Abstract: Provided are methods for inducing an increase in the number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients by administering human GM-CSF. The GM-CSF may be administered concurrently with at least one antiretroviral agent.
Abstract: This invention relates to novel nonmammalian carrier vectors and viruses useful in the production of high titers of recombinant viruses which may contain foreign DNA inserts or which may be point-mutated or deleted viruses, and methods of producing those viruses. The nonmammalian carrier vector (“carrier vector”) is a chimeric vector which includes those portions of a nonmammalian virus backbone which allow replication in a nonmammalian host cell. The carrier vector includes various nucleic acid cassettes, which may include an embedded recombinant viral genome containing a desired transgene, components necessary for production of a replication-defective recombinant virus containing the transgene, and domains that permit the carrier vector to bind to mammalian cells. The invention also provides methods of producing high concentrations of recombinant virus as a substantially homogeneous preparation, compositions to produce the recombinant virus, and novel recombinant viruses.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 25, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 21, 2004
Assignee:
Genovo, Inc.
Inventors:
Siyamak Rasty, Matthew A. Gonda, Haifeng Chen
Abstract: Primers and probes derived from the HIV-1 pol gene which facilitate detection and/or quantification of all presently known genotypes of HIV-1 (A-I and O). Disclosed sequences may be used in a variety of amplification and non-amplification formats for detection of HIV nucleic acids.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 9, 2001
Date of Patent:
August 3, 2004
Assignee:
Becton, Dickinson and Company
Inventors:
Tobin J. Hellyer, Qimin You, James M. Harris
Abstract: The presented invention relates to monoclonal antibodies useful in sensitive and specific immunological assays for the identification of prions in various tissues and body fluids, the production of such monoclonal antibodies by means of immunization of PrP0/0 mice by means of a new recombinant fragment of PrP and the use of the antibodies, e.g. for therapeutic and preventive treatments of humans and animals suffering from prion diseases.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 20, 2004
Assignee:
Universität Zürich
Inventors:
Carsten Korth, Beat Stierli, Peter Stregt, Bruno Oesch, Markus Moser
Abstract: The subject matters of this invention are the hormone-dependent forms of Rep 78 and Rep 68 proteins of the Adeno-associated virus (AAV), obtained by the fusion of their specific mutants with the hormone binding domain (HBD) of steroid hormone receptors, and the DNA sequences coding for them. The invention also refers to a method for the hormonal regulation of the activity of the fusion products Rep78/68-HBD, inserted into eucaryotic cells utilizing viral or non-viral systems, in order to direct the stable integration of DNA sequences in specific regions of the host human genome for therapeutic purposes. The fusion products Rep78/68-HBD are also utilized to generate viral hybrid vectors (i.e. adenovirus vectors AAV) and for generating recombinant vectors AAV.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 7, 2000
Date of Patent:
June 22, 2004
Assignee:
Instituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti
S.p.A.
Inventors:
Carlo Toniatti, Cira Rinaudo, Gennaro Ciliberto
Abstract: Improved forms of vaccines which comprise proteosomes and protein antigens are described. Vaccines which contain influenza HA as the antigen are used for illustration as to demonstrate efficacy. Improvements in the preparation of the vaccines themselves and the proteosome component are also included.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 15, 2001
Date of Patent:
June 1, 2004
Assignee:
ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec
Inventors:
David S. Burt, David Hugh Jones, George H. Lowell, Gregory Lee White, Kirkor Torossian, Louis F. Fries, III, Martin Plante
Abstract: The invention concerns a purified recombinant glycoprotein having the following properties: a) an adherence capacity to CD4; b) an affinity with a anti-gp120 antibody capable of neutralizing in vitro HIV cell infection; c) an affinity with an anti-gp41 antibody; d) a timeric form free from inter-chain disulphide bonds. The invention also concerns a vaccine comprising said purified glycoprotein and an adjuvant. The invention further concerns a method for obtaining said glycoprotein, which consists in expressing, by means of genetic recombining techniques, a glycoprotein corresponding to the properties a), b) and c) mentioned above; purifying it, and subjecting it to steps involving at least a reducing agent, an ionic detergent and/or a neutral detergent in conditions leading to a glycoprotein having said properties.
Abstract: The present invention provides an antiangiogenic polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a portion thereof which is effective to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation as determined by the capillary EC proliferation assay. Preferably, the portion has at least 50% inhibition of bFGF-stimulated EC proliferation at 5 Tg/ml, more preferably 75% inhibition, most preferably 95% inhibition.
Abstract: The invention features methods of diagnosing and treating Meniere disease. The invention also features kits and probes for diagnosing Meniere disease.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 25, 2000
Date of Patent:
May 4, 2004
Assignees:
Brigham and Women's Hospital, University of Antwerp
Inventors:
Nahid Robertson, Cynthia Morton, Guy Van Camp, Erik Fransen, Paul Van de Heyning
Abstract: Recombinant proteins have been developed for the immunization of animals against cryptosporidiosis. The proteins are effective for the immunization of a variety of animals against Cryptosporidium parvum, particularly for the production of hyperimmune colostrum that may be used to confer passive immunity against the parasite. Isolated DNA sequences which encode these proteins have also been developed. The DNA sequences may be inserted into recombinant DNA molecules such as cloning vectors or expression vectors for the transformation of cells and the production of the proteins.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 26, 2001
Date of Patent:
March 23, 2004
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Inventors:
Mark C. Jenkins, Ron Fayer, James Trout
Abstract: The invention is directed to purified and isolated novel ULBP polypeptides, the nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, processes for production of recombinant forms of such polypeptides, antibodies generated against these polypeptides, fragmented peptides derived from these polypeptides, and the uses of the above. ULBP polypeptide can be found on the surface of human B cell lymphomas. Mammalian forms of ULBP polypeptide in isolated or purified forms are provided. In addition, isolated nucleic acids encoding ULBP polypeptides and expression vectors comprising a cDNA encoding ULBP polypeptides are provided. The ULBP polypeptides can be isolated or synthesized and used to prepare antibodies, and in particular monoclonal antibodies, against the polypeptides. The antibodies, in turn, are useful for detecting the presence of ULBP polypeptides in human cell samples, which can be correlated with the existence of a malignant condition in a patient.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2000
Date of Patent:
November 25, 2003
Assignee:
Immunex Corporation
Inventors:
David J. Cosman, Jurgen Mullberg, William C. Fanslow, III, Marek Kubin, Richard Jeffrey Armitage
Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that the envelope proteins of HCV induce a beneficial immune response in chronically HCV-infected chimpanzees. The immunization can preferentially be carried out using HCV envelope proteins in the form of particles which are produced in a detergent-assisted manner. The envelope proteins when presented as such to chronic HCV carriers are highly immunogenic and stimulate both the cellular and humoral immune response.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 23, 1999
Date of Patent:
October 21, 2003
Assignee:
Innogentics N.V.
Inventors:
Erik Depla, Geert Maertens, Alfons Bosman, Frans Van Wijnendaele
Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules involved in HIV infection, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, and protective compounds including such nucleic acid molecules, proteins and inhibitors of products encoded by such nucleic acid molecules. In addition, the invention also relates to methods for identifying additional genetic suppressor elements, cellular genes corresponding to such GSEs, and methods of using such cellular genes and their encoded products in screening assays for selecting additional inhibitors of HIV.
Abstract: A recombinant herpes simplex virus (HSV) viral vector genome which has substantially lost its transducing properties as a result of a DNA sequence change in the gene coding for Vmw65 protein and also contains an expressable heterologous gene inserted into a region of the HSV genome which is non-essential for the culture of the virus, the gene being under the control of the immediate early (IE1) gene enhancer of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and to the use of the recombinant HSV genome in therapy and vaccination.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 28, 1997
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2003
Assignee:
BTG International Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher Maurice Preston, Marion Suzanne Ecob-Prince
Abstract: Synthetic peptide analogs of chemokines are designed to include the N- and C-terminal portions of the corresponding naturally occurring chemokine. In particular, synthetic peptide analogs of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) are effective in inhibiting HIV-1 entry and infection via the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). Each peptide comprises a peptide segment analog of the SDF-1 N-terminal region joined to a peptide segment analog of the SDF-1 C-terminal region. The peptides are useful for HIV treatment and prophylaxis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 6, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2003
Assignee:
Thomas Jefferson University
Inventors:
Ziwei Huang, Zhaowen Luo, Naiming Zhou, Jiansong Luo
Abstract: A method and composition for destruction of infectious prion proteins in tissue, by thermal/enzymatic treatment of the tissue with a prion-destructive protease. The method and composition are applicable to treatment of tissue containing or contaminated with prion protein strains associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) and/or other prion protein-mediated diseases.
Abstract: Compositions and methods for ameliorating the clinical signs of an avian pneumovirus infection in a bird are disclosed. The compositions include immunologically effective amounts of an attenuated or inactivated avian pneumovirus. Methods for preparing an attenuated avian pneumovirus composition are also described.
Abstract: A method for the screening of antiviral compounds targeted to the HIV gp41 core structure comprising capturing polyclonal antibodies from an animal other than a mouse directed against a trimer of a heterodimer containing an N-peptide and a C-peptide onto a solid-phase, mixing a compound to be tested with an N-peptide and then adding a C-peptide, adding the resultant mixture to the resultant polyclonal antibody coated solid-phase and then removing unbound peptides and unbound compound, adding a monoclonal antibody directed against the trimer of a heterodimer containing an N-peptide and a C-peptide and measuring the antibody binding of the monoclonal antibody.
Abstract: Recombinant viral vectors, especially parvovirus vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, capable of enhanced expression of heterologous sequences, and methods for their construction and use, are provided. The vectors have a structure, or are capable of rapidly adopting a structure, which involves intrastrand base pairing of at least one region in a heterologous sequence.