Abstract: There is disclosed an adjuvant composition for potentiating the immunogenicity of an antigen, comprising water or an aqueous solution and hemozoin or .beta.-hematin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human tumor suppressor (TUPRO-2) and polynucleotides which identify and encode TUPRO-2. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells, agonists, antibodies, or antagonists. The invention provides methods for treating diseases associated with expression of TUPRO-2.

Abstract: Methods for the detection, monitoring and treatment of malignancies in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated are disclosed. Detection of specific T cell activation (e.g., by measuring the proliferation of T cells) in response to in vitro exposure to the HER-2/neu protein, or detection of immunocomplexes formed between the HER-2/neu protein and antibodies in body fluid, allows the diagnosis of the presence of a malignancy in which the HER-2/neu oncogene is associated. The present invention also discloses methods and compositions, including peptides, for treating such malignancies.

Abstract: A system for detecting and destroying living tumor tissue within the body of a living being. The system is arranged to be used with a tumor localizing radiopharmaceutical. The system includes a percutaneously insertable radiation detecting probe, an associated analyzer, and a percutaneously insertable tumor removing instrument, e.g., a resectoscope. The radiation detecting probe includes a needle unit having a radiation sensor component therein and a handle to which the needle unit is releasably mounted. The needle is arranged to be inserted through a small percutaneous portal into the patient's body and is movable to various positions within the suspected tumor to detect the presence of radiation indicative of cancerous tissue. The probe can then be removed and the tumor removing instrument inserted through the portal to destroy and/or remove the cancerous tissue.

Abstract: A method and bioreactor (10) apparatus is described for growing plant cells, particularly to produce plant derived chemicals is described. Bioparticles (11) containing magnetically susceptible particles are provided in a column (12) surrounded by a solenoids (13, 14, 14A) which act to hold the bioparticles in position in the column. One of the solenoids with a magnetically susceptible screen (24) acts as a valve to allow a portion of the bioparticles to be removed from the column. The method is particularly described for producing daidzein and genistein.

Abstract: Cellular components are quantitated using stained cell samples, computerized image analysis, and cellular standards, where the computerized image analysis value can be translated into the amount of the component per cell. The methodology is demonstrated with breast cancer cells and quantitation of the HER-2/neu gene. The quantitation is shown to have prognostic capability as to the future course of the disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to members of the cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein/activating transcription factor 1 (CREB/ATF1) family of transcription factors. An embodiment of this invention constitutes an inhibitory agent (e.g., an antibody, small molecule or polypeptide) which binds to a fragment, spanning from about position 167 to about 181 of the amino acid sequence of the ATF1 protein bound to the target gene, with sufficient binding affinity to cause disassociation of ATF1 from the DNA of the target gene and/or prevent ATF1 from binding thereto through a currently unknown mechanism. As a result, transcription is prevented or, at least, inhibited, resulting in events of consequence to a virus or cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to in vivo peripheralization of CD34.sup.+ cells by administering anti-VLA-4 antibodies or anti-VCAM-1 antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of immunoassay of asialoglycoprotein receptors (AGPR) by bringing a specimen into contact with a monoclonal antibody that recognizes AGPR, wherein the pH of a diluted specimen solution is adjusted from 5 to 7 or phenol is added to a solution of an enzyme-labeled antibody. This method is excellent in the sensitivity and accuracy of AGPR assay and can be applied also to the screening of hepatopathy remedies.

Abstract: Novel bifunctional reagents useful in reducing the biological effect of an undesirable blood-borne agent are provided. The reagents comprise conjugates of a first binding member specific for a blood-borne agent having a detrimental biological activity in a mammalina host, such as a growth factor, coagulation factor, enzyme, toxin, drug of abuse, microbe, autoreactive immune cell, infected or tumorous cell, joined to an second binding member specific for an anchor, where the anchor is a long-lived blood component, including cells, such as a erythrocyte, platelet or endothelial cell and serum proteins, such as albumin, ferritin, or steroid binding proteins. These conjugates find therapeutic use by coupling the agent and the blood component and thereby reducing the biological activity or effective concentration of free agent, modulating the volume of distribution of the agent, targeting the agent to sites of enhanced immune response, or facilitating agent clearance from the bloodstream.

Abstract: DNA sequences coding for a TNF-binding protein and for the TNF receptor of which this protein constitutes the soluble domain. The DNA sequences can be used for preparing recombinant DNA molecules in order to produce TNF-binding protein and TNF receptor. With the aid of the TNF receptor or fragments thereof or with the aid of suitable host organisms transformed with recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA which codes for the TNF receptor or fragments or modifications thereof, it is possible to investigate substances for their interaction with the TNF receptor and/or for their effect on the biological activity of TNF.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing pre-hypertension, hypertension, congestive cardiomyopathy, renal failure, salt-sensitivity and adenomas and endocrine cell hyperplasias are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for monitoring hypertension therapy, congestive cardiomyopathy therapy, renal failure therapy and adenoma and endocrine cell hyperplasia therapy. These methods involve using an antibody having binding specificity to ouabain to immunologically measure the level of human ouabain in body fluid or tissue of a subject. Additionally, methods for treating a hypertensive subject by inducing passive or active immunity to human ouabain in the subject are disclosed, along with an antibody having binding specificity for ouabain.

Abstract: A mammal is immunized by using an antigen of a peptide having an amino acid sequence existing in a region having low homology to amino acid sequences of tyrosinase-related proteins but included in an amino acid sequence of human tyrosinase, and then the spleen cells of the mammal is fused with cultured cells to prepare a hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody which binds to human tyrosinase and mouse tyrosinase but does not bind to the tyrosinase-related proteins.

Abstract: A target-binding polypeptide having (a) a stable core polypeptide region (SCR); and (b) at least one target-binding region (TBR), in which the target-binding region(s) are covalently attached to the SCR and which have optionally been subjected to a maturation step in order to modify the specificity, the affinity or the avidity of binding to the target. The polypeptides may self associate to form stable dimers, aggregates or arrays. The polypeptides of the invention have utility in the diagnostic, therapeutic, predictive or preventative fields of the pharmaceutical and health care industries, as well as more general application in the detection and assay of chemical entities.

Abstract: This invention relates to new anti-EGFR antibodies and single-chain Fvs (scFvs) thereof which can be obtained from phage-antibody libraries constructed from cells of an immunized mammalian, preferably a mouse. Two of the single-chain Fvs isolated from the phage-antibody libraries were engineered to create partially humanized whole antibody molecules. These chimeric anti-EGFR antibodies contain constant regions of human immunoglobulins, and can be used as well as the single-chain Fvs as agents for the diagnosis and therapy of human tumors.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosing cancer by determining the expression level or gene amplification of p53 and dm2, whereby an elevated level of either p53 or dm2 or both p53 and dm2 indicates a cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, the invention provides a method of predicting the progress of cancer by determining the expression level or gene amplification of p53 and dm2, whereby an elevated level of either p53 or dm2 or both p53 and dm2 indicated a poor prognosis.

Abstract: A method and system for providing specialized contacts for electronic information on a smart card in the pattern of a source identifier and such that a machine may contact and read the information upon placement of the card in a reading device. The contact points for reading information on the card are formed by etching a substrate attached to the logic element of the smart card. The etching allows both the foreground and the background of an image, in two selected colors, to be included within the contact area of the smart card, with the foreground constituting the conductor and the background the resist.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and kit for the prediction of the response of a patient suffering from superficial bladder carcinoma to treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), by calculating the inducibility of the Interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene of the patient in a sample of peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells from the patient receiving BCG. The method includes the steps of culturing at least two aliquots of PBM from the patient where the cells in a first aliquot are cultured in the presence of an inducing agent for inducing expression of the IL-2 gene and the cells in the second aliquot are cultured in the absence of the inducing agent. The extent of expression of the IL-2 gene is quantitatively determined for each aliquot. The ratio of the extent of the expression of the IL-2 gene in the first aliquot to the extent of the expression of the IL-2 gene in the second aliquot is calculated, the ratio providing a measure of the inducibility of the IL-2 gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides substantially purified nucleic acid molecules encoding Bax inhibitor protein-1 (BI-1; SEQ ID NO: 1) or Bax inhibitor protein-2 (BI-2; SEQ ID NO: 4), nucleic acid molecules complementary thereto (SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 5, respectively), portions of such nucleic acid molecules, vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules, and host cells containing the vectors. The invention also provides methods of using such nucleic acid molecules to identify the presence of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a Bax inhibitor protein in a sample or to increase or decrease the level of expression of a Bax inhibitor protein in a cell. In addition, the invention provides substantially purified BI-1 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and BI-2 (SEQ ID NO: 6) polypeptides, portions of such polypeptides, and antibodies specific for BI-1 or BI-2.

Abstract: A method of detecting malignant tumors and determining their mass includes withdrawing fresh blood and/or serum samples from the patient. The blood or serum sample is then stabilized. The tumor determination is obtained from a shift in the ratio of at least one of the IgG subclasses to the sum of the IgG subclasses, relative to the normal ratio in the samples.