Abstract: This method provides a method for reducing HIV-1 viral load in an HIV-1-infected human subject which comprises administering to the subject at a predefined interval effective HIV-1 viral load-reducing doses of (a) a humanized antibody designated PRO 140, or of (b) an anti-CCR5 receptor monoclonal antibody. This invention also provides a method for inhibiting in a human subject the onset or progression of an HIV-1-associated disorder, the inhibition of which is effected by inhibiting fusion of HIV-1 to CCR5+CD4+ target cells in the subject. This invention also provides a method for treating a subject infected with HIV-1 comprising administering to the subject (a) a monoclonal antibody which (i) binds to a CCR5 receptor on the surface of the subject's CD4+ cells and (ii) inhibits fusion of HIV-1 to the subject's CCR5+CD4+ cells, and (b) a non-antibody CCR5 receptor antagonist, in amounts effective to treat the subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for detecting the presence of replication-competent HIV-1 virus in a subject who is being treated with an intensified highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) regimen. These methods comprise selecting a subject who is being treated with an intensified HAART regimen including an integration inhibitor; obtaining a sample, e.g., a blood sample, from a subject; specifically amplifying a segment spanning two-long terminal repeat (2-LTR) junction of 2-LTR circles using PCR to determine the level of 2-LTR circles in the sample; and determining the presence of replication competent virus based on the level of 2-LTR circles in the sample. These methods can also be used to monitor an intensified HAART regimen by obtaining samples from the same subject at different time points during the HAART treatment, and comparing levels of the 2-LTR circles in those samples.

Abstract: Isolated, antigenic polypeptides including a prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 and vectors encoding such polypeptides are provided. Antibodies that bind to a prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 and methods of making antibodies a that bind to prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 are also provided. Vaccines against a prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41, as well as methods of treating subjects infected with HIV, preventing HIV infection, and inhibiting HIV-mediated activities are also provided. Methods of screening compounds that bind to an isolated, prehairpin intermediate conformation of gp41 are further provided.

Abstract: The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules containing transcription units which encode the flavivirus M and E protein antigens. The flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue, yellow fever virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The nucleic acids function to provide the M and E protein antigens when the nucleic acid resides in an appropriate host cell, especially when the host cell is the cell of a subject. The invention also encompasses a vaccine whose active agent is the nucleic acid. The invention further encompasses the cultured host cells when they contain within them nucleic acid molecules containing the transcription units. The invention in addition encompasses a method of immunizing a subject against flavivirus infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a vaccine containing a nucleic acid molecule containing the transcription unit of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides artificial fusion proteins (AFPs) designed to elicit an anti-HIV immune response, as well as nucleic acid molecules and expression vectors encoding those proteins. The AFPs of the invention may comprise domains from various HIV proteins, such as Gag, Pol, Vif, and Env proteins, which are partial sequences. HIVCON is an AFP in which the HIV domains are from several HIV Glade consensus sequences and which optionally contains additional domains which may be useful, for example, in monitoring expression levels or laboratory animal immune responses. Other aspects of the invention may include compositions and methods for inducing an anti-HIV immune response in a subject, preferably with a DNA prime-MVA boost strategy, and to induce a cell-mediated immune response.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the V3 loop of the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of AIDS virus, which is any one selected from the following antibodies: (a) an antibody having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 as the amino acid sequence of a H chain variable region (VH), and having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 as the amino acid sequence of a L chain variable region (VL); and (b) an antibody having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 as the amino acid sequence of a H chain variable region (VH), and having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 as the amino acid sequence of a L chain variable region (VL).

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods or the detection of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection by conducting an immunoassay comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a biological sample containing HIV-1 antibody with a peptide, having an epitope, of one or more of SEQ ID 49-56 to form a peptide-anti-HIV-1 antibody complex; (b) contacting the formed complex with an anti-HIV-1 antibody binding molecule to permit the anti-HIV-1 antibody binding molecule to bind to the anti-HIV-1 antibody of the formed peptide-anti-HIV-1 antibody complex and form an extended complex that is immobilized on a solid support; (c) removing unbound anti-HIV-1 antibody and anti-HIV-1 antibody binding molecule from the extended complex; and (d) determining the presence or concentration of the anti-HIV-1 antibody in the biological sample.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides and virus-like particles having, for example, an ability to induce an immune response to flaviviruses. The polypeptides can include C15, prM, and E polypeptide sequences.

Abstract: A novel peptides are complexed with HIV-I envelope protein gp120, and causes the protein to assume a CD4i conformation but without occluding the CD4 binding-site of gp120. This peptide-gp120 complex is immunogenic and, upon immunization of subjects, induces broadly-neutralizing antibodies directed to the CD4 binding site of gp120. The peptide preferably consists of a sequence of 8-20 amino acid residues which comprises (a) a core sequence Arg-Xaa1-Asp-Leu-Pro-Xaa2-Trp-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1) in which Xaa1 and Xaa2 is any amino acid, or (b) certain substitution variants of SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: Isolated immunogens including a HIV-1 gp120 polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof stabilized in a CD4 bound confirmation by crosslinked cysteines, and methods of their use are disclosed. The immunogens are useful, for example, for generating an immune response to HIV-1 gp120 in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to the C-terminal heptad repeat region of gp41 (HR2) and neutralize an HIV-1 primary isolate.

Abstract: A sensor chip for detecting an immune response against a virus, the sensor chip including a substrate having a surface and a plurality of virus-like particles or capsid fragments bound to discrete locations on the surface of the substrate. Detection devices containing the sensor chip and methods of detecting anti-viral immune responses are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel insertion sites useful for the integration of HIV DNA sequences into the MVA genome, and to the resulting recombinant MVA derivatives.

Abstract: The invention relates to fusion proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of at least three HIV proteins selected from Vif, Vpr, Vpu, Rev, and Tat or derivatives of the amino acid sequence of one or more of said proteins, wherein the fusion protein is not processed to individual HIV proteins having the natural N and C termini. The invention further concerns nucleic acids encoding said proteins, vectors comprising said nucleic acids, and methods for producing said proteins. The fusion protein, nucleic acids and vectors are usable as vaccines for the at least partial prophylaxis against HIV infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogen and, in particular, to an immunogen for inducing antibodies that neutralizes a wide spectrum of HIV primary isolates and/or to an immunogen that induces a T cell immune response. The invention also relates to a method of inducing anti-HIV antibodies, and/or to a method of inducing a T cell immune response, using such an immunogen. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding the present immunogens.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogen and, in particular, to an immunogen for inducing antibodies that neutralize a wide spectrum of HIV primary isolates and/or to an immunogen that induces a T cell immune response. The invention also relates to a method of inducing anti-HIV antibodies, and/or to a method of inducing a T cell immune response, using such an immunogen. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding the present immunogens.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions featuring an attenuated dengue virus mutant or an attenuated chimeric dengue virus mutant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel insertion sites useful for the integration of exogenous sequences into the Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus genome. The present invention further provides plasmid vectors to insert exogenous DNA into the genome of MVA. Furthermore, the present invention provides recombinant MVA comprising an exogenous DNA sequence inserted into the new insertion site as medicine or vaccine.

Abstract: The invention relates to an attenuated non-segmented negative-sense RNA virus characterized by at least one mutation in the L gene wherein the mutation reduces viral replication, the methods of manufacturing and methods of use.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel insertion sites useful for the integration of HIV DNA sequences into the MVA genome, and to the resulting recombinant MVA derivatives.