Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generation of T cell preparations that are specific for at least one target antigen, comprising the steps of expanding lymphoid cells in vitro in the presence of a target antigen or peptide fragments thereof in an expansion step, isolating cells that secrete interferon gamma and culturing, the cells in the presence of interleukin 2 and interleukin 7 and either an inhibitor of the mTOR Complex 1, or in the presence of an inhibitor of IL-2/IL-2R interaction. The invention further relates to preparations obtained by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention refers to agents for the preventive therapy after acute stroke, in particular having the aim to prevent infections after stroke. The agents inventively employed in pharmaceutical preparations are anti-infective agents and/or immunomodulating agents, e.g. cytokines and/or inhibitors of the SNS.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides or pretide derivatives of the 65kD lower matrix phosphoprotein of human cytomegalovirus. The peptides disclosed are useful for determining whether subjects have een exposed to human cytomegalovirus. Methods for using these peptides or derivatives thereof to determine the peptide-induced production of interferon-? and/or TNF-? in CD8+ T cells isolated from subjects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining an individual's transplantation tolerance by determining the level of a number of biomarkers. The present invention also relates to a kit comprising reagents for detecting the levels of the biomarkers. The present invention also relates to a sensor for detecting the expression levels of a plurality of genes that can be used to determine an individual's transplantation tolerance.

Abstract: The invention relates to polynucleotides coding for the PPVO viral genome, to fragments of the polynucleotides coding for the PPVO genome and to polynucleotides coding for individual open reading frames (ORFs) of the PPVO viral genome. The invention also relates to recombinant proteins expressed from the above mentioned polynucleotides and to fragments of said recombinant proteins, and to the use of said recombinant proteins or fragments for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a B-lymphocyte targeting agent for use in a method for the treatment or diagnosis of cardiac insufficiency. Furthermore, it is related to a composition comprising such B-lymphocyte targeting agent and methods for determining whether a patient suffering from cardiac insufficiency is amenable to the use of the B-lymphocyte targeting agent for its treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the antigen-specific stimulation of T-lymphocytes with a synthetic peptide library, by preparing a plurality of peptides, each of said peptides comprising a fragment less than the whole of the total amino acid sequence of the antigen, each of said peptides being a minimum of 9 amino acid residues (AAs) in length, and the amino acid sequence of each peptide overlapping with the amino acid sequence of at least one other of said peptides; combining a plurality of the peptides from a) into a peptide library, said peptide library comprises a plurality of the peptides selected such that their collective overlapping amino acid sequences span the total amino acid sequence of the antigen; and incubating a suspension comprising CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes or a mixture of CD8+ and CD4+ with said peptide library in a single culture run.

Abstract: A method for the generation of antigen-specific T-cell preparations for adoptive therapy is provided, comprising the steps of obtaining lymphoid cells from the bone marrow of a patient in a first step, expanding the lymphoid cells in cell culture medium ex-vivo in the presence of at least one of IL2 and IL7 and or more antigens, yielding a T-cell preparation, and isolating the T-cell preparation from the culture medium in an isolation step. T-cell preparations provided according to the inventive method, and the use of such T-cell preparations for the treatment of infectious disease and cancer is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to uses of a B-cell-depleting antibody for the treatment of a polyoma virus infection.

Abstract: A method of treating, preventing or ameliorating chronic heart failure or acute heart failure in a patient the method comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of: a compound that is able to bind to an endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) molecule, for example LPS binding protein, BPI, lipoproteins, bile acids or an antibody capable of binding LPS, a compound that is able to bind to an endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) molecule or bacterium in the gut, for example charcoal, a bile acid or Fuller's earth, an antibacterial agent that is substantially active in the gut, an agent that is able to inhibit the response by a cell to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS), an agent that may form a barrier or that otherwise impedes translocation of bacteria or endotoxin (LPS) from the gut into the patient's circulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to uses of a B-cell-depleting antibody for the treatment of a polyoma virus infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to immune markers for detecting inflammations, immune reactions, and particularly transplant tolerance or transplant reactions, a method for detecting transplant reactions or tolerance, and the use of immune markers for medical prophylaxis, clinical monitoring of progress, transplant follow-up treatment, clinical diagnosis and/or therapy in connection with cell transplants, tissue transplants, or organ transplants.

Abstract: A method for treating cachecia, liver disease, and other wasting syndromes is provided. The treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that is able to reduce the production, absorption and/or the effect of an endotoxin. Examples of such compounds include, but are not limited to, bile acids; bactericidal/permeability increasing proteins; lipoproteins; antibodies capable of binding to endotoxins; LPS binding protein; activated charcoal, Fuller's earth, attapulgite, kaolin or bentonite or a clay; a drug blocking effectively signaling through toll-like receptors; and calostrum or human, bovine or other mammals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a substance or composition comprising one or more proteasome inhibitors for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an individual infected with a virus selected from the group comprising varicella zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and 7 and Epstein-Barr virus and Karposi's sarcoma herpesvirus. The invention further relates to methods of treatment of individuals infected with a virus selected from the group comprising varicella zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and 7 and Epstein-Barr virus and Karposi's sarcoma herpesvirus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides or pretide derivatives of the 65 kD lower matrix phosphoprotein of human cytomegalovirus. The peptides disclosed are useful for determining whether subjects have een exposed to human cytomegalovirus. Methods for using these peptides or derivatives thereof to determine the peptide-induced production of interferon-? and/or TNF-? in CD8+ T cells isolated from subjects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides or peptide derivatives of the 65 kD lower matrix phoshpoprotein of human cytomegalovirus. The peptides disclosed are useful for determining whether subjects have been exposed to human cytomegalovirus. Methods for using these peptides or derivatives thereof to determine the peptide-induced production of interferon-? and/or TNF-? in CD8+ T cells isolated from subjects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a substance or composition comprising one or more proteasome inhibitors for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an individual infected with a virus selected from the group comprising varicella zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and 7 and Epstein-Barr virus and Karposi's sarcoma herpesvirus. The invention further relates to methods of treatment of individuals infected with a virus selected from the group comprising varicella zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and 7 and Epstein-Barr virus and Karposi's sarcoma herpesvirus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the antigen-specific stimulation of T-lymphocytes with synthetic peptide libraries, comprising the following steps: a) dividing the whole amino acid sequence of the antigen into protein fragments with partial amino acid sequences: b) synthesising a peptide library containing these protein fragments: c) incubating a suspension containing CD8− and/or CD4− T-lymphocytes with all of the protein fragments of the peptide library in a single culture batch. The method can be used for immunostimulation of T-lymphocytes of mammals, especially humans, as well as for diagnosis purposes, in order to determine whether a mammal, especially a human being, has previously responded to a specific protein with its/his/her immune system, and the strength of this response.

Abstract: T cells of a graft recipient are stimulated in-vitro by cells of a graft donor or by cells which express dominant MHC-molecules, while they are transduced with immuno-modulatory genes using gene transfer. Following the gene transfer the transduced T cells start to express immuno-modulatory genes. The gene transfer can be accomplished using retroviruses, other viral vector systems or liposomes. Due to the chosen set-up of the experiment, which leads to the generation and expansion of allospecific T cells, the T cells migrate, after the in-vivo application, specifically into the allogeneic graft as well as into the draining lymph nodes and are then able to express the immuno-modulatory genes there. Rejection of allogeneic grafts (cells, tissues, organs) can be successfully prevented, tolerance towards allogeneic grafts can be induced and maintained.

Abstract: The invention relates to new compounds of acylated splenopentins of Formula IR.sup.1 -arg-lys-(R.sup.2)-glu-val-tyr(R.sup.3)R.sup.4 Iwherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are as defined in the specification, methods for their synthesis by acylation of splenopentins, as well as to their use as pharmacologically active peptides which are suitable for normalizing the function of the immunological system in primary and secondary immunological deficiencies.