Abstract: As a versatile means for specifically and safely transporting and transferring substances (genes, proteins, compounds, etc.) into target cells and tissues, hollow nano particles comprising a protein capable of forming particles (e.g., hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein), and a biorecognition molecule introduced therein, are provided.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a disease-treating drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles to specifically act on a target cell or tissue. The present invention allows a protein drug to be effectively capsulated in the particles. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. The drug according to the present invention is capable of recognizing a specific cell, such as hepatocytes, and manufactured by fusing a disease-treating substance for a target cell (for example, interferon, hepatocyte growth factor etc.) with hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring oocyst of protozoa, such as Cryptosporidium, in an environment sample with high sensitivity at low cost within a short period of time; and a detecting reagent for use therein. Magnetic fine particles of 5 to 500 nm particle diameter having, immobilized thereto, binding factors for specific recognition of oocyst are added to an analyte containing a protozoan oocyst to form oocyst/binding factor/magnetic fine particle complexes by using a binding reaction to the oocyst, the formed complexes are recovered by a magnetic separation, and the protozoan oocysts contained in the complexes are assayed. Further, there is provided, for conducting the above method, a reagent for detecting protozoan oocysts comprising magnetic fine particles of 5 to 500 nm particle diameter having, immobilized thereto, antibodies against oocysts or binding factors for recognizing the antibodies.

Abstract: A plasmid is constructed so as to express a fused protein of a sugar chain-binding protein domain with a desired protein. Then this plasmid is transferred into cells and thus the protein is expressed in the cell surface layer. This method is particularly adequate in case of expressing a protein having an activity in the C-terminal portion in cell surface layer.

Abstract: The subject invention is hollow nanoparticles that comprise particle-forming first proteins (e.g. hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein), containing a bio-recognizing molecule for recognizing a specific cell, wherein at least one of the first proteins interacts with a second protein (e.g. hepatitis B virus core-antigen protein) forming a capsid structure. With this structure, the present invention provides hollow nanoparticles, that allow transfer of a substance to a specific cell or tissue, and can be manufactured with stable productivity. The present invention further provides a drug made of the hollow nanoparticles.

Abstract: A therapeutic product or drug for therapy of hemophilia may be produced by a simplified method including embedding genes of the blood clotting factors VIII (IX) for therapy of hemophilia in hollow nano particles obtained on expressing the protein having a particle forming function, such as hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein, in eucaryotic cells. The drug so produced is able to introduce the genes of the blood clotting factors efficaciously into liver cells with the least risk of side effects.

Abstract: The invention provides a disease-treating drug, specifically acting particular cells or tissues, which is based on protein hollow nanoparticles. The drug's therapeutic effects are confirmed through animal experiments. The invention also provides a treatment method using the drug. The disease-treating drug comprises a substance to be transferred into a cell for treatment of a disease (for example, cancer-treating, thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus type 1) encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles containing particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein modified to lose infectivity to inherent hepatocyte and also display a growth factor) displaying, for example, a growth factor.

Abstract: The invention provides hollow nanoparticles of a protein with the ability to recognize specific cells such as the hepatocytes and to form particles (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein), wherein the protein has a cysteine residue substituted to a different amino acid. The hollow nanoparticles have a stable particle structure and can be used to efficiently transfer substances to specific target cells or tissues. The invention also provides a drug using the hollow nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cirrhosis model animal having human hepatic tissues affected with cirrhosis. Anti-asialo GM1 antibodies are administered to a scid mouse which is an immune-deficiency animal, and its natural-killer-cell-dependent immune response capability is made defective, and then cirrhosis-patient-derived hepatic tissues are transplanted beneath a kidney membrane of the scid mouse, thereby producing the cirrhosis model animal. The cirrhosis model animal has the human hepatic tissues affected with cirrhosis, so that it is possible to use the cirrhosis model animal in development of a therapy and a therapeutic drug for cirrhosis.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles displaying an antibody against a specific cell or specific tissue. The effectiveness of the drug has been proved by animal testing. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. In a drug according to the present invention, a substance to be transferred into a cell for treating a disease (for example, a cancer treating gene such as a thymidine kinase gene derived from simple herpes virus) is encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein that has been modified to lack its infectivity to hepatocytes and display an antibody). The particle surface of the drug displays an antibody, such as a cancer specific antibody, that recognizes an antigen molecule displayed on the surface of a specific cancer cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a drug for treating hepatic diseases with the use of hollow protein nanoparticles. The effectiveness of the drug has been proved by animal testing. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. In a drug according to the present invention, a substance to be transferred into a cell for treating a hepatic disease (for example, a cancer treating gene such as a thymidine kinase gene derived from simple herpes virus) is encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles that have an ability to recognize a hepatocyte and are composed of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein).

Abstract: The subject invention provides a disease-treating drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles to specifically act on a target cell or tissue. The present invention allows a protein drug to be effectively capsulated in the particles. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. The drug according to the present invention is capable of recognizing a specific cell, such as hepatocytes, and manufactured by fusing a disease-treating substance for a target cell (for example, interferon, hepatocyte growth factor etc.) with hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein).

Abstract: A plasmid is constructed so as to express a fused protein of a sugar chain-binding protein domain with a desired protein. Then this plasmid is transferred into cells and thus the protein is expressed in the cell surface layer. This method is particularly adequate in case of expressing a protein having an activity in the C-terminal portion in cell surface layer.

Abstract: As a versatile means for specifically and safely transporting and transferring substances (genes, proteins, compounds, etc.) into target cells and tissues, hollow nano particles comprising a protein capable of forming particles (e.g., hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein), and a biorecognition molecule introduced therein, are provided.

Abstract: Treatment of cells with lower alcohol provides cells having the reaction rate 350 to 600 times higher than that of cells that are not treated with lower alcohol More specifically, a simple operation of treating cells with lower alcohol provides a catalyst that has a higher activity that that of a cell extract and can be recycled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carrier for affinity chromatography comprising an insoluble carrier and antibodies which are modified by activated polyethyleneglycol and immobilized on the insoluble carrier, the antibodies being modified by activated polyethylene glycol at a location other than at an immobilizing site.