Abstract: A synthetic HIV-1-based polypeptide as well as methods for treating HIV-1 infections are provided herein. The polypeptide of the present invention has an amino acid sequence substantially corresponding to a specified region of the HIV-1.sub.IIIB virus. The polypeptide of the present invention may be administered in effective amounts for preventing and treating HIV-1 infections. The polypeptide is useful for inhibiting the replication of the HIV-1 virus as well as HIV-1-mediated cytopathogenesis and cell fusion at levels which are within acceptable ranges of cytotoxicity.

Abstract: A synthetic HIV-1-based polypeptide as well as methods for topically inhibiting HIV-1 infectivity or replication. The polypeptide of the present invention has an amino acid sequence substantially corresponding to a specified region of the HIV-1.sub.IIIB virus. The polypeptide of the present invention may be administered in effective amounts for topically inhibiting HIV-1 infectivity or replication. The polypeptide is useful for inhibiting the replication of the HIV-1 virus as well as HIV-1-mediated cytopathogenesis and cell fusion at levels which are within acceptable ranges of cytotoxicity.

Abstract: A composition having a protein binding solid support onto which is bound a mixture of antigens and antibodies which are both bound to the solid support individually and are not present in the form of an immune complex.

Abstract: A radiolabeled or enzyme labeled peptide having no more than 60 amino acids in the chain of the peptide; the peptide having covalently linked amino acids disposed in a steric configuration which is recognized by and bound by an antibody. The labeled peptides can be utilized in various processes to detect the presence of a given antibody or antigen in a sample. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to same may be so detected.

Abstract: A process for detecting the presence of an antigen in a specimen is described, which process comprises:(A) contacting said specimen with a substrate coated with antibodies of said antigen, incubating the contacted substrate and washing the substrate;(B) contacting the washed material of step (A) with a hapten conjugated antibody against said antigen, incubating the so-contacted material and washing the so-incubated material;(C) contacting the washed material of step (B) with a radioactive material labeled or enzyme containing anti-hapten antibody, incubating the so-contacted material and washing the same; and(D) effecting radioimmunoassay if said antibody is radioactive or enzyme labeled immunoassay if said antibody contains an enzyme moiety.Quantitative determination of the antigen in the specimen is effected by comparing the counts of the radioimmunoassay or the concentration of enzyme against a standard as by photocolormetric methods.

Abstract: A process for the detection of an antigen or antibody in a specimen which process comprises:(a) contacting said specimen with a substrate having bound thereon a mixture of antigens and antibodies to said antigen or antibody in said specimen, said antibodies and said antigens bound to said substrate being separately bound to said substrate and not in the form of an immune complex, incubating the so-contacted substrate and washing the substrate;(b) contacting the washed material of step `a` with a radioactive material labeled or enzyme labeled antibody or antigen, incubating the so-contacted material and washing the same; and(c) effecting radioimmunoassay if said antibody or antigen is radioactive or enzyme labeled immunoassay is said antibody or antigen is enzyme labeled.

Abstract: A process for determining the presence of an antigen or antibody in a sample wherein said antigen or antibody exists in the form of an immune complex which comprises:A. contacting the immune complex originating from the sample suspected of containing immune complex with a dissociating buffer whereby said immune complex, if present, is dissociated into antigen and antibody;B. contacting a solid support which binds proteins with said dissociating buffer suspected of containing antigen or antibody and removing said buffer;C. washing said solid support;D. adding protein to fill unoccupied sites on said solid support;E. adding radioactively labeled or enzyme labeled antibody or antigen to said solid support, said labeled antibody or antigen corresponding to antigen or antibody on said solid support, incubating the resultant mass and washing the same;F. measuring the radioactivity or enzymatic activity associated with the solid support.

Abstract: After a polyethylene glycol purification procedure, virus particles, viral components and virus associated particles having concanavalin A binding sites are further purified by subjecting such particles or components to affinity chromatography utilizing insoluble concanavalin A as a chromatography adsorbent and an eluant capable of interacting with concanavalin A to thereby inhibit the binding of the virus particles or components to the insoluble concanavalin A. Specifically, the insoluble concanavalin A may be concanavalin A linked to agarose beads and the eluant may be methyl-.alpha.-D-mannopyranoside. Specifically, these procedures may be utilized to purify hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) particles.

Abstract: A process for separating hepatitis B surface antigen from a mixture containing the same which comprises passing said mixture over an agarose gel containing terminal aminononyl or aminodecyl groups to thereby deposit on said gel said hepatitis B surface antigen while allowing other components of said mixture to pass therethrough and thereafter eluting said hepatitis B surface antigen by passing an eluting agent over said agarose gel containing hepatitis B surface antigen.