Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated cytotoxic factor which is associated with multiple sclerosis and which is selected from the heterocomplex GM2AP/GM2/MRP14 and mutated GM2AP/GM2/MRP14, and to the method of detecting said factor in a biological sample to be tested. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: (i) bringing the biological sample into contact with at least one capture antibody selected from antibodies that bind specifically to the GM2AP protein, to the mutated GM2AP protein, to the MRP14 protein, to the complex GM2AP/GM2, to the complex mutated GM2AP/GM2 and to the complex MRP14/GM2, and with at least one labeled detection antibody selected from antibodies that bind specifically to the GM2AP protein, to the mutated GM2AP protein, to the MRP14 protein, to the complex GM2AP/GM2, to the complex mutated GM2AP/GM2 and to the complex MRP14/GM2, and (ii) detecting and/or quantifying the cytotoxic factor by detecting and/or quantifying the labeled detection antibody.

Abstract: The invention provides viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis for use in method of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of at least one polypeptide comprising a protein fragment to obtain a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating a pathological condition associated with a degenerative and/or neurological and/or autoimmune disease, said protein being selected among the proteins whereof the peptide sequence in native state corresponds to SEQ ID No 1, SEQ ID No 2, SEQ ID No 3, SEQ ID No 4, SEQ ID No 5, SEQ ID No 6, SEQ ID No 7, SEQ ID No 8, SEQ ID No 9, SEQ ID No 10, SEQ ID No 11, SEQ ID No 12, SEQ ID No 13, SEQ ID No 14, SEQ ID No 15, SEQ ID No 16, SEQ ID No 17, SEQ ID No 18, SEQ ID No 19, SEQ ID No 20, SEQ ID No 21, SEQ ID No 22, SEQ ID No 23, SEQ ID No 24, SEQ ID No 25, SEQ ID No 26, SEQ ID No 27, SEQ ID No 28, and SEQ ID No 29, and the peptide sequences having at least 70% identity, preferably at least 80% identity and advantageously at least 98% identity with any one of the peptide sequences SEQ ID No 1 to SEQ ID No 8 and SEQ ID No 1

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of at least one polypeptide comprising a protein fragment to obtain a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating a pathological condition associated with a degenerative and/or neurological and/or autoimmune disease, said protein being selected among the proteins whereof the peptide sequence in native state corresponds to SEQ ID No 1, SEQ ID No 2, SEQ ID No 3, SEQ ID No 4, SEQ ID No 5, SEQ ID No 6, SEQ ID No 7, SEQ ID No 8, SEQ ID No 9, SEQ ID No 10, SEQ ID No 11, SEQ ID No 12, SEQ ID No 13, SEQ ID No 14, SEQ ID No 15, SEQ ID No 16, SEQ ID No 17, SEQ ID No 18, SEQ ID No 19, SEQ ID No 20, SEQ ID No 21, SEQ ID No 22, SEQ ID No 23, SEQ ID No 24, SEQ ID No 25, SEQ ID No 26, SEQ ID No 27, SEQ ID No 28, and SEQ ID No 29, and the peptide sequences having at least 70% identity, preferably at least 80% identity and advantageously at least 98% identity with any one of the peptide sequences SEQ ID No 1 to SEQ ID No 8 and SEQ ID No 1

Abstract: Multiple sclerosis or a condition associated with multiple sclerosis is detected by detecting an amount of lymphocytes bearing a V?16, V?17 or V?7 determinant and calculating an amount of expansion or loss of these lymphocytes.

Abstract: A process for detecting the forms of the prion pathogens responsible for subacute, transmissible, spongiform encephalopathies, including a macrocyclic adjuvant ligand (AML), free or bound to a support, that is added to a biological sample capable of containing PrPsc, the resulting suspension then being reacted with an anti-PrPsc antibody, and the presence of PrP is then detected.

Abstract: A process of concentration by precipitation of PrPsc for detecting or diagnosing PrPsc, wherein a tissue or biological fluid stemming from or obtained from an animal or human organism is brought together with an antibiotic from the family of aminoglycosides, preferably streptomycin or one of its derivatives. The use of such an antibiotic for eliminating PrPsc from a tissue or biological fluid and a kit for diagnosing pathologies associated with the presence of PrPsc is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a genomic retroviral nucleic material, in an isolated or purified state, at least partially functional or non-functional, wherein the genome comprises a reference nucleotide sequence selected from the group including sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, their complementary sequences, and their equivalent sequences, in particular, nucleotide sequences having, for every series of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 70% and preferably at least 90% homology with the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15. The invention also concerns the application of this material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleotide fragment of a LTR-RU5 region comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes the expression of a protein, wherein said protein comprises a peptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, and a complementary nucleotide fragment; a probe and a primer hybridizing with said fragment; a protein encoded by said fragment; an antibody directed against said protein; and a process for detecting the presence of MSRV-1 retrovirus using a probe or an antibody of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis for use in methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy.

Abstract: Viral material, in the isolated or purified state, in which the genome comprises a nucleotide sequence chosen from the group including sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, their complementary sequences and their equivalent sequences, in particular nucleotide sequences displaying, for any succession of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 50% and preferably at least 70% homology with the said sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, respectively, and their complementary sequences.

Abstract: The invention provides viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis for use in methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy.

Abstract: Viral material, in the isolated or purified state, in which the genome comprises a nucleotide sequence chosen from the group including sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, their complementary sequences and their equivalent sequences, in particular nucleotide sequences displaying, for any succession of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 50% and preferably at least 70% homology with the said sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, respectively, and their complementary sequences.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polypeptide specifically reacting with the antibodies of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (SEP) and whereof the peptide sequence comprises at least one sequence selected among SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID NO: 19, and their equivalent sequences, and the use of this polypeptide in a reagent and a kit for detecting multiple sclerosis, an immunoreactive composition and in a method for fixing, in a biological sample, antibodies characteristic and/or specific of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: The invention provides viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis for use in methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy.

Abstract: Composition comprising two pathogenic and/or infective agents associated with multiple sclerosis, namely a first agent which consists of a human virus possessing reverse transcriptase activity and related to a family of endogenous retroviral elements, or a variant of said virus, and a second agent, or a variant of said second agent, these two pathogenic and/or infective agents originating from the same viral strain chosen from the strains designated, respectively, POL-2 deposited with the ECACC on Jul. 22 1992 under Accession Number V92072202 and MS7PG deposited with the ECACC on Jan. 8 1993 under Accession Number V93010816, and from their variant strains.

Abstract: Process for in vitro production of a culture or cell line infected by a viral strain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to which a body sample is taken from an individual suffering from MS, the sample is cultivated in a culture medium which promotes the growth of infected cells to obtain a culture of primary infected cells, and a sample of the culture of primary cells or of a subculture of the latter is cultivated in series, that is to say by successive passages, in the culture medium to obtain the culture or cell line infected by a virus associated with MS. The process includes a procedure in which the culture medium also contains a beta anti-interferon antibody or an antibody which is directed against an antigenically close molecule, the antibody playing an inhibiting role in viral expression and allowing long-lasting expression and propagation of the viral strain in the culture or cell line.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for detecting and/or quantifying, in a biological sample, a cytotoxic factor, in particular a gliotoxic factor, with respect to adherent target cells, in particular macroglial cells, the toxicity of which causes the death by apoptosis of said cells. The method comprises providing an initial fraction of the sample, optionally enriched with the toxic factor by previous treatment, incubating the initial toxic factor with a reference culture medium comprising adherent target cells, and detecting and/or quantifying in the adherent target cells killed by apoptosis, by flow cytometry, at least one direct or indirect characteristic associated with the apoptotic adherent cells of the whole or part of the incubated medium, which, if it is present and/or is quantified, qualifies the sample as positive, i.e. as containing said toxic factor. The initial biological sample is preferably a urine specimen.

Abstract: Composition comprising two pathogenic and/or infective agents associated with multiple sclerosis, namely a first agent which consists of a human virus possessing reverse transcriptase activity and related to a family of endogenous retroviral elements, or a variant of said virus, and a second agent, or a variant of said second agent, these two pathogenic and/or infective agents originating from the same viral strain chosen from the strains designated, respectively, POL-2 deposited with the ECACC on Jul. 22, 1992 under Accession Number V92072202 and MS7PG deposited with the ECACC on Jan. 8, 1993 under Accession Number V93010816, and from their variant strains.

Abstract: In a process for the in vitro production of a culture or cell line infected by a viral strain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a body sample is taken from an individual suffering from MS. The sample is cultivated in a culture medium that promotes the growth of infected cells to obtain a culture of primary infected cells. A sample of the culture of primary cells or a subculture of the latter is cultivated in series, by successive passages in the culture medium to obtain the culture or cell line infected by a virus associated with MS. The culture medium also contains a beta-interferon antibody or an antibody that is directed against an antigenically close molecule, the antibody playing an inhibiting role in viral expression and allowing long-lasting expression and propagation of the viral strain in the culture or cell line.