Abstract: This invention provides agents determined to be capable of inhibiting the fusion of a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+cell and agents determined to be capable of inhibiting the fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+cell. This invention also provides methods to identify such agents. This invention further provides methods of inhibiting fusion of a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 with a CD+ cell and methods of inhibiting fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 with a CD4+cell susceptible to infection by a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1.

Abstract: Synthetic peptides of the monomer type with 13 to 33 amino acids, in linear form or in a form cyclized by means of inter-cysteine disulphide bridges, have the general formula (I): ?-Z-TrpGlyCys-?-CysTyrThrSer-???(I) wherein ? is a biotinyl radical, a biocytinyl radical, a hydrogen atom, an acetyl (CH3CO—) radical, an aliphatic chain which may contain one or two thiol, an aldehyde functional group, or an amine functional group, Z represents peptide sequence -?1-Ser-?2-, -?1-Gln-?2-, or -?1-Asn-?2-, wherein -?1 represents a peptide sequence of 0 to 9 amino acids and -?2 represents a peptide sequence of 0 to 5 amino acids, ?is -Arg Gly Arg Leu Ile-(SEQ ID NO: 15), -Arg Gly Arg Leu Val-(SEQ ID NO: 16), -Arg Gly Lys Leu Ile-(SEQ ID NO: 17), -Arg Gly Lys Leu Val-(SEQ ID NO: 18), -Lys Gly Arg Leu Ile-(SEQ ID NO: 19), or -Lys Gly Arg Leu Val-(SEQ ID NO: 20), ?, attached to the —CO— group of serine, is a hydroxyl (—OH) radical, an amino (—NH2) radical, an alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a peptide sequence

Abstract: This invention encompasses an env nucleic acid product produced by a process comprising providing a sample containing HIV-1 nucleic acid and amplifying the nucleic acid using primer pairs.

Abstract: Synthetic polypeptides having at least one antigenic site of a prior protein, methods for their use and manufacture, antibodies raised against such polypeptides and diagnostic kits containing these polypeptides or antibodies.

Abstract: A variant of a LAV virus, designated LAVMAL and capable of causing AIDS. The cDNA and antigens of the LAVMAL virus can be used for the diagnosis of AIDS and pre-AIDS.

Abstract: The invention relates to polypeptide fragments of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV, antibodies that bind to the polypeptides of the invention, methods of using the antibodies, and kits containing the antibodies. The invention also relates to polynucleotides that encode the polypeptide fragments of the invention.

Abstract: Chimeric GP molecules were constructed which contain portions of both the EBOV and MBGV GP proteins by swapping the subunits between EBOV and MBGV. The chimeric molecules were cloned into an alphavirus replicon which offers the advantage of high protein expression levels in mammalian cells and is a proven vaccine vector. These chimeric molecules fully protected guinea pigs from MBGV challenge, and conversely protected the animals from EBOV challenge. These results indicate that a protective epitope resides within the GP2 subunit of the MBGV GP protein and at least partially within the GP2 subunit of the EBOV GP protein. Additionally these results show that a construction of a single-component bivalent vaccine protective in guinea pigs is achievable.

Abstract: A cell-free method for translation and assembly of viral capsid and capsid intermediates is disclosed. Also disclosed are novel capsid assembly intermediates and novel host proteins which bind to such assembly intermediates. The invention also includes a screening method for compounds that alter viral capsid assembly, and a method of treating viral infection using compounds which inhibit the capsid assembly pathway.

Abstract: Novel hybrid fusion peptides are disclosed. The novel peptides are formed by the fusion of two or more components. One component is a peptide sequence or variant of a peptide sequence derived from a malaria parasite merozoite peptide which has affinity for and binding capability to red blood cells. In particular segments of the glycophorin binding peptide 130 (GBP130), are preferred for the first component. Also disclosed are alternative first components, the glycophorin binding peptide homologues (GBPH), or the erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA175), or the plasmodium vivax Duffy receptor or the pre major merozoite surface antigen PMMSA or the (P200) peptide. The first component peptide is fused to all or part of a peptide segment derived from the CD4 molecule or part thereof or variant thereof which shows binding affinity for the HIV virus.

Abstract: This invention relates to gp41 peptide derivatives that are inhibitors of viral infection and/or exhibit antifusogenic properties. In particular, this invention relates to gp41 derivatives having inhibiting activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) with enhanced duration of action for the treatment of the respective viral infections.

Abstract: A method of recovering an enzyme activity, such as reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, from enveloped viruses, such as HIV, in a biological sample containing a non-protected enzymes, is described. A cysteine-modifying substance is used to destroy the activity of the non-protected enzymes, followed by removal of the enveloped virus particles or inactivation of the cysteine-modifying substance with a chemical. Then the virus envelope is lysed and the released enzymes are recovered. Commercial packages containing written and/or data carrier instructions and some chemicals for performing laboratory steps for recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An antigenic and immunogenic composition of predetermined inactivated strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is disclosed. Inactivation is through psoralen and ultraviolet radiation; the composition is rendered more effective by the removal of structural features of HIV that interfere with immune response. In particular, sialic acid is removed to enhance immune recognition of the composition and to impair Complement Factor H binding. CD55 and CD59 are also removed to prevent the binding of Complement Factor H. Determination of strains for inactivation may be though immunotherapeutic genotyping or probabilistic assessment of risk of exposure.

Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention involve novel measurements of the disease status of hosts infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. In particular, the present invention relates to a measurements of the numbers in a sample volume of (a) productively HIV-infected cells and (b) cells capable of being infected by HIV, e.g., cells expressing CD4, CCR5, and/or CXCR4. These two values can be represented as a single ratio, e.g., number of productively infected cells/number of cells capable of being infected by HIV, and can be utilized as an indicator of disease status, such as disease progression, viral replication, etc.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of metal chelate-labelled peptide antigens, peptides obtainable by this process and their use in an immunological method of detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inactivating enveloped viruses in a viral preparation predominantly containing non-enveloped viruses by the action of a solvent at a temperature of between ?5° C. and +50° C. and at a pH of between about 5 and 9. Its subject is also a method of preparing a viral preparation comprising such a method of inactivation. The invention also relates to a viral preparation obtained according to the method of the invention. Finally, it relates to a host cell and a composition comprising such a viral preparation as well as their uses for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.

Abstract: The cold-adapted master strain A/Ann Arbor/6/60 7PI (H2N2) and progenitor wild type E2(3) viral strains have been deposited and their genomic sequences identified. Seven nucleotide differences were found between the sequences identified herein and the previously published sequences for cold-adapted A/Ann Arbor/6/60 genes. The cold-adapted live influenza virus of the present invention can be reassorted with a variety of epidemic wild type influenza viruses and used to produce vaccines to prophylactically and therapeutically treat influenza.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to genetically engineered, membrane-enveloped viruses with deletion mutations in the protein transmembrane domains. Also provided are viral vaccines based on the engineered viruses, methods of producing and using such vaccines.

Abstract: There is provided vaccine compositions for intranasal administration, which compositions comprise one or more antigens and an effective adjuvant amount of a chitosan.

Abstract: The invention concerns nucleic acids derived from human V9 erythrovirus, fragments thereof, encoded polypeptides, and applications as diagnostic reagents and as immunogenic agents.

Abstract: An immunogenic composition capable of producing a respiratory syncytial (RS) virus specific immune response in a host immunized therewith comprises purified, inactivated RS virus which is substantially free from cellular and serum components and which is non-infectious, non-immunopotentiating, immunogenic and protective. The virus is grown on a vaccine quality cell line and harvested virus is purified under non-denaturing conditions to be substantially free from cellular and serum components. The purified RS virus is inactivated using ?-propiolactone, a non-ionic detergent, particularly n-octyl-?-D-glucopyranoside and n-octyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, or ascorbic acid. The immunogenic composition may be formulated as a vaccine for in vivo administration to a human host. The immunogenic composition also may be used in diagnostic applications.