Abstract: Characterization of the envelope transmembrane protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) was carried out using murine polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies or patient sera specific for HIV-2 proteins. A 80-Mr glycoprotein (gp80) was produced in HIV-2 infected cells along with three other glycoproteins that were recently reported: the extracellular glycoprotein (gp125), the envelope glycoprotein precursor (gp140), and the transient dimeric form of gp140 (gp300). The gp125 and gp80 were detectable after the synthesis of gp140 and the formation of gp300. Among these four glycoproteins, only gp80 and gp125 were associated with HIV-2 virions. As the other glycoproteins, gp80 was recognized by all HIV-2 positive sera. A murine polyclonal antibody raised against the purified gp300 recognized all four glycoproteins.

Abstract: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a class of fatal, neurodegenerative diseases found in many mammalian species. Human TSEs include kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and fatal familial insomnia. Non-human TSEs include sheep scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), feline spongiform encephalopathy, and chronic wasting diseases in elk and mule deer. These neurodegenerative diseases are caused by prions and display characteristic amyloid plaque deposition. The only known component of the infectious prion is an abnormal, disease-causing isoform of the prion protein (PrP), called PrP scrapie (PrPSc). During a post-translational process, PrPSc is formed from the normal, cellular PrP isoform (PrPC). The scrapie isoform is less soluble, more proteinase-resistant, and more susceptible to aggregation than the wildtype protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides the amino acid and nucleotide sequences of a CCV spike gene, and compositions containing one or more fragments of the spike gene and encoded polypeptide for prophylaxis, diagnostic purposes and treatment of CCV infections.

Abstract: The present inventors have found that certain preparations containing LPS and/or lipid A variants, derivatives, and/or analogs demonstrate non-pyrogenic properties and exhibit anti-viral activities. In particular, non-pyrogenic preparations of LPS, lipid A, LPS antagonists and lipid A antagonists, and derivatives thereof induce &bgr; chemokine secretion, such as MIP-1&bgr;, but not proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF&agr;, IL-1&bgr; and IL-6. Non-pyrogenic preparations of the invention have been demonstrated by the Applicant to suppress HIV replication in human peripheral blood monocytes, as described by way of example herein. The present invention provides preparations of LPS or lipid A variants, analogs and derivatives of decreased or absent pyrogenicity which can be used as therapeutics for the treatment or prevention of immunodeficiency virus infection and its consequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and compositions for modifying a phenotype of a virus, such as viral tropism and host range, by iterative sequence recombination of variant viruses and selection of improved variants.

Abstract: Attenuated recombinant viruses containing DNA encoding an immunodeficiency virus and/or CTL antigen, as well as methods and compositions employing the viruses, expression products therefrom, and antibodies generated from the viruses or expression products, are disclosed and claimed. The recombinant viruses can be NYVAC or ALVAC recombinant viruses. The DNA can code for at least one of: HIV1gag(+pro)(IIIB), gp120(MN)(+transmembrane), nef(BRU)CTL, pol(IIIB)CTL, ELDKWA or LDKW epitopes, preferably HIV1gag(+pro)(IIIB), gp120(MN) (+transmembrane), two (2) nef(BRU)CTL and three (3) pol(IIIB)CTL etpitopes; or two ELDKWA in gp120 V3 or another region or in gp160. The two (2) nef(BRU)CTL and three (3) pol(IIIB)CTL epitopes are preferably CTL1, CTL2, pol1, pol2 and pol3. The recombinant viruses and gene products therefrom and antibodies generated by the viruses and gene products have several preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic uses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward genetically-engineered, membrane-enveloped Alphaviruses, Flaviviruses, and Bunyaviruses containing modified viral transmembrane envelope glycoproteins (e.g., E2, E1, E, and G) and bearing altered host-range phenotypes that enables the viruses to replicate efficiently in insect cells, but not mammalian cells. The strategy for production of these mutations is based on the fact that unlike mammalian cell membranes, the membranes of insect cells contain no cholesterol and are thus thinner than mammalian membranes. Many membrane-coated viruses have membrane glycoproteins on their surface which are responsible for identifying and infecting target cells. These membrane glycoproteins have hydrophobic membrane-spanning domains which anchor the proteins in the membrane bilayer. The membrane-spanning domains of these transmembrane proteins must be long enough to reach from one side of the bilayer to the other in order to hold the proteins in the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioactive molecule, herein referred to as the CD8+ suppressor molecule, that is produced by the CD8+ subset of human T-lymphocytes and suppresses type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication through inhibition of viral transcription. The invention relates to isolation of clonal CD8+ cells lines that produce the antiviral activity and the development of an assay system for detection of the antiviral activity. The clonal cell lines and the assay system, described herein, may be utilized to purify, characterize and clone the CD8+ suppressor molecule. The CD8+ suppressor molecule may have therapeutic applications for treatment of diseases associated with HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: A novel rapid mutational analysis method for mapping protein epitopes is disclosed. This method has been used to identify the binding sites for 16 anti-CD2 and anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies. The powerful, rapid, and simple method of the present invention allows isolation of a very large number of mutants, and is applicable to any intracellular or surface protein for which a cDNA and monoclonal antibodies are available. The present method is especially useful in ligand binding site studies for the design of new ligands and drugs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in &agr; helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in &agr; helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two &agr; helices, these two &agr; helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.

Abstract: Peptide constructs chemically synthesized to contain a Herpes Simplex Virus specific antigenic peptide, such as, the 322-332 peptide (H1) from the ICP27 protein of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) and a peptide from a T cell binding ligand (TCBL), such as &bgr;-2M (aa 35-50), which elicits a TH1-like response in vitro tests in mice, were protective against challenge with HSV.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that recognize the CD6 antigen, pharmaceutical compositions that recognizes and that are able to achieve a clinical and histological effectivity in patients with different clinical types of Psoriasis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the adaptation of infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDV) to growth in CEF cell culture. Changing the codons for amino acid residues 253 (Gln) and 284 (Ala) to 253 (His) and 284 (Thr) allowed bursa adapted Classical and Variant-E IBDV to grow in CEF cell culture. For GLS IBDV only a change of the codon for amino acid residue 284 was necessary.

Abstract: A novel feline cytokine protein having the activity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of feline cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a DNA sequence coding for said protein, a recombinant DNA for expressing said protein, an expression vector comprising said recombinant DNA, a transformant which is transformed with said expression vector, a process for preparing said protein by culturing said transformant, and an antibody against said protein are provided. The novel feline cytokine protein of the present invention is a heterologous dimer comprising FLAF p35 and FLAF p40 and can be used for treating feline infectious diseases such as feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV).

Abstract: The present invention describes (1) an immortal cell line derived from grouper and a method for establishing the cell line; (2) methods for mass producing and purifying aquatic viruses using the immortal cell line from grouper; (3) an anti-NNV antibody and a method for producing the anti-NNV antibody; and (4) a vaccine of NNV and a method for protecting fish against NNV infection. The present immortal cell line is derived from the grouper and is susceptible to the viral families of Birnaviridae such as Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV); Herpesviridae such as Eel Herpes Virus Formosa (EHVF); Reoviridae such as Hard Clam Reovirus (HCRV); and Nodaviridae such as Nervous Necrosis Virus (NNV).

Abstract: A combined hepatitis A-measles live vaccine, its lyophilized formulations with enhanced storage stability and methods of preparing the same by mixing the viral stocks of hepatitis A virus and measles virus or by propagating the two viruses on same diploid cell substrate are disclosed. The combined live vaccine thus prepared is a useful vaccine for preventing the infections with hepatitis A and measles without causing any interference between antigenicity of the two viruses and any serious adverse events due to their mixing or co-culturing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adjuvant compositions which are suitable to be used in vaccines. In particular, the adjuvant compositions of the present invention comprises a saponin and an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, preferably the saponins used in said adjuvant combinations are haemolytic. Also provided by the present invention are vaccines comprising the adjuvants of the present invention and an antigen. Further provided are methods of manufacture of the adjuvants and vaccines of the present invention and their use as medicaments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic compositions of macrophage derived chemokine (MDC) and methods for treating and preventing infection by a lentivirus, particularly an immunodeficiency virus, particularly HIV, using MDC proteins, nucleic acids and/or derivatives or analogues thereof. The present invention further relates to methods for detection and prognosis of lenivirus infection, particularly HIV infection using MDC as a prognostic indicator. The present invention further provides MDC proteins, nucleic acids encoding such proteins, that have amino-terminal sequences that differ from other MDC isolates. Recombinant host cells and methods of production are also provided.

Abstract: Serious hematologic malignancies are treated through high dose or lethal chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy conditioning regimens followed by rescue with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) or autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). These myeloablative/lymphoablative (M/L) treatment regimens involve the elimination of both the patient's hematopoietic stem cells and T-lymphocytes, often leading to serious complications including graft versus host disease (GVHD). The claimed invention addresses some of these problems by providing a conditioning regimen that is designed to eliminate the patient's T-lymphocytes while retaining a functional population of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). This non-myeloablative/lymphoablative (-/L) conditioning regimen involves the administration of one or more agents such as purine analogs (e.g., fludarabine), alkylating agents (e.g., bisulfan, cyclophosphamide), or anti-leukocyte globulins (e.g., anti-T lymphocyte globulin).

Abstract: Non-infectious, retrovirus-like particles contain mutations to reduce gag-dependent RNA-packaging of the gag gene product, eliminate reverse transcriptase activity of the pol gene product, eliminate integrase activity of the pol gene product and eliminate RNase H activity of the pol gene product through genetic manipulation of the gag and pol genes. The corresponding nucleic acid molecules are described. The non-infectious, retrovirus-like particles have utility in in vivo administration including to humans and in diagnosis.