which are characterized by having an ability to stimulate a therapeutic T cells response in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-CSAp antibodies and anti-CSAp antibody fusio proteins that are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of various cancers, including colon cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of testing a compound for biological activity, which method comprises providing cells expressing one of the CD94/NKG2 family of receptors, contacting the cells with recombinant HLA-E under binding conditions in the presence of the test compound, and determining whether the presence of the compound affects the binding of HLA-E to the cells. The HLA-E property of binding to CD94/NKG2 receptors on NK cells and a subset of CD8+ T cells is useful for targeting CD94/NKG2+ cells for a variety of purposes such as identification, isolation, killing or inactivation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying peptide epitopes that activate CD4+ T cells involved in the pathogenesis of diseases, e.g., autoimmune diseases, susceptibility to which is determined by expression of particular class II MHC genes. The invention includes peptides derived from the IA-2 polypeptide by such a method, altered peptide ligands, and methods of therapy involving the use of altered peptide ligands.

Abstract: An immunoglobulin binding peptide having the general formula, from amino terminus to carboxy terminus, of Z-R1—R2—R3—R4—R5—R6—X, is described, wherein: R1 is H or Y; R2 is a hydrophobic, preferentially aromatic, amino acid (for example W, F, Y, V); R3 is a positively charged or aromatic amino acid (for example R, H, F, W); R4 is a hydrophobic or positively charged amino acid (for example G, Y, R, K, L); R5 is a positively charged or aromatic amino acid (for example W, F, R, H, Y); R6 a random amino acid but preferably hydrophobic or negatively charged (for example V, W, L, D, H); X is present or absent and when present is a linking group; and Z is present or absent and when present is a capping group bonded to the N terminus of R1; and wherein the amino acids of said peptide are in D form, L form, or a combination thereof. Methods of using such peptides for the purification of Immunoglobulins are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying peptide epitopes that activate CD4+ T cells involved in the pathogenesis of diseases, e.g., autoimmune diseases, susceptibility to which is determined by expression of particular class II MHC genes. The invention includes peptides derived from the IA-2 polypeptide by such a method, altered peptide ligands, and methods of therapy involving the use of altered peptide ligands.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of using protein trans-splicing for the production of bispecific molecule which has a first antigen recognition portion that binds a C3b-like receptor and a second antigen recognition portion that binds an antigenic molecule present in the circulatory system of a mammal. The invention also provides bispecific molecules produced by protein trans-splicing. The bispecific molecules of the invention can be used for the clearance of pathogenic antigenic molecules from the circulatory system of a mammal. The invention further provides methods of using protein trans-splicing for the production of polyclonal libraries of bispecific molecules, which comprise populations of bispecific molecules with different antigen recognition specificities. Such polyclonal libraries of bispecific molecules can be used for targeting multiple epitopes of a pathogenic antigenic molecule and/or multiple variants of a pathogenic antigenic molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic antigen-presenting matrices, their methods of making and their methods of use. One such matrix is cells that have been transfected to produce MHC antigen-presenting molecules with one or more accessory molecules. The matrices are used to activate naive CD4+ T cells as well as shift the ongoing activation state into a preferred differentiated population of either Th1 or Th2 cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-CSAp antibodies and anti-CSAp antibody fusion proteins that are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of various cancers, including colon cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining the ability of a vaccine composition which comprises one or more antigens or a nucleic acid molecule which encodes one or more antigens to stimulate a T cell response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of separating antibodies from contaminants in a solution, which method comprises contacting the solution with a chromatography resin comprised of a support to which multi-modal ligands have been immobilised, wherein a multi-modal ligand comprises at least one cation-exchanging group and at least one aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system. In one embodiment, the ring-forming atoms of the aromatic or hereoaromatic entity are selected among C, S or O, and the cation exchanging group is a weak cation exchanger. The present method may be used as a single step procedure or as a polishing step following a capture on a Protein A column.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an immune complex composition, and a method of using that complex to enhance an in viva immune response against a preselected target antigen. The immune complexes of the present invention comprise a monoclonal antibody specific for binding to complement receptor (CR2) site on B lymphocytes linked to a target antigen. As shown in FIG. SA-SD immune complexes bound to monkey B cells are removed in concert with loss of CR2. FIGS. SA and SB demonstrate the % A1488 HB135 and % APhCy CD21 positive cells, out of the doubly positive FE CD20/PerCF CD45 population over time, after injection of A1488 labeled HB135 (an anti-CR2 antibody, administration indicated by first arrow) followed by injection of rabbit anti-mouse IgG (administration indicated by the second arrow). FIGS. SC and SD are plots of the molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochome (MESF) values for these populations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting, quantifying and high throughput screening of donor-products and the catalytic activities generating the donor-products in group-transfer reactions catalyzed by adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) or guanine triphosphatase (GTPase). The invention further provides immunoassays, antibodies and kits that may be used to practice the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of iron overload diseases and iron deficiency diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for modulating immune responses in subjects. The invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that an in-frame translation fusion of an antigen with an APC binding domain of an opsonin forms a molecule, that is, a fusion polypeptide, which when administered to a subject modulates an immune response to the antigen.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating B-lymphocyte activation. Nucleic acids encoding proteins and proteins so encoded which are capable of modulating B-lymphocyte activation are provided. Compositions and methods for the treatment of disorders related to dysfunction or dysregulation of B-lymphocyte activation are also provided. Prophylactics and methods for the prevention of such disorders are also provided. Also provided are compositions and methods for diagnostic and prognostic determination of such disorders. Further provided are assays for the identification of bioactive agents capable of modulating B-lymphocyte activation.

Abstract: The binding specificity of at least one plasma protein suspended or dissolved in a liquid medium is altered by exposing the protein to an oxidizing agent or an electric current sufficient to alter its binding specificity. A masked protein such as an autoantibody can be recovered from blood or blood products or extracts by oxidizing the protein to change its binding specificity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting antigen-specific T lymphocytes in a sample. The present invention further provides kits and systems for detecting antigen-specific T lymphocytes in a sample.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of detecting gluten-induced diseases such as e.g. celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. Said diseases are indicated by the presence of autoantibodies against tissue transglutaminase tTG in the blood The test is carried out on a whole blood sample using tTG liberated from the red blood cells of the blood sample as an autoantigen. The liberated autoantigens react with the autoantibodies in the sample and form antigen-antibody complexes, which are detected. The presence of such complexes indicates the disease. The invention is also directed to the use of the autoantigen in a test and to a test-kit.