Abstract: The present invention encompasses novel antibodies and fragments thereof which immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens and compositions comprising said antibodies and antibody fragments. The present invention encompasses methods preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a prophylactically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject. The present invention also encompasses methods for treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with a RSV infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses novel antibodies and fragments thereof which immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens and compositions comprising said antibodies and antibody fragments. The present invention encompasses methods preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a prophylactically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject. The present invention also encompasses methods for treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with a RSV infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a viral vector encoding for a library of antibodies or antibody fragments that are displayed on the cell membrane when expressed in a cell. The present invention provides cells comprising the viral vector nucleic acids and methods of screening the libraries for antibodies or antibody fragments with desired characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses novel antibodies and fragments thereof which immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens and compositions comprising said antibodies and antibody fragments. The present invention encompasses methods preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a prophylactically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject. The present invention also encompasses methods for treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with a RSV infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of producing higher affinity molecules, and in particular, higher affinity antibodies. Specifically, the invention contemplates methods of mutagenesis to create a population of oligonucleotides coding for altered polypeptides that are expressed in a host cell and subsequently sequenced to determine the amino acid determinants conferring higher affinity.

Abstract: The invention relates to high affinity human monoclonal antibodies, particularly those directed against isotypic determinants of immunoglobulin E (IgE), as well as direct equivalents and derivatives of these antibodies. These antibodies bind to their respective target with an affinity at least 100 fold greater than the original parent antibody. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to high affinity human monoclonal antibodies, particularly those directed against isotypic determinants of immunoglobulin E (IgE), as well as direct equivalents and derivatives of these antibodies. These antibodies bind to their respective target with an affinity at least 100 fold greater than the original parent antibody. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of reengineering or reshaping antibodies to reduce the immunogenicity of the antibodies, while maintaining the immunospecificity of the antibodies for an antigen. In particular, the present invention provides methods of producing antibodies immunospecific for an antigen by synthesizing a combinatorial library comprising complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from a donor antibody fused in frame to framework regions from a sub-bank of framework regions. The invention also provides method of producing improved humanized antibodies. The present invention also provides antibodies produced by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preventing, managing, treating and/or ameliorating a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection (e.g., acute RSV disease, or a RSV upper respiratory tract infection (URI) and/or lower respiratory tract infection (LRI)), otitis media (preferably, stemming from, caused by or associated with a RSV infection, such as a RSV URI and/or LRI), and/or a symptom or respiratory condition relating thereto (e.g., asthma, wheezing, and/or reactive airway disease (RAD)) in a subject, comprising administering to said human an effective amount of one or more antibodies that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens with a high affinity and/or high avidity. In some embodiments, one or more antibodies comprise a modified IgG constant domain, or FcRn-binding fragment thereof resulting in longer in vivo serum half-life.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for inhibiting the release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a vertebrate cell, and for inhibiting an inflammatory cytokine cascade in a patient. The compositions comprise, for example, high affinity antibodies that specifically bind HMG1 and antigenic fragments thereof. The high affinity antibodies of the present invention and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are useful for many purposes, for example, as therapeutics against a wide range of inflammatory diseases and disorders such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, peritonitis, Crohn's disease, reperfusion injury, septicemia, endotoxic shock, cystic fibrosis, endocarditis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, arthritis, anaphylactic shock, organ ischemia, reperfusion injury, and allograft rejection. In addition, the high affinity antibodies of the present inventions are useful as diagnostic antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identification and isolation of binding molecules having a selective affinity for a ligand. More specifically, this invention provides a process for the ultra high throughput screening of binding molecules from expression libraries containing billions of independent clones without the biases and limitations of other high throughput screening methods such as panning. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for the production of expression libraries essentially free of clones encoding non-functional molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Fc variants that immuno-specifically bind to an Eph receptor. The Fc variants comprise a binding region that immunospecifically binds to an Eph receptor and an Fc region that further comprises at least one novel amino acid residue which may provide for enhanced effector function. More specifically, this invention provides Fc variants that have modified binding affinity to one or more Fc ligand (e.g., Fc?R, C1q). Additionally, the Fc variants have altered antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activity. The invention further provides methods and protocols for the application of said Fc variants that immunospecifically bind to an Eph receptor, particularly for therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Fc variants of antibodies that immunospecifically binds to Integrin ?v?3. The Fc variants comprise a variable region that immunospecifically binds to Integrin ?v?3 and a Fc region that further comprises at least one novel amino acid residue which may provide for enhanced effector function. More specifically, this invention provides Fc variants that have modified binding affinity to one or more Fc?R and/or C1q. Additionally, the Fc variants have altered antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activity. The invention further provides methods and protocols for the application of said Fc variants of an antibody that immunospecifically binds to Integrin ?v?3, particularly for therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reliable, reproducible method for improving the producibility of an antibody. More specifically, this invention provides a method for modifying the heavy chain of an antibody to improve its producibility in eukaryotic cells. Additionally, the method of the invention may improve both antibody producibility and one or more antigen binding characteristics. The invention further provides modified antibodies which are better produced and which have either no change in their antigen binding characteristics or exhibit improved antigen binding characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses novel antibodies and fragments thereof which immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens and compositions comprising said antibodies and antibody fragments. The present invention encompasses methods preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a prophylactically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject. The present invention also encompasses methods for treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with a RSV infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant polynucleotides, expression vectors and methods for the production of multimeric proteins. The vectors and methods are useful for the production of multimeric protein and are unique in that they utilize a minimal number of signal sequences. More specifically, the present invention provides recombinant polynucleotide molecules and expression vectors comprising a promoter region operably linked to a transcription unit. The transcription unit is characterized by at least two DNA sequences encoding distinct polypeptides wherein at least one but not all DNA sequences further encodes a signal sequence operably linked to the DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide. The invention further provides methods of producing a multimeric protein using the expression vectors of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses novel antibodies and fragments thereof which immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens and compositions comprising said antibodies and antibody fragments. The present invention encompasses methods preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a prophylactically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject. The present invention also encompasses methods for treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with a RSV infection in a human, comprising administering to said human a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more RSV antigens, wherein a certain serum titer of said antibodies or antibody fragments is achieved in said human subject.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of conferring donor CDR binding affinity onto an antibody acceptor variable region framework. The method consists of: (a) constructing a population of altered antibody variable region encoding nucleic acids, said population comprising encoding nucleic acids for an acceptor variable region framework containing a plurality of different amino acids at one or more acceptor framework region amino acid positions and donor CDRs containing a plurality of different amino acids at one or more donor CDR amino acid positions; (b) expressing said population of altered variable region encoding nucleic acids, and (c) identifying one or more altered variable regions having binding affinity substantially the same or greater than the donor CDR variable region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of reengineering or reshaping antibodies to reduce the immunogenicity of the antibodies, while maintaining the immunospecificity of the antibodies for an antigen. In particular, the present invention provides methods of producing antibodies immunospecific for an antigen by synthesizing a combinatorial library comprising complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from a donor antibody fused in frame to framework regions from a sub-bank of framework regions. The present invention also provides antibodies produced by the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of re-engineering or re-shaping an antibody from a first species, wherein the re-engineered or re-shaped antibody does not elicit undesired immune response in a second species, and the re-engineered or re-shaped antibody retains substantially the same antigen binding-ability of the antibody from the first species. In accordance with the present invention, a combinatorial library comprising the CDRs of the antibody from the first species fused in frame with framework regions derived from a second species can be constructed and screened for the desired modified antibody. In particular, the present invention provides methods utilizing low homology acceptor antibody frameworks for efficiently humanizing an antibody or a fragment thereof. The present invention also provides antibodies produced by the methods of the invention.