Abstract: Improved vaccine compositions and methods of making same are provided, which vaccines are characterized by an antigen from a pathogen and an effective adjuvanting amount of Interleukin-12. These IL-12 adjuvanted vaccines are capable of increasing the vaccinated host's cell mediated immune response to provide an increased and protective immune response to the pathogen. Also disclosed are methods for vaccinating hosts by administering a vaccine containing an antigen from a pathogenic microorganism and co-administering an adjuvanting amount of IL-12. Vaccines or therapeutic compositions directed against a cancer may also be adjuvanted with IL-12 according to this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing the recombinant expression and solubility of influenza A virus M2 polypeptide comprising nucleic acids encoding variants of the M2 protein of influenza A virus in which transmembrane and other hydrophobic domains have been deleted. The present invention also provides purified polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acids, which polypeptides are immunogenic and are less hydrophobic than full-length M2. Also provided are vaccines comprising variants of M2 expressed in prokaryotic hosts. Further provided are methods of preventing influenza A infection using vaccines comprised of variants of M2. Also provided are antibodies raised against the variants of M2, and use of such antibodies in diagnosis and treatment of influenza A infections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the disintegration of any biologically active nucleic acid in a biological material, wherein a biologically active material is exposed or multiply exposed to laser beam to disintegrate essentially all biologically active nucleic acid in said biological material, while the biological integrity and activity of said biological material is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of human genetics. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and materials used to isolate and detect a human breast and ovarian cancer predisposing gene (BRCA1), some mutant alleles of which cause susceptibility to cancer, in particular breast and ovarian cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to germline mutations in the BRCA1 gene and their use in the diagnosis of predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. The present invention further relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in human breast and ovarian cancer and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human breast and ovarian cancer. Additionally, the invention relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in other human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancers. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, including gene therapy, protein replacement therapy and protein mimetics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for photoinactivating malignant cells in a cell sample. The method comprises incubating the cell sample with a concentration of Pc 4 effective to cause a substantial number of the malignant cells contained in the cell sample to absorb Pc 4 such that upon application of a sufficient dose of red light, the Pc 4 absorbed malignant cells will be photoinactivated; and applying a sufficient dose of red light to the cell sample to photoinactivate the Pc 4 absorbed malignant cells contained in the cell sample.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains containing parasporal proteins with pesticidal properties against whitefly, aphid, jassid, and possibly other sucking insects of agronomic importance, and peptide sequences to these proteins that can be used to obtain structural genes. The spores or crystals of these microbes, or mutants thereof, are useful to control hymenopteran pests in various environments. The genes of the invention can be used to transform various hosts wherein the novel toxic proteins can be expressed.

Abstract: The invention concerns constructs for the expression of a protein comprising at least a modified FV envelope protein, the protein so obtained as well as the complementation cell line permitting the production of pseudotyped viral particle. It also concerns pharmaceutical composition comprising said particles and a method for treating a disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to genetically engineered Newcastle disease viruses and viral vectors which express heterologous genes or mutated Newcastle disease viral genes or a combination of viral genes derived from different strains of Newcastle disease virus. The invention relates to the construction and use of recombinant negative strand NDV viral RNA templates which may be used with viral RNA-directed RNA polymerase to express heterologous gene products in appropriate host cells and/or to rescue the heterologous gene in virus particles. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the heterologous gene product is a peptide or protein derived from the genome of a human immunodeficiency virus. The RNA templates of the present invention may be prepared by transcription of appropriate DNA sequences using a DNA-directed RNA polymerase such as bacteriophage T7, T3 or the SP6 polymerase.

Abstract: The present invention is related to vectors and methods for increasing the expression of a desired gene product. Preferably this invention is used with genes expressing proteins that are not well tolerated by mammalian cells or where high levels of expression are necessary. In certain preferred embodiments it can be used as part of a multi-tiered expression system and with methods of intracellularly targeting a molecule.

Abstract: Binding of two members of a binding couple reveals epitopes which are revealed only after binding and the monoclonal antibody secreted from the hybridoma cell line CG-10 directed against these epitopes bind to the bound couple at a significantly higher affinity than their binding affinity to either of the two members themselves when not bound to one another.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the observation that HIV does not only interact with the CD4 receptor of target cells but that there exists a different type of interaction between HIV envelope protein and the IFN receptor of the target cell. Thus, blocking such interaction can be useful for preventing or treating retroviral infections. Accordingly, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for competitively inhibiting the binding of a retrovirus, preferably HIV, to the IFN-receptor of a target cell. Preferably, said pharmaceutical compositions comprise a protein, polypeptide or equivalent molecule or a combination thereof which binds to the IFN-.alpha./.beta.-receptor or to HIV-gp41. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of said protein, polypeptide or equivalent molecule or IFN-.beta. or a combination thereof for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating retroviral infections.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns the production and novel use of human anti-HIV IgA antibodies to confer passive immunity to HIV when administered in vivo to a subject. The IgA antibodies of the subject invention are selectively transported to and secreted in the mucosal tissue of the subject. The IgA antibodies can confer protection from HIV infection at locations within the body where HIV penetration usually occurs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunoassay for antibodies against an infectious agent. The present invention also relates to the use of the immunoassay and a kit for performing the immunoassay of the present invention. The immunoassay for antibodies against an infectious agent relates to a method comprising: i. incubating a sample suspected of containing said antibodies with immobilized antigen of the infectious agent and free labeled antigen of the infectious agent; ii. separating immobilized components from non-immobilized components; iii. incubating the immobilized components with further free labeled antigen of the infectious agent and removing non-immobilized components; and iv. determining the amount of labeled antigen immobilized, wherein the amount of label is indicative of the amount of said antibodies present in the sample.

Abstract: Novel metal-lipid molecules have the formula M-Or-L. M represents a cluster or colloid of atoms of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, or combinations thereof. Or is an organic group covalently attached to the metal atoms. L represents a lipid moiety. In a preferred embodiment, M represents a cluster of about 50-70 gold atoms having a diameter of about 1.4 nm in diameter and L represents dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the production of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in cell culture are disclosed. The methods involve culturing tPA-producing cells in growth media supplemented with an alkanoic acid or salt thereof at a concentration which enhances tPA production. The most preferred methods utilize butyric acid or sodium butyrate at a concentration of between 0.1 mM and 10 mM.

Abstract: A recombinant conglutinin containing a collagen region comprising six amino acid residues containing two amino acid sequences Gly-Xaa-Xaa (SEQ ID) NO:3, Xaa representing a protein-constituting amino acid residue), a neck region of natural conglutinin and a sugar-chain recognition region of natural conglutinin, having an antiviral activity (neutralizing activity), and being expected to be applicable for medicinal uses.

Abstract: The invention concerns constructs for the expression of a protein comprising at least a modified FV envelope protein, the protein so obtained as well as the complementation cell line permitting the production of pseudotyped viral particle. It also concerns pharmaceutical composition comprising said particles and a method for treating a disease.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing the presence of and prognosing the of stages of HIV disease, involving correlating rate of CD4% decline, CMC activity and plasma HIV RNA load, are disclosed. In particular, the methods and kits pertain to diagnosis and prognosis of disease progression in retroviral infections.

Abstract: Cells suitable for transplantation which have at least two different epitopes on a surface antigen altered prior to transplantation to inhibit rejection of the cells following transplantation into an allogeneic or xenogeneic recipient are disclosed. These cells are more successfully transplanted than cells which have only a single epitope on the surface antigen altered. Preferably, the antigen on the cell surface which is altered is an MHC class I antigen. Two different epitopes on an MHC class I antigen can be altered by contacting the cell with two molecules, such as antibodies or fragments thereof (e.g., F(ab').sub.2 fragments), which bind to two different epitopes on the antigen. Preferred epitopes on human MHC class I antigens to be altered are epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies W6/32 and PT85. Improved methods for transplantation utilizing cells which have at least two different epitopes on a surface antigen altered prior to transplantation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) or a functional analogue thereof, or a polynucleotide encoding IL-12 or encoding a functional analogue thereof, is used as a therapeutic material or adjuvant in treating papillomavirus-associated lesions e.g. warts due to HPV 6 and/or 11, e.g. condyloma acuminata. IL-12 or a vector encoding it for endogenous production can be used together with a vaccine such as a papillomavirus antigen, or a vector encoding a papillomavirus antigen.