Abstract: A method useful in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease in a patient in which an amyloid protein precursor (APP) substrate is combined with a sample of cerebrospinal fluid or blood obtained from the patient to be tested, and poteolytic cleavage of the APP substrate is detected. The absence of detectable proteolytic cleavage, or the detection of a substantially lesser degree of proteolytic cleavage, in the presence of the patient's sample compared to that detected when an APP substrate is combined with test samples from control individuals, indicates affliction with Alzheimer's Disease. Convenient test reagents and kits for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease are provided, such as comprising an APP substrate and immunoreagents for detecting a fragment formed by proteolytic cleavage as well as chromogenic APP substrates.

Abstract: This invention provides for immunotoxins comprising a Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) that does not require proteolytic activation for cytotoxic activity attached to an Fv antibody fragment having a variable heavy chain region bound through at least one disulfide bond to a variable light chain region. The combination of a "disulfide-stabilized" binding agent fused to a PE that does not require proteolytic activation provides an immunotoxin having surprising cytotoxic activity.

Abstract: This invention provides novel human antibodies that specifically bind to human c-erbB-2. In one embodiment, the antibodies are single chain antibodies initially developed by phage display against a c-erbB-2 target. The resulting antibodies (designated C6 antibodies) show improved specificity and affinity for c-erbB-2. In addition, since the C6 antibodies are both relatively small and fully human they are less immunogenic in humans than other (e.g., full-size or chimeric) anti-c-erbB-2 antibodies. The C6 antibodies may be used alone or as components of chimeric molecules that specifically target and deliver effector molecules to cells overexpressing c-erbB-2.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for determining whether a chemical compound specifically binds to and activates or inhibits activation of a human or rat Y4 receptor.

Abstract: A dual purpose tissue fixative is described. The fixative comprises a cross-linking aldehyde, alcohol, a chelating agent and a non-amine buffer. More particularly, the tissue fixative comprises 0.1-2% w/v formaldehyde, 45-90% w/w alcohol, 1-10 mM of a chelating agent and 1-50 mM of a non-nitrogen buffer. The tissue fixative permits the recovery of high molecular weight DNA and RNA from the tissue sample for molecular genetic analysis. The tissue fixative also preserves the morphology and immunogenicity of the tissue allowing for pathology analysis. The tissue fixative is compared to 95% alcohol and a standard fixative as 10% BNF.

Abstract: The present invention relates to complexes of the 53BP2 protein with proteins identified as interacting with 53BP2 by a yeast two hybrid assay system. The proteins identified to interact with 53BP2 are .beta.-tubulin, p62, hnRNP G, and three gene products, 53BP2-IP1, 53BP2-IP2, and 53BP2-IP3 encoded, in part, by the EST R72810 sequence. Thus, the invention provides complexes of 53BP2 and .beta.-tubulin, p62, hnRNP G, 53BP2-IP1, 53BP2-IP2, and 53BP2-IP3 and derivatives, fragments and analogs thereof. The invention also provides the 53BP2-IP1, 53BP2-IP2 and 53BP2-IP3 genes and proteins and derivatives, fragments and analogs thereof. Methods of screening the complexes for efficacy in treating and/or preventing certain diseases and disorders, particularly cancer, autoimmune disease and neurodegenerative disease are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds which are analogs to the hydrolysis transition-state of a cocaine benzoyl ester group. This invention also provides such analogs linked to carrier proteins, and antibodies thereto. This invention further provides pharmaceutical composition for decreasing concentration in a subject using the antibodies produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to specific binding members for estradiol and materials and methods relating thereto, in particular antibodies or binding domains thereof which have high affinities (low dissociation constants) for estradiol and low cross-reactivity for other steroids. The invention further provides means to make such binding members, assay methods for the detection and/or quantitation of estradiol, and nucleic acid encoding said binding members, which nucleic acid may be used for their production. Preferred binding members include those with CDR regions of the D12 antibody heavy and light chain domains (SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:12 respectively).

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention are high-affinity monoclonal antibodies against MIA (Melanoma inhibitory activity) in native conformation, which can be used for the detection of malignant melanomas, their use for the detection of MIA as well as immunoassays for the detection of MIA.

Abstract: The present invention provides multivalent vaccines for the treatment of B-cell malignancies (e.g., lymphomas and leukemias). The present invention also provides methods for the production of custom vaccines, including multivalent vaccines for the treatment of immune cell tumors malignancies as well as methods of treating immune cell tumors using custom vaccines.

Abstract: This invention relates to antibodies or fragments thereof that can be used as indicators of apoptosis. More specifically, this invention relates to antibodies and fragments thereof that selectively bind GP46, a protein whose levels increase significantly upon induction of apoptosis. This invention also relates to the hybridomas that produce anti-GP46 monoclonal antibodies. This invention also discloses a method of detecting cell death by apoptosis in vitro or in vivo by detecting and quantifying GP46 present in biological samples, comprising contacting the sample with the antibodies or fragments to form GP46 immunocomplexes, which may then be detected by the use of known methods. This detection method is useful for research into apoptosis and research relating to diseases in which apoptosis is involved. This method could also be used to diagnose the extent of damage caused by a particular disease or to evaluate the efficacy of drug treatments.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide compound selected from the group consisting of:(i) vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP);(ii) analogues of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in which one or more amino acids has been replaced, added or deleted without substantially altering the biological properties of the parent peptide;(iii) a conjugate being a peptide compound according to either of (i) and (ii) coupled to a lipophilic moiety;(iv) a physiologically active fragment of (i), (ii) and (iii); and(v) a functional derivative of any of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv);optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Fusion compounds comprising a target cell-specific portion fused to an oligomeric rival nuclease are disclosed. The inventive compounds are useful as anti-cancer agents. Methods of preparation and use of the inventive compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting neoplastic cells in a tissue sample by examining the cells for centrosomal abnormalities such as ectopic localization of centrosomal proteins, hypertrophic centrosomes, and supernumerary centrosomes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-idiotypic antibodies which induce an immune response against tumors, bearing as antigen the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The antibodies of the invention may mimic said antigen. As preferred embodiment the antibodies of the invention derive from mAB 425 (ATCC HB 9629) or a humanized or chimeric derivative thereof.

Abstract: A purified and isolated DNA sequence and the encoded mammary-specific protein, mammaglobin, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for the detecting breast cancer based upon the overexpression and secretion of mammaglobin by breast cancer cells. The methods detect and/or quantitate the presence of mammaglobin or the mRNA encoding mammaglobin.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing insulin resistance and related disorders is provided. Additionally, methods of treating mammals with insulin resistance and related disorders is provided. The methods employ antagonists to an insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric antibodies which comprise a B cell epitope, a T cell epitope, and/or an antigen binding site. The chimeric antibodies may be produced by replacing at least a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule with the desired epitope or antigen binding site such that the functional capabilities of the epitope and the parent immunoglobulin are retained. The chimeric antibodies of the invention may be used to enhance an immune response against pathogens and tumor cells in subjects in need of such treatment.

Abstract: Antibodies are disclosed which bind to ErbB3 protein and further possess any one or more of the following properties: an ability to reduce heregulin-induced formation of an ErbB2-ErbB3 protein complex in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3; the ability to increase the binding affinity of heregulin for ErbB3 protein; and the characteristic of reducing heregulin-induced ErbB2 activation in a cell which expresses ErbB2 and ErbB3.

Abstract: An improvement in in vivo pretargeting methods for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents to a target site in a mammal uses a clearing agent that binds to the target-binding site of the targeting species, whereby non-bound primary targeting species is cleared from circulation but the clearing agent does not remove the bound primary targeting species. Anti-idiotype antibodies and antibody fragments are preferred clearing agents. Fast clearance is achieved by glycosylating the clearing agent with sugar residues that bind to the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor.