Abstract: The invention relates in certain embodiments to a method for generating dendritic cells by employing temperatures below 37° C. during the development of progenitor cells and immature dendritic cells. In some embodiments the invention relates to populations of dendritic cells and its use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inducing an immune response in a human or animal, comprising dendritic cells loaded with at least five cancer/testis antigen and no lineage specific differentiation antigens or substantially no lineage specific differentiation antigens provided from at least one cancer cell line, as well as to isolated cell lines expressing a multiplicity of cancer testis antigens and no differentiation antigens, and to a method of inducing an immune response in a human or animal using the composition of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inducing an immune response in a human or animal, comprising dendritic cells loaded with at least five cancer/testis antigen and no lineage specific differentiation antigens or substantially no lineage specific differentiation antigens provided from at least one cancer cell line, as well as to isolated cell lines expressing a multiplicity of cancer testis antigens and no differentiation antigens, and to a method of inducing an immune response in a human or animal using the composition of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates in certain embodiments to a method for generating dendritic cells by employing temperatures below 37° C. during the development of progenitor cells and immature dendritic cells. In some embodiments the invention relates to populations of dendritic cells and its use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inducing an immune response in a human or animal, comprising dendritic cells loaded with at least five cancer/testis antigen and no lineage specific differentiation antigens or substantially no lineage specific differentiation antigens provided from at least one cancer cell line, as well as to isolated cell lines expressing a multiplicity of cancer testis antigens and no differentiation antigens, and to a method of inducing an immune response in a human or animal using the composition of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inducing an immune response in a human or animal, comprising dendritic cells loaded with at least five cancer/testis antigen and no lineage specific differentiation antigens or substantially no lineage specific differentiation antigens provided from at least one cancer cell line, as well as to isolated cell lines expressing a multiplicity of cancer testis antigens and no differentiation antigens, and to a method of inducing an immune response in a human or animal using the composition of the invention.

Abstract: A method for detecting prior exposure of an individual mammal's immune system to an antigen associated with a pathological process comprises exposing T-cells to a complex antigen mixture, and detecting a pre-existing T-cell specificity for an unknown antigen in said complex antigen mixture. Labelled T-cells are then used to image the site of the pathology and T-cells conjugated to a cytotoxic agent or precursor are used to treat the pathology.

Abstract: The concentration of glycated hemoglobin, HbA.sub.1c, in hemoglobin from diabetic patients is regarded as a useful means of assessing the adequacy of diabetes control. This invention comprises a monoclonal antibody which, due to its specific binding of HbA.sub.1c, can be used for the determination of HbA.sub.1c in the absence of prior denaturation, in blood samples by such analytical methods as radioimmuno assay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The invention also comprises hybridoma cell lines which produce monoclonal antibodies of the invention.

Abstract: Substantially pure modified .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin (m.beta..sub.2 m) of the formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is 24-amino acid residue, with the sequence Ile-Gln-Arg-Thr-Pro-Lys-Ile-Gln-Val-Tyr-Ser-Arg-His-Pro-Ala-Glu-Asn-Gly-Ly s-Ser-Asn-Phe-Leu-Asn, R.sub.2 is a 30-amino acid residue with the sequence Tyr-Val-Ser-Gly-Phe-His-Pro-Ser-Asp-Ile-Glu-Val-Asp-Leu-Leu-Lys-Asn-Gly-Gl u-Arg-Ile-Gly-Lys-Val-Glu-His-Ser-Asp-Leu-Ser, R.sub.3 is a 20-amino acid residue with the sequence Trp-Ser-Phe-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Tyr-Glu-Phe-Thr-Pro-Thr-Glu-Lys-Asp-Glu-Tyr-Al a, R.sub.4 is a 19-amino acid residue with the sequence Arg-Val-Asn-His-Val-Thr-Leu-Ser-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ile-Val-Lys-Trp-Asp-Arg-Asp-Me t, X is Phe, Phe-Ser, or Phe-Ser-Lys, and Y is Asp, Lys-Asp, or Ser-Lys-Asp is disclosed. The presence of the protein in body fluids is a diagnostic and/or prognostic marker for the development of a variety of disorders such as different types of cancer and diseases involving the immune system. Also disclosed are specific anti-m.

Abstract: Substantially pure modified .beta..sub.2 -microglobulin (m.beta..sub.2 m) of the formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is 24-amino acid residue, with the sequence Ile-Gln-Arg-Thr-Pro-Lys-Ile-Gln-Val-Tyr-Ser-Arg-His-Pro-Ala-Glu-Asn-Gly-Ly s-Ser-Asn-Phe-Leu-Asn, R.sub.2 is a 30-amino acid residue with the sequence Tyr-Val-Ser-Gly-Phe-His-Pro-Ser-Asp-Ile-Glu-Val-Asp-Leu-Leu-Lys-Asn-Gly-Gl u-Arg-Ile-Gly-Lys-Val-Glu-His-Ser-Asp-Leu-Ser, R.sub.3 is a 20-amino acid residue with the sequence Trp-Ser-Phe-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Tyr-Glu-Phe-Thr-Pro-Thr-Glu-Lys-Asp-Glu-Tyr-Al a, R.sub.4 is a 19-amino acid residue with the sequence Arg-Val-Asn-His-Val-Thr-Leu-Ser-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ile-Val-Lys-Trp-Asp-Arg-Asp-Me t, X is Phe, Phe-Ser, or Phe-Ser-Lys, and Y is Asp, Lys-Asp, or Ser-Lys-Asp is disclosed. The presence of the protein in body fluids is a diagnostic and/or prognostic marker for the development of a variety of disorders such as different types of cancer and diseases involving the immune system. Also disclosed are specific anti-m.

Abstract: Peptides of the formula R.sup.1 -His-Asp-Glu-Ala-R wherein R.sup.1 is Ala-Gln, and R is a polypeptide residue with up to 50 amino acid residues, and wherein one, more or all of the amino acid residues in R.sup.1 and/or R independently may be omitted, can be used to augment cell mediated cytotoxicity and thereby to treat cancers and viral infections. These peptides may be prepared by proteolytic digestion of Staphylococcus aureus protein A, as well as by protein synthesis, recombinant DNA methods or any other methods known in the art.