Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel immunogenic combinations comprising or encoding at least two heterooligomeric mycobacterial antigens and preferably a fusion polypeptide comprising said two heterooligomeric mycobacterial antigens, where the mycobacterial antigens are selected from the group of Esx, PE and PPE antigens of a Mycobacterium species, particularly a Mycobacterium of the tuberculosis complex such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The present invention also relates to vectors, host cells and compositions comprising or encoding said immunogenic combination as well as to methods for expressing and producing it. The present invention also relates to methods of using said immunogenic combination, fusion polypeptide, vector, host cell, composition particularly for inducing or stimulating an immune response with the goal of providing a protective response against a Mycobacterium infection or any disease caused by or associated with a Mycobacterium infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel immunogenic combinations comprising or encoding at least two heterooligomeric mycobacterial antigens and preferably a fusion polypeptide comprising said two heterooligomeric mycobacterial antigens, where the mycobacterial antigens are selected from the group of Esx, PE and PPE antigens of a Mycobacterium species, particularly a Mycobacterium of the tuberculosis complex such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The present invention also relates to vectors, host cells and compositions comprising or encoding said immunogenic combination as well as to methods for expressing and producing it. The present invention also relates to methods of using said immunogenic combination, fusion polypeptide, vector, host cell, composition particularly for inducing or stimulating an immune response with the goal of providing a protective response against a Mycobacterium infection or any disease caused by or associated with a Mycobacterium infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated fusion protein comprising at least three NS polypeptides originating from a hepatitis C virus which are configured in said fusion protein in an order which is distinct of the order in which they appear in the native configuration. The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding such a fusion protein and a vector comprising such a nucleic acid molecule. The present invention also provides infectious viral particles and host cells comprising such a nucleic acid molecule or such a vector. The present invention also relates to a method for recombinantly producing such a fusion protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated fusion protein comprising at least three NS polypeptides originating from a hepatitis C virus which are configured in said fusion protein in an order which is distinct of the order in which they appear in the native configuration. The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding such a fusion protein and a vector comprising such a nucleic acid molecule. The present invention also provides infectious viral particles and host cells comprising such a nucleic acid molecule or such a vector. The present invention also relates to a method for recombinantly producing such a fusion protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for expressing toxic proteins, to an expression vector comprising this system, to a prokaryotic cell transformed with this system, and also to a method for synthesizing a toxic protein using this expression system. The expression system of the invention is characterized in that it comprises successively, in the 5?-3? direction, a nucleotide sequence encoding the Asp-Pro dipeptide and a nucleotide sequence encoding a toxic protein. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the expression system also comprises, upstream of the Asp-Pro sequence, a nucleotide sequence encoding a soluble protein. The expression system of the invention makes it possible to construct an expression vector that is useful for transforming a prokaryotic cell such as E. coli, for example in a method for synthesizing the toxic protein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a vector for the coexpression of membrane domains of the envelope proteins of a virus, and also a method for producing homo- and/or hetero-oligomers of these domains. This vector comprises at least one region for replication and for maintenance of said vector in the host cell; a first region consisting successively, in said direction of translation of the vector, of a first promoter followed by a first sequence encoding a first chimeric protein comprising in particular a sequence encoding one of said at least two membrane domains; and a second region consisting successively, in said direction of translation of the vector, of a second promoter followed by a second sequence encoding a second chimeric protein comprising in particular a sequence encoding the other of said at least two membrane domains. The present invention is useful for the production of medicinal products for the treatment or prophylaxis of hepatitis C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polypeptides F? from the protein F, said polypeptides inducing an immune response to the hepatitis C virus and consisting of 99 amino acids situated between positions 43 and 141 of the polyprotein of the hepatitis C virus, to four associated T epitopes consisting of 9 amino acids, and to the diagnostic and therapeutic applications thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for expressing toxic proteins, to an expression vector comprising this system, to a prokaryotic cell transformed with this system, and also to a method for synthesizing a toxic protein using this expression system. The expression system of the invention is characterized in that it comprises successively, in the 5?-3? direction, a nucleotide sequence encoding the Asp-Pro dipeptide and a nucleotide sequence encoding a toxic protein. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the expression system also comprises, upstream of the Asp-Pro sequence, a nucleotide sequence encoding a soluble protein. The expression system of the invention makes it possible to construct an expression vector that is useful for transforming a prokaryotic cell such as E. coli, for example in a method for synthesizing the toxic protein.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in ? helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in ? helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two ? helices, these two ? helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in &agr; helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in &agr; helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two &agr; helices, these two &agr; helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in &agr; helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in &agr; helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two &agr; helices, these two &agr; helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.