Abstract: A method for preparing a PRP conjugate having high storage stability and a method for producing a Hib conjugate vaccine are provided. A method for preparing PRP conjugate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention is characterized by that the release of PRPs after preparing the PRP conjugate is suppressed by using PRP with a lowered molecular weight than native PRP for a coupling reaction between PRP and a carrier protein. Also, a Hib conjugate vaccine comprising as an antigen the PRP conjugate prepared by said method has excellent storage stability and maintain sufficient immunogenicity.

Abstract: A method for preparing a PRP conjugate having high storage stability and a method for producing a Hib conjugate vaccine are provided. A method for preparing PRP conjugate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention is characterized by that the release of PRPs after preparing the PRP conjugate is suppressed by using PRP with a lowered molecular weight than native PRP for a coupling reaction between PRP and a carrier protein. Also, a Hib conjugate vaccine comprising as an antigen the PRP conjugate prepared by said method has excellent storage stability and maintain sufficient immunogenicity.

Abstract: A chimeric protein of HPV-L2 peptide and HBs protein wherein the HPV-L2 peptide is (1) a peptide consisting of the core sequence region of 20 amino acid residues, (2) a peptide inside the core sequence region comprising 6 amino acid residues Gly-Gly-Leu-Gly-Ile-Gly or (3) a peptide consisting of 70 or less amino acid residues obtained by adding an amino acid sequence derived from HPV L2 protein at the N-terminal and/or the C-terminal of the core sequence region; and a vaccine for HPV infection and/or hepatitis B comprising the chimeric protein as an active ingredient. A vaccine comprising the chimeric protein of the present invention is the one that has an increased expression level in a host, an enhanced immune ability (early antibody induction) and a broader spectrum effective for a number of HPV types.

Abstract: A genetic recombinant human thrombin is provided. Human thrombin is efficiently prepared by the genetic engineering technique comprising the steps: (1) culturing a transfectant animal cell transfected with an expression vector in which a gene encoding human prethrombin is incorporated to the downstream of a promoter so as to produce and accumulate prethrombin in culture supernatant and recovering the produced human prethrombin; (2) treating a solution containing human prethrombin recovered in step (1) with ecarin so as to convert human prethrombin into human thrombin; and (3) purifying the solution obtained after the above activation process to obtain purified human thrombin. The present invention allows for provision of human thrombin in a large scale in a safe and economical manner due to exclusion of blood-derived components.

Abstract: A recombinant ecarin protein that specifically activates prothrombin, said protein being efficiently prepared by the genetic engineering technique comprising the steps: (1) culturing a transformant microorganism or animal cell transformed with an expression vector in which a gene encoding ecarin is incorporated to the downstream of a promoter so as to produce and accumulate ecarin in culture supernatant or within said transformant and recovering the produced ecarin; and (2) purifying a solution containing the recovered ecarin to obtain purified ecarin. The present invention allows for production of recombinant ecarin on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A recombinant ecarin protein that specifically activates prothrombin, said protein being efficiently prepared by the genetic engineering technique comprising the steps: (1) culturing a transformant microorganism or animal cell transformed with an expression vector in which a gene encoding ecarin is incorporated to the downstream of a promoter so as to produce and accumulate ecarin in culture supernatant or within said transformant and recovering the produced ecarin; and (2) purifying a solution containing the recovered ecarin to obtain purified ecarin. The present invention allows for production of recombinant ecarin on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A genetic recombinant human thrombin is provided. Human thrombin is efficiently prepared by the genetic engineering technique comprising the steps: (1) culturing a transfectant animal cell transfected with an expression vector in which a gene encoding human prethrombin is incorporated to the downstream of a promoter so as to produce and accumulate prethrombin in culture supernatant and recovering the produced human prethrombin; (2) treating a solution containing human prethrombin recovered in step (1) with ecarin so as to convert human prethrombin into human thrombin; and (3) purifying the solution obtained after the above activation process to obtain purified human thrombin. The present invention allows for provision of human thrombin in a large scale in a safe and economical manner due to exclusion of blood-derived components.

Abstract: An expression vector for the expression of an exogenous gene in an animal cell, which contains a chick .beta.-actin gene promoter and a restriction enzyme site for incorporating an exogenous gene at the downstream of said promoter and a process for expressing an exogenous gene, which comprises incorporating said exogenous gene into the expression vector at the restriction enzyme site for incorporating the exogenous gene, introducing said vector into an animal cell and culturing the obtained transformed animal cell. The expression system of the present invention can be applied to an expression of any exogenous gene and has an extremely high expression efficiency and is applicable to a wide range of host cells, and hence can sufficiently be utilized for industrial-scale production of a useful material.

Abstract: An expression vector for the expression of an exogenous gene in an animal cell, which contains a chick .beta.-actin gene promoter and a restriction enzyme site for incorporating an exogenous gene at the downstream of said promoter and a process for expressing an exogenous gene, which comprises incorporating said exogenous gene into the expression vector at the restriction enzyme site for incorporating the exogenous gene, introducing said vector into an animal cell and culturing the obtained transformed animal cell. The expression system of the present invention can be applied to an expression of any exogenous gene and has an extremely high expression efficiency and is applicable to a wide range of host cells, and hence can sufficiently be utilized for industrial-scale production of a useful material.

Abstract: A plasmid for expression of human coagulation factor VIII H-chain, a plasmid for expression of human coagulation factor VIII L-chain, an animal cell transformed with either said H-chain expression plasmid or said L-chain expression plasmid or with both thereof, and a process for preparing a human coagulation factor VIII protein complex which comprises forming a transformed animal cell by introducing both said H-chain expression plasmid and said L-chain expression plasmid into said animal cell, culturing said cell to produce the human coagulation factor VIII protein complex in the culture medium and collecting the same. The process of the present invention allows for the production of a safe factor VIII at a high expression level applicable for the production of Factor VIII on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A miniature electrical contact terminal includes a shield jacket (3) having a contact support section (6), a shield braid crimping section (7), and an outer sheath crimping section (8); an insulator block (4) fitted in the contact support section and having a through hole (10) with an engaging recess (11); and a signal line contact (5) having an engaging hook (14a) for engagement with the engaging recess to hold the signal line contact in place with respect to the insulator block.

Abstract: A miniature electrical contact terminal (1) for a shielded cable having a central conductor includes a shield jacket (3) including a contact support section (6), a pair of opposed tool openings (10, 11), a shield braid crimping section (7) having crimping tabs for crimping a shield braid of the shielded cable, and an outer sheath crimping section (8) having crimping tabs for crimping an outer sheath of the shielded cable; an insulator block (4) fitted in the contact support section; and a signal line contact (5) having a closed barrel fitted through the insulator block such that a rear portion thereof is placed within the tool openings, whereby the rear portion of the closed barrel, the shield braid crimping section, and the outer sheath crimping section are crimped simultaneously to the central conductor, the shield braid, and the outer sheath of the shielded cable, respectively.

Abstract: A cable connecting machine which includes a base member (1); a first cable retainer (E) provided on said base member for holding a first cable in place; a second cable retainer (F) provided on said base member for holding a second cable on top of said first cable; a pair of cable pressure elements (28, 29) provided on said first cable retainer such that they are vertically adjustable; a lock device (G) provided on said base member for locking said second cable retainer; and an operation mechanism (H) provided on said base member for simultaneously releasing said lock device and said first and second cable retainers.