Abstract: HCV variants are described. The variants include polynucleotides comprising non-naturally occurring HCV sequences and HCV variants that have a transfection efficiency and ability to survive subpassage greater than HCV that have wild-type polyprotein coding regions. Expression vectors comprising the above polynucleotides and HCV variants are also described, as are the provision of cells and host cells comprising the expression vectors. Methods for identifying a cell line that is permissive for infection with HCV are also provided, as are vaccines comprising the above polynucleotides in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Additionally, methods for inducing immunoprotection to HCV in a primate are described, as are methods for testing a compound for inhibiting HCV replication.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of identifying ligands that are internalized into a cell. The methods typically involve i) contacting the cell with a reporter non-covalently coupled to a ligand; ii) dissociating the reporter from the ligand and removing dissociated reporter from the surface of the cell; and iii) detecting the reporter within said cell (if any is present) where the presence of the reporter within said cell indicates that the ligand binds to an internalizing receptor and is internalized.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant and/or isolated infectious laryngotracheitis virus glycoproteins, including gD, gl, gG and gE.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated strain of Hepatitis B virus designated Human Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen-'?-145 Singapore Strain (Glycine to Arginine) which constituent viral genome is deposited under Accession Nos. P97121504, P97121505 and P97121506 with the European Collection of Cell Culture on 15th Dec. 1997. This invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide which is a mutant major surface antigen of a strain of hepatitis B virus, such polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which differs from the amino acid sequence of a major surface antigen of a wild type hepatitis B virus in that the amino acid at position number 145 of such polypeptide is an arginine rather than a glycine, and the purified peptide. This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a peptide, wherein the peptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleotides 527 through 595 of SEQ. ID. No. 1, and the purified peptide.

Abstract: Complexes of bacteriocins and metals are provided that are useful in detecting bacteria, fungi and other biological analytes, and are particularly useful in detecting gram positive bacteria. The complexes are preferably chelated complexes wherein the bacteriocin is a lantibiotic, non-lanthionine containing peptide, large heat labile protein and complex bacteriocin, fusion protein thereof, mixture thereof, and fragment, homolog and variant thereof, and (b) a detectable label comprising a transition or lanthanide metal. The complex preferentially binds to viable gram positive or mycobacterial cells. The complex can also bind to gram negative bacteria and fungi. Methods of using the complexes in assays, diagnosis and imaging are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to cells which comprise a membrane receptor which comprises a ligand-binding section, a membrane-localization signal and a mediator section, and which is characterized in that only when there is binding or, alternatively, only when there is a lack of binding of a ligand to the ligand-binding section of the membrane receptor is a structural change brought about with effects on the mediator section to result in binding of an effector protein or polypeptide, which is capable of activating a Ras or Ras-like signal pathway in the cell, to the component of the membrane, where appropriate via other proteins or polypeptides (adaptors). It further relates to assay methods employing these cells, which are used, inter alia, to detect specific interactions between said membrane receptor and a ligand, and kits for use in these assays.

Abstract: A 24kd protein capable of binding the E2 envelope protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV), and functionally equivalent variants or fragments of the 24kd protein, are disclosed. Processes for production and purification of the 24kd protein, and functionally equivalent variants or fragments thereof, are also disclosed, as are methods for using the protein to screen for chemical compounds that bind HCV.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV infection of a cell susceptible to HCV infection which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of a compound effective to inhibit binding of an HCV envelope glycoprotein to a DC-SIGN protein present on the surface of the cell, so as to thereby inhibit HCV infection of the cell susceptible to HCV infection. This invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV infection of a cell susceptible to HCV infection which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of a compound effective to inhibit binding of an HCV envelope glycoprotein to a DC-SIGNR protein present on the surface of the cell, so as to thereby inhibit HCV infection of the cell susceptible to HCV infection. Compounds of the present invention inhibit HCV infection of cells susceptible to HCV infection.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the enhanced production of bacterial toxins in large-scale cultures. Specifically, methods and compositions for reducing bacterial toxin expression inhibitors are providing including, but not limited to, addition of toxin expression inhibitor binding compounds, culture media having reduced concentrations of toxin inhibitor metabolic precursors and genetically modified toxogenic bacteria lacking enzymes required to metabolize the toxin inhibitor metabolic precursors.

Abstract: Expression vectors are described which permit the recombinant expression of proteins which essentially contain, in addition to nucleic acid encoding the recombinant protein, nucleic acid encoding a non-proteolytic analog of Haemophilus Hin47 protein, with or without leader sequence, or nucleic acid encoding high molecular weight proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus, which are hmwB, hmwC or hmwBC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecular approaches to the production of nucleic acid sequences which comprise the genomes of chimeric hepatitis C virus-bovine viral diarrhea viruses (HCV/BVDV). The invention also relates to the use of these chimeric nucleic acid sequences to produce chimeric virions in cells and the use of these chimeric virions in HCV antibody neutralization assays, and for the development of vaccines and therapeutics for HCV.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies which can bind to the ClfA protein and which are generated from binding subdomains or active fragments of the ClfA protein from Staphylococcus aureus, including the active fragments proteins from its fibrinogen binding domain such as Clf40 protein, the Clf33 protein, or ClfA N3, are provided which can be useful in the treatment and protection against infection from staphylococcal bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, medical instruments can be treated using the monoclonal antibodies of the invention in order to reduce or eliminate the possibility of their becoming infected or further spreading the infection. In particular, the antibodies of the present invention are advantageous because they can prevent adherence of the bacteria to host cells by impairing or inhibiting the ability of S. aureus ClfA to bind to fibrinogen or fibrin, and thus can be utilized in methods or treating or preventing staphylococcal inventions.

Abstract: There is provided a DNA molecule derived from a prokaryotic cell in which at least one of the DNA regions encoding NXB (N is asparagine, X is any amino acid other than proline, and B is serine or threonine) has been modified so that no N-glycosylation occurs during the expression in a eukaryotic cell, and since the DNA molecule has been modified at the N-glycosylation site, it produces a non-N-glycosylated protein, which thereby exhibits a high immunogenicity when, for example, it is allowed to produce, in a eukaryotic cell, an antigen protein derived from a prokaryotic cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to the ovine embryo cell line HVO-156 (DSM ACC2440), or to cell lines derived therefrom, and to their use for preparing and propagating ovine adenoviruses, in particular recombinant ovine adenoviruses which are derived from the isolate OAV 287.

Abstract: The invention is directed to purified and isolated novel ULBP polypeptides, the nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, processes for production of recombinant forms of such polypeptides, antibodies generated against these polypeptides, fragmented peptides derived from these polypeptides, and the uses of the above. ULBP polypeptide can be found on the surface of human B cell lymphomas. Mammalian forms of ULBP polypeptide in isolated or purified forms are provided. In addition, isolated nucleic acids encoding ULBP polypeptides and expression vectors comprising a cDNA encoding ULBP polypeptides are provided. The ULBP polypeptides can be isolated or synthesized and used to prepare antibodies, and in particular monoclonal antibodies, against the polypeptides. The antibodies, in turn, are useful for detecting the presence of ULBP polypeptides in human cell samples, which can be correlated with the existence of a malignant condition in a patient.

Abstract: A method of vaccinating poultry by spraying the poultry with an effective amount of a live avirulent derivative of an enteropathogenic enterobacteria is disclosed.

Abstract: A new isolate of Ehrlichia species has been obtained from a patient suffering from ehrlichiosis. The new isolate has been found to be similar, but distinctly different from E. canis. A diagnostic kit and methods for diagnosing ehrlichiosis in humans and for screening drugs toxic to the new isolate have been described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pneumococcal genes, portions thereof, expression products therefrom and uses of such genes, portions and products; especially to genes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, e.g., the gene encoding pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), i.e., the pspA gene, the gene encoding pneumococcal surface protein A-like proteins, such as pspA-like genes, e.g., the gene encoding pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC), i.e., the pspC gene, portions of such genes, expression products therefrom, and the uses of such genes, portions thereof and expression products therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bacterial expression system for production of protective antigen (PA) against bacillus anthracis. Recombinant asporogenic B. anthracits that are derived from &Dgr;Sterne-1(pPA102) and show inability to bind the dye when grown on Congo Red Agar can be screened and asporogenic strains isolated using methods of the invention. organisms of the invention lacking spore-forming function may be killed by heat shock at temperatures as low as 60° C. for 60 minutes. Hence, contamination of the environment with viable spore-forming organisms is easily avoided and decontamination is easily accomplished.

Abstract: All Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates characterized to date have one or a combination of several major outer surface proteins (Osp). Mutants of B. burgdorferi lacking Osp proteins were selected with polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies at a frequency of 10−6 to 10−5. One mutant that lacked OspA, B, C and D was further characterized in the present study. It was distinguished from the OspA+B+ cells by its (i) auto-aggregation and slower growth rate, (ii) decreased plating efficiency on solid medium, (iii) serum- and complement-sensitivity, and (iv) diminished capacity to adhere to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The Osp-less mutant was unable to evoke a detectable immune response after intradermal live cell immunization even though mutant survived in the skin the same duration as wild-type cells.