Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vector particle for transferring biological material into cells, wherein said vector particle comprises at least: —a first protein which comprises the transmembrane and extracellular domains of the feline endogenous RD114 virus envelope glycoprotein, and —a second protein which comprises a ligand of the c-Kit receptor.

Abstract: A method for detecting the expression of a polypeptide in cells and for detecting the interaction between a polypeptide and cells, ex vivo or in vitro, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: a peptide comprising the cyt domain of the envelope protein of the human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-W; a peptide comprising amino acids 448-538 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and a peptide comprising a sequence having, for any series of 20 amino acids, at least 80% identity with amino acids 448-538 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Detection is established by the fusogenic power of the polypeptide, which is demonstrated by syncytia formation.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation and the use of pestivirus pseudo-particles containing native functional E1, E2 envelope glycoproteins assembled onto retroviral core particles. These particles are highly infectious and constitute a valid model of pestivirus virion.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation and the use of pestivirus pseudo-particles containing native functional E1, E2 envelope glycoproteins assembled onto retroviral core particles. These particles are highly infectious and constitute a valid model of pestivirus virion.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved chimeric glycoproteins (GPs) and improved lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with those glycoproteins. Also provided are methods and compositions for making such glycoproteins and vectors, and improved methods of in vitro and in vivo transduction of cells with such vectors. Improved chimeric GPs encode the extracellular and transmembrane domains of GALV or RD114 GPs fused to the cytoplasmic tail of MLV-A GP. Vectors pseudotyped with these GAL V/TR and RD 114/TR GP chimeras have significantly higher titers than vectors coated with the parental GPs. Additionally, RD114/TR-pseudotyped vectors are efficiently concentrated and are resistant to inactivation induced by the complement of both human and macaque sera. RD114 GP-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors have particular utility for in vivo gene transfer applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation and the use of hepacivirus pseudo-particles containing native functional E1, E2 envelope glycoproteins assembled onto retroviral core particles. These particles are highly infectious and constitute a valid model of hepacivirus virion.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells,

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasmid comprising a replicative retroviral genome, characterized in that it contains a psi (&psgr;) sequence, gag and pol sequences originated from the genome of an MLV virus, and a chimeric env sequence. The chimeric env sequence comprises a region corresponding to part of the envelope originating from the genome of an MLV virus and a region corresponding to part of the envelope originating from the genome of a GaLV virus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing an immune response or reaction, as well as to vaccines, kits, processes, cells and uses thereof. This invention more particularly relates to compositions and methods of using a synthetic viral particle to produce, modify or regulate an immune response in a subject. In a more preferred embodiment, the invention is based, generally, on compositions using synthetic viral particles as an adjuvant and/or vehicle to raise an immune response against selected antigen(s) or epitopes, in particular a cellular and/or a humoral immune response.

Abstract: Compositions and Methods for Elimination of Unwanted Cells Disclosed are compositions comprising a recombinant nucleic acid vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a syncytium-inducing polypeptide expressible on a eukaryotic cell surface, and a host cell containing the recombinant vector and expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide on its cell surface, the vectors and resultant host cells expressing the syncytium inducing polypeptide being useful for selective elimination of unwanted cells.

Abstract: Retroviral vectors which are resistant to inactivation by human serum. The retroviral vectors are produced in a cell line which is resistant to lysis by human serum, such cell lines including the HOS, Mv-1-Lu, HT1080, TE671, and human 293 cell lines, as well as cell lines derived therefrom. Such retroviral vectors are especially useful as in vivo gene delivery vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant viral particle capable of delivering a nucleic acid to mammalian cells, the particle including a member of a first specific binding pair capable of binding to a first receptor expressed on the surface of a cell so as to cause infection thereof, and a surface-exposed member of a second specific binding pair capable of binding to a second receptor generally not expressed on the surface of the cell, such that binding of the viral particle to the second receptor via the member of the second specific binding pair inhibits infection of the cell by the viral particle.

Abstract: Retroviral which are resistant to inactivation by human serum. The retroviral vectors are produced in a cell line which is resistant to lysis by human serum, such cell lines including the HOS, Mv-1-Lu, HT1080, TE671, and human 293 cell lines, as well as cell lines derived therefrom. Such retroviral vectors are especially useful as in vivo gene delivery vehicles.