Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant multiple epitope polypeptides (MEPs) consisting of T cell epitopes derived from tumor-associated antigens capable of being presented by an antigen presenting cell (APC), the recombinant nucleic acid sequences and expression vectors encoding them, and host cells transfected with said expression vectors. Further described are LTB-MEP fusion proteins comprising the E. Coli heat labile enterotoxin subunit B (LTB) peptide fused to a MEP by a synthetic linker, the recombinant nucleic acid sequences and expression vectors encoding them and host cell transfected with said expression vectors. Further included are compositions for inducing an immune response against malignancies, pharmaceutical compositions and a transdermal drug delivery system for the treatment of malignant disorders. Also disclosed are methods for conferring immunity against malignancies and for the treatment of malignant disorders.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic segmentation of non-aligned data sequences comprising structural domains to identify and construct models of the structural domains. The apparatus comprises a soft clustering unit, a refinement unit and an annealing unit. The soft clustering unit iteratively partitions the data sequences and trains variable memory Markov sources, created using a prediction suffix tree data structure, on the data until convergence is reached. The clustering unit also eliminates sources showing low relationships with the data. The refinement unit is connected to the soft clustering unit and splits and perturbs the sources following convergence, to repeat the iterative partitioning at the soft clustering unit, thereby to refine the model.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of short peptide segments of AIDS virus proteins which elicit T cellular immunity, and to a method of inducing cellular immunity to native proteins of the AIDS virus by immunization with short synthetic peptides. Five potential peptides have been identified by searching for regions which can fold as a maximally amphipathic helix. These may be useful to include in either a synthetic peptide- or recombinant fragment- based vaccine.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptide antigens which stimulate helper T lympocytes which specifically recognize HIV envelope protein, thereby enhancing antibody production and cytotoxic T cells to inhibit expression of an infection caused by HIV virus.