Abstract: The present invention relates to a birnavirus for use in the treatment of a disease caused by a nidovirus. Further, the present invention relates to a combination comprising at least one birnavirus and at least one further active agent for use in the treatment of a disease caused by a nidovirus. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the birnavirus or the combination for use in the treatment of a disease caused by a nidovirus.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an antigen from a pathogen or a disease antigen comprising the use of an adenoviral vector array comprising two or more different adenoviral vectors, wherein each adenoviral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a different antigen of a pathogen. The adenoviral vectors are administered to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vitro or to an animal in vivo. The immunogenicity of the antigen is measured by screening for an immune response from effector T lymphocytes in vitro and by screening for the absence of pathogen-induced disease onset in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an antigen from a pathogen or a disease antigen comprising the use of an adenoviral vector array comprising two or more different adenoviral vectors, wherein each adenoviral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a different antigen of a pathogen. The adenoviral vectors are administered to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vitro or to an animal in vivo. The immunogenicity of the antigen is measured by screening for an immune response from effector T lymphocytes in vitro and by screening for the absence of pathogen-induced disease onset in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an antigen from a pathogen or a disease antigen comprising the use of an adenoviral vector array comprising two or more different adenoviral vectors, wherein each adenoviral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a different antigen of a pathogen. The adenoviral vectors are administered to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vitro or to an animal in vivo. The immunogenicity of the antigen is measured by screening for an immune response from effector T lymphocytes in vitro and by screening for the absence of pathogen-induced disease onset in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of targeting T-cells to tumor cells using a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) specific antibody and a T-cell specific antibody, wherein the two antibodies can bind to each other through a high affinity avidin/biotin or streptavidin/biotin connection. The invention further provides methods to target activated T-cells to different tumor types by using a T-cell specific antibody that is specific to an activated T-cell surface molecule like CTLA-4.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an antigen from a pathogen or a disease antigen comprising the use of an adenoviral vector array comprising two or more different adenoviral vectors, wherein each adenoviral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a different antigen of a pathogen. The adenoviral vectors are administered to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vitro or to an animal in vivo. The immunogenicity of the antigen is measured by screening for an immune response from effector T lymphocytes in vitro and by screening for the absence of pathogen-induced disease onset in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of targeting T-cells to tumor cells using a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) specific antibody and a T-cell specific antibody, wherein the two antibodies can bind to each other through a high affinity avidin/biotin or streptavidin/biotin connection. The invention further provides methods to target activated T-cells to different tumor types by using a T-cell specific antibody that is specific to an activated T-cell surface molecule like CTLA-4.

Abstract: The invention provides adenoviral vectors comprising an adenoviral genome comprising heterologous antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences, such as Plasmodium nucleic acid sequences, operably linked to promoters. The invention further provides a method of inducing an immune response against malaria in a mammal comprising administering the adenoviral vectors to the mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an antigen from a pathogen or a disease antigen comprising the use of an adenoviral vector array comprising two or more different adenoviral vectors, wherein each adenoviral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a different antigen of a pathogen. The adenoviral vectors are administered to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vitro or to an animal in vivo. The immunogenicity of the antigen is measured by screening for an immune response from effector T lymphocytes in vitro and by screening for the absence of pathogen-induced disease onset in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apathogenic viral strain useful in the treatment of viral hepatitis infections. The preferred viral strain of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) is specifically characterized in terms of structure and biological activities. The invention also provides recombinant IBDV viral vectors for the inclusion of exogenous nucleic acid sequences enhancing the viral replication inhibitory effect of the virus of the invention. Preferably, the viral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine. A method of treating viral hepatitis in a host comprising administering an anti-hepatitis effective amount of the IBDV strain of the present invention also provided.

Abstract: This invention pertains to tropism-modified adenoviral vectors optimized for antigen delivery that induced both humoral and cellular immune responses, as well as a method of constructing and using such vectors. The vectors of the present invention may incorporate an epitope or an antigen into a capsid protein. Methods for treating of a host with an effective amount of adenovirus vector of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an antigen from a pathogen or a disease antigen comprising the use of an adenoviral vector array comprising two or more different adenoviral vectors, wherein each adenoviral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a different antigen of a pathogen. The adenoviral vectors are administered to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in vitro or to an animal in vivo. The immunogenicity of the antigen is measured by screening for an immune response from effector T lymphocytes in vitro and by screening for the absence of pathogen-induced disease onset in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apathogenic viral strain useful in the treatment of viral hepatitis infections. The preferred viral strain of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) is specifically characterized in terms of structure and biological activities. The invention also provides recombinant IBDV viral vectors for the inclusion of exogenous nucleic acid sequences enhancing the viral replication inhibitory effect of the virus of the invention. Preferably, the viral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cytokine. A method of treating viral hepatitis in a host comprising administering an anti-hepatitis effective amount of the IBDV strain of the present invention also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel cell line for adenovirus (Ad) and protein production that does not eliminate the overlap between the cell-line and vector sequences, but represses undesirable homologous recombination events or their effects by the use of a large non-homologous spacer element(s).

Abstract: The invention provides adenoviral vectors comprising an adenoviral genome comprising heterologous antigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences, such as Plasmodium nucleic acid sequences, operably linked to promoters. The invention further provides a method of inducing an immune response against malaria in a mammal comprising administering the adenoviral vectors to the mammal.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of delivering a gene product to an animal. The method comprises administering an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence operably linked to a promoter and encoding a gene product, and upregulating transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in the ocular cell. The expression vector can be an adenoviral vector. The invention further provides a method of prophylactically or therapeutically treating an animal for at least one ocular-related disorder. The method comprises contacting an ocular cell with an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an inhibitor of angiogenesis and/or a neurotrophic agent. In one aspect, the method further comprises upregulating transcription of the nucleic acid sequence. Preferably, if 2×108 adenoviral particles of the inventive method are administered to a mouse, the level of expression of the nucleic acid sequence is not diminished more than ten-fold at 28 days post-administration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of prophylactically or therapeutically treating an animal for at least one ocular-related disorder, e.g., ocular neovascularization or age-related macular degeneration. The method comprises contacting an ocular cell with an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an inhibitor of angiogenesis and the same or different nucleic acid sequence encoding a neurotrophic agent. The method also can comprise contacting an ocular cell with different expression vectors, each comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an inhibitor of angiogenesis and/or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a neurotrophic agent. In addition, the present invention provides a viral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) or a therapeutic fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses replication deficient or a replication competent adenoviral vectors which may comprise moieties covering and shielding the vector from the effects of humoral immune responses, as well as a method of constructing and using such vectors. The preferred viral constructs may incorporate the shielding moieties into the pIX coat protein of the adenovirus vectors. The invention also provides recombinant viral vectors with both shielding and specific targeting abilities. Preferably, the viral vector may comprise a nucleic acid sequence, which codes for therapeutically important genes. Methods for treating of a host with an effective amount of adenovirus vector of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of prophylactically or therapeutically treating an animal for at least one ocular-related disorder, e.g., ocular neovascularization or age-related macular degeneration. The method comprises contacting an ocular cell with an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an inhibitor of angiogenesis and the same or different nucleic acid sequence encoding a neurotrophic agent. The method also can comprise contacting an ocular cell with different expression vectors, each comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an inhibitor of angiogenesis and/or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a neurotrophic agent. In addition, the present invention provides a viral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) or a therapeutic fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides multiply deficient adenoviral vectors and complementing cell lines. Also provided are recombinants of the multiply deficient adenoviral vectors and a therapeutic method, particularly relating to gene therapy, vaccination, and the like, involving the use of such recombinants.