Abstract: The invention concerns murine antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies which are the internal image of determinants recognized by a monoclonal antibody on high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA), antibody derivatives, hybridoma cell lines secreting such antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies, and processes for the preparation of such antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies, of their derivatives and of the hybridoma cell lines. The murine antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies are useful for the determination of antibodies directed against high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen, for the modulation of the immune response to HMW-MAA and for the treatment of melanoma.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to normalize a directional cDNA library constructed in a vector that allows propagation in single-stranded circle form comprising: (a) propagating the directional cDNA library in single-stranded circles; (b) generating fragments complementary to the 3' noncoding sequence of the single-stranded circles in the library to produce partial duplexes; (c) purifying the partial duplexes; (d) melting and reassociating the purified partial duplexes to moderate Cot; and (e) purifying the unassociated single-stranded circles, thereby generating a normalized cDNA library.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biological support for cell cultures formed by the coagulated mixture of a concentrate of plasma proteins and thrombin.The protein concentrate is obtained by precipitating fresh plasma with ethanol and contains balanced proportions of fibrinogen, Factor XIII and fibronectin. The thrombin concentration is adjusted to obtain the desired consistency of the support coagulated in the form of a film.The biological support is preferably used for preparing a culture of keratinocytes, recovering them in the form of a reconstituted tissue and transporting same. The reconstituted tissue is thus particularly suitable for use as a graft.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to substantially pure polynucleotide molecules specifying chimpanzee or rhesus monkey CD4, and fragments thereof and Gp120 binding molecules related to human CD4. The present invention further relates to polynucleotide molecules specifying CD4 fusion proteins and host cells containing the polynucleotide molecules.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting the interaction between a first test protein and a second test protein, in vivo, using reconstitution of the activity of a transcriptional activator. This reconstitution makes use of chimeric genes which express hybrid proteins. Two types of hybrid proteins are prepared. The first hybrid contains the DNA-binding domain of a transcriptional activator fused to the first test protein. The second hybrid protein contains a transcriptional activation domain fused to the second test protein. If the two test proteins are able to interact, they bring into close proximity the two domains of the transcriptional activator. This proximity is sufficient to cause transcription, which can be detected by the activity of a marker gene which contains a binding site for the DNA-binding domain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel cell line isolated from a rat osteosarcoma wherein the cell line has the following characteristics: a) a mutated p53 gene incapable of expressing p53 protein, b) a normal RB-1 gene, c) a 10-fold amplified c-myc gene, d) a normal c-fos gene, e) a deregulated immediate early gene response, f) a canalicular network MATRIGEL.TM. growth pattern, g) tumorigenic in congenitally athymic mice, h) no alkaline phosphatase activity, i) an ability to produce one or more growth factors selected from the group consisting of: 1) an osteoblastic differentiation growth factor, 2) a non-heparin binding mitogenic growth factor, 3) a first heparin binding mitogenic growth factor, 4) a second heparin binding mitogenic growth factor, and 5) a third heparin binding mitogenic growth factor, and j) an ability to be serially propagated greater than sixty population doublings.