Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and methods for diagnosing and treating multiple sclerosis and wherein the method can also be applicable to the diagnosis and treatment of other immune disorders.

Abstract: Optimization and validation of a serum test confirms symptomatic autoimmune diseases e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS) or rheumatoid arthritis, and identifies early, silent diseases. The methods involve testing of subject sera for the presence of epitope-specific serum IgE and also non-IgE antibodies. The tests are immunoassays wherein serum autoantibodies complex with peptides structurally mimicking humoral, autoimmune epitopes on, for example, myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and proteolipid protein (PLP) for MS. Each peptide: (1) is 5-6 amino acids long; (2) structurally and functionally mimics the surface region of its parent protein; and (3) offers a correct fit for the antigen binding site of a single specific autoantibody. Relapse prediction tests and therapies employ the peptides.

Abstract: Diseases caused by or affected by specific antibodies and/or T lymphocytes that complex with self-molecules in a subject are detected by identifying antigen specific antibodies and/or effector T lymphocytes against the antigen, in a biological fluid of an affected subject. This identification opens up treatment possibilities, for example, by desensitization.

Abstract: Novel general methods and compositions provide specific or highly associated antigenic peptides useful for diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms, allergens or other proteins. Specific or highly associated peptide antigens are also useful for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of auto-immune diseases, allergens and other diseases.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel general methods and compositions that provide cancer-specific or highly cancer-associated antigens useful for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel general methods and compositions that provide cancer-specific or highly cancer-associated antigens useful for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Novel general methods and compositions provide specific or highly associated antigenic peptides useful for diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms, allergens or other proteins. Specific or highly associated peptide antigens are also useful for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of auto-immune diseases, allergens and other diseases.

Abstract: This invention provides purified antigens which are indicative of the presence of atherosclerotic plaque. Different concentrations of these antigens have been found to coincide with the progression of atherosclerosis. The subject invention also provides different hybridoma cell lines which produce monoclonal antibodies directed to antigens associated with atherosclerosis and a hybridoma cell line which produces monoclonal antibodies directed to antigen associated with normal artery and not with plaque. The atherosclerotic plaque antigen, and monoclonal antibodies made thereto, are used in various methods for detecting in a biological sample an antigen present in, and indicative of the presence of, atherosclerotic plaque. The monoclonal antibodies are also used in methods of imaging atherosclerotic plaque, and treating atherosclerosis. The methods of treating atherosclerosis include a method of digesting atherosclerotic plaque with enzymes, and a method of ablating atherosclerotic plaque using radiation.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a naturally occurring antigen indicative of the presence of atherosclerotic plaque. The subject invention provides a murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody which specifically binds to an antigen indicative of the presence of atherosclerotic plaque; and methods and reagents involving the use of the murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody. The subject invention provides a CDR-grafted antibody; and methods and reagents involving the use of the CDR-grafted antibody. The subject invention provides a surrogate antigen; methods and reagents involving the use of the surrogate antigen, preparation of the surrogate antigen, antibodies generated from the surrogate antigen.

Abstract: An antigen comprising 5,7 cholestadien-3.beta.-ol (7-dehydrocholesterol) or a compound having a structure similar to 5,7 cholestadien-3.beta.-ol and a quaternary ammonium salt is provided. Also provided is a method of generating an antibody using the aforementioned antigen, as well as antibodies produced thereby and fragments of such antibodies. The invention also provides a rat myeloma cell line Z2D3 73/30 1D10 and a murine-human chimeric monoclonal antibody produced thereby. A CDR-grafted antibody comprising a CDR region amino acid sequence from hybridoma Z2D3 or hybridoma Z2D3/3E5 and framework and constant region amino acid sequences from a human immunoglobulin is further provided. Also provided are methods for imaging atherosclerotic plaque, ablating atherosclerotic plaque, detecting and quantitatively determining in a sample an antigen indicative of the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, reducing the amount of atherosclerotic plaque in a blood vessel, and treating atherosclerosis in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tumor specific antigens and functional proteins of a tumor cell preparable by identifying protein presents in the tumor cell that are selectively immunogenic for tumor patients. The present invention still further provides a process of making a peptide library of tumor specific humoral antigens, a process of increasing the immunogenic specificity of a tumor-associated antigen, an assay kit for detecting the presence of an antibody immunoreactive with a tumor-specific antigen, and a process of making T cells sensitized to a tumor-specific antigen.

Abstract: A library of isolated and purified antigens specific for a microorganism is a set of individual molecules. The library forms antigen-antibody complexes useful in the context of diagnosing and treating conditions associated with a specific microorganism such as H. pylori-induced gastro-duodenal disease. For the antigen-antibody complexes in question the antibody is an immunoglobulin, which is IgE if the antigens are allergens. Complexes with IgA, IgG and IgM are also useful. By this multivariate approach, a specific condition is diagnosed with high sensitivity and specificity by determining whether complexes form between a specific antigen library and a biological sample which contains immunoglobulins from an individual. Such libraries also are useful for immunotherapy.

Abstract: The assay of the subject invention uses DNA sequences as probes in a nucleic acid hybridization diffraction assay, to detect specific DNA sequences in a sample. Diffraction assay methodologies are applied to determine the presence and amount of analyte.This invention involves a discovery in the areas of supporting surfaces for a biogrid or biograting which provide greatly reduced non-specific hybridization and binding. A preferred process of this invention involves manufacturing a biograting for use in a light diffraction assay, and comprises adhering a uniform layer of hybridizing reagent comprising a nucleotide sequence on a smooth, solid surface and exposing the surface to UV radiation through a shadow mask with a diffraction grating pattern of lines to selectively deactivate the hybridizing reagent, leaving a biological diffraction grating design of lines of active hybridizing reagent.

Abstract: A method for identifying and quantifying chymopapain-specific IgE antibody levels in patient serum comprising binding chymopapain-specific IgE, if any, in the serum with chymopapain adhering to an insoluble support, conjugating the serum IgE with a labeled anti-IgE antibody, and measuring the level of labeled compound bound to the insoluble support or in the solution removed therefrom. Special reagents and their manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A storage-stable, high potency allergenic extract is prepared by ultrafiltration, retaining fractions having molecular weights of from 1000 to 100,000, and drying the retained fraction to a moisture content of less than one weight percent. The extract can also be pretreated with amylase before ultrafiltration, treated with affinity chromatography before drying, and/or treated with gamma radiation after drying.

Abstract: A method for identifying and quantifying allergen specific IgE levels in patent serum by conjugating the IgE in the serum with allergens adhering to an insoluble support, conjugating the serum IgE with an enzyme labeled anti-IgE antibody, contacting the enzyme label with a solution of a substrate which will yield a fluorescent product in the presence of the enzyme, and measuring the level of fluorescence in the solution. Special reagents and their manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for identifying and quantifying total IgE levels in patient serum by conjugating the IgE in the serum with anti-IgE antibody adhering to an insoluble support, conjugating the serum IgE with an enzyme labeled anti-IgE antibody, contacting the enzyme label with a solution of a substrate which will yield a fluorescent product in the presence of the enzyme, and measuring the level of fluoresence in the solution. Special reagents and their manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for identifying and quantifying allergen specific IgE levels in patient serum by conjugating the serum IgE with allergens on an insoluble support, conjugating the serum IgE with an enzyme labeled anti-IgE antibody, contacting the enzyme with a solution of a substrate which will yield a fluorescent product in the presence of the enzyme, and measuring the level of fluoresence in the solution.

Abstract: A storage-stable, high potency allergenic extract is prepared by ultrafiltration, retaining fractions having molecular weights of from 1000 to 100,000, and treating the solution with gel polymer and/or carbon absorbents. The extract is dried to a moisture content of less than one weight percent water. The purified solution and aqueous reconstituted solutions of the dried extract provide a transparent, colorless solution which has greatly increased stability, remaining transparent and colorless for extended periods.

Abstract: A method for obtaining fetal cells for diagnostic examination comprises removing detached cells from the uterine cavity and outer surface of the amnionic sac. The cells are then incubated in the presence of a separation antibody which binds preferentially to either fetal cell antigens or maternal cell antigens for a time sufficient to permit antibody-antigen binding to occur. Cells having said separation antibody bound thereto are separated for the mixture. The separation antibody can be an anitbody binding preferentially to fetal cell antigens and not significantly to maternal cell antigens or it can be an antibody binding preferentially to maternal cell antigens and not significantly to fetal cell antigens. The antibody can be bound to an insoluble support prior to the incubation, and separation can be effected by separating the insoluble support from the cell mixture following the incubation.