Abstract: Provided herein are epitopes and mimotopes thereof useful in the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D), as well as antibodies recognizing such epitopes, and diagnostics, therapeutics, kits, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the modulation of T-cell tolerance, which can be upregulated or down regulated by concurrent enhancement or inhibition of CEACAM1/TIM3 interactions. As described herein, the discovery that CEACAM1 is a direct ligand of TIM3 and vice versa has been shown in cis and in trans. In addition, as demonstrated herein, CEACAM1 and TIM3 are co-regulated during the course of T-cell activation.

Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions and methods for promoting the formation, expansion and recruitment of TR1 cells and/or B cells in an antigen-specific manner and treating diseases and disorders in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present application discloses proteins or peptides and methods of using such proteins or peptides to evaluate the immune status of a patient. In one embodiment, proteins or peptides may be used to detect endogenous calnexin specific CD4 T cells. In one preferred embodiment, the proteins or peptides may comprise peptide-MHCII tetramers (pMHC tetramers).

Abstract: This invention provides a method of detecting BDCA-2 protein in a biological sample. The sample is combined with an antibody or antigen binding fragment under conditions where the antibody or fragment will bind to BDCA-2 protein in the sample to form a complex, which is detected by formation of complex with the antibody. BDCA-2 protein may be displayed on the surface of dendritic cells. Binding of the antibody may result in down-regulation of type 1 interferon production, down-regulation of Th1 immune responses, induction of intracellular Ca++ mobilization, and/or polarization of an immune response towards Th2.

Abstract: Provided are extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) and fusion protein Fc-ECM1 of the ECM1 and the Fc sequence, and also provided are cloning construction and expression of the protein, and use of the protein in preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein constructs that comprise one or more peptides, proteins, factors, compounds or other components as further described herein that are linked to and/or are linked to each other via a helical polymeric backbone. The constructs of the invention are suitable for administration to a human or animal body and can be used for pharmaceutical purposes, for example, for immunotherapy, such as for treating cancer and for other immunological applications, as well as for other therapeutic, prophylactic and/or diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Novel compounds carrying ligands capable of binding to counter receptors on relevant target cells are disclosed. The compounds possess a number of advantageous features, rendering them very suitable for a wide range of applications, including use as detection systems, detection of relevant target cells as well as a number of other methods. In particular, novel MHC complexes comprising one or more MHC molecules are disclosed. The affinity and specificity of the MHC-peptide complexes are surprisingly high. The possibility of presenting to the target cells a plurality of MHC-peptide complexes makes the MHC complexes according to the present invention an extremely powerful tool e.g. in the field of therapy and diagnosis. The invention generally relates to the field of therapy, including therapeutic methods and therapeutic compositions. Also comprised by the present invention is the sample-mounted use of MHC complexes and MHC multimers.

Abstract: Recombinant polypeptides comprising a DR?1 domain, an antigenic peptide, and a linker sequence are disclosed. The linker sequence comprises a first glycine-serine spacer, a thrombin cleavage site and a second glycine-serine spacer. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the recombinant polypeptides, methods of treating inflammatory disease using said pharmaceutical compositions, and expression constructs comprising nucleic acids that encode the recombinant polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antibodies and fragments thereof that binds cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor. The antibodies and fragments thereof as disclosed herein include humanized antibodies that bind CB1 receptor. The invention also includes uses of the antibodies for treating a disease or disorder responsive to antagonism or agonism of the CB1 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel recombinant polypeptides of Bahia grass pollen and to genetic sequences encoding same. More particularly, the present invention is directed to Pas n 1 polypeptides and derivatives, and fragments thereof and genetic sequences encoding same. The molecules of the present invention are useful in a range of therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic applications including, but not limited to, applications in the context of conditions characterized by an aberrant, inappropriate or otherwise unwanted immune response to the Bahia grass pollen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hypo-allergenic cross-linked protein for use in the prevention of an allergy against milk proteins, or for use in the induction of oral tolerance for milk proteins, said cross-linked protein being selected from cross-linked casein, cross-linked caseinate and combinations thereof. The invention further provides a nutritional composition for use in the prevention of an allergy against milk proteins or for use in the induction of oral tolerance against milk proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies against the human La protein and to their use in immunotargeting, in particular the immunotargeting of tumor cells. The object of the invention is to provide improved antibodies which bind universal target structures on the surface of tumor cells, and to provide novel anti-La antibodies, in particular with a high affinity for La, a universal target structure on tumor cells, which make it possible to use the antibodies as recombinant fragments for immunotargeting. The invention comprises recombinant antibodies comprising: (i) a binding unit of an antibody which specifically binds to an epitope of a human nuclear antigen, preferably human La protein, and (ii) a binding unit of an antibody which specifically binds to an effector cell or of a ligand which specifically binds to an effector cell. The invention furthermore comprises novel antibodies which specifically bind the human La protein.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of treating or preventing rheumatoid arthritis in humans and animals. In particular, the invention relates to methods for treating or preventing rheumatoid arthritis through treatment with an antibody which specifically reacts with a citrullinated epitope present on a peptide with an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:21.

Abstract: Methods of using axenic C. elegans homogenate for treating allergies or an autoimmune disease are disclosed. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a homogenate of C. elegans, wherein the homogenate is obtained from C. elegans cultured in axenic media, for use in treating an allergy or autoimmune disease.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions and methods of use of humanized anti-HLA-DR antibodies. In preferred embodiments, the antibodies induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of lymphoma cells without inducing CDC or ADCC. In more preferred embodiments, the humanized anti-HLA-DR antibodies bind to the same epitope of HLA-DR as, or compete for binding to HLA-DR with, a murine L243 antibody. Most preferably, the humanized anti-HLA-DR antibody exhibits a higher affinity for HLA-DR than the parental murine antibody. The humanized HLA-DR antibody is of use for therapy of various diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disease or immune dysregulatory function, and is of particular use for therapy of B cell lymphomas and leukemias. In most preferred embodiments, the humanized anti-HLA-DR antibody is capable of inducing at least partial remission of lymphomas that are resistant to other B cell antibodies, such as rituximab.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to in vivo methods for producing anti-idiotypic antibodies. In some aspects, anti-idiotypic antibodies are generated by co-administering to a mouse a first antibody having a murine IgG2a isotype and a second antibody that targets mouse B cells and has a murine IgG2a isotype. In some embodiments, the mouse expresses the Igh-1b allele of IgG2a, and the second antibody binds a mouse B cell surface marker selected from the group consisting of CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22, CD40, CD45, IgM, and IgD.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a method for activating a helper T cell, which comprises the step of adding a WT1 peptide to an antigen-presenting cell to activate the helper T cell, wherein the WT1 peptide is capable of binding to any one selected from an HLA-DRB1*1501 molecule, an HLA-DPB1*0901 molecule and an HLA-DPB1*0501 molecule; a composition for use in the method; a therapeutic and/or prophylactic method for cancer by activating a helper T cell; a pharmaceutical composition for use in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic method; and others.

Abstract: An industrial preparation of natural killer cells (NKs) is produced by: using umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood from legitimate sources as raw materials, obtaining stem cells by a method for extracting and separating karyocytes, or using FICOLL® or PERCOLL® density gradient media centrifugation to isolate and screen out karyocytes; diluting the above-mentioned karyocytes with cell culture medium, adding interferon, interleukin, CD3 antibody, and human albumin, loading them together into a bioreactor for perfusion culture, and then performing multiplication culture; the passage number of natural killer cells from multiplication culture is no less than 8, and the culture time is no less than 4 weeks; the markers of the natural killer cells obtained after the multiplication culture are CD3?\CD56+, CD16+, CD57+, and CD8+, wherein CD16+/CD56+?15%, CD3?/CD56+?50%, and CD8+/CD57+?8%; then preparing an injection with a certain concentration using the cell suspension obtained by above-mentioned method.

Abstract: Some aspects of this invention are based on the recognition that reversible protein multimers in which monomeric proteins are conjugated to a carrier molecule via chelation complex bonds are stable under physiological conditions and can be dissociated in a controlled manner under physiological, nontoxic conditions. Accordingly, such protein multimers are useful for a variety of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo application for research, diagnostics, and therapy. Some aspect of this invention provide reversible MHC protein multimers, and methods of using such multimers in the detection and/or isolation of specific T-cells or T-cell populations. Because reversible MHC multimers can efficiently be dissociated, the time of MHC binding to T-cell receptors, and, thus, T-cell receptor-mediated T-cell activation can be minimized.