Abstract: The present invention demonstrated that soluble fibrin binds to both Mac-1 and ICAM-1-expressing cells and inhibited adherence of these cells and immune cytotoxicity, thus inducing immune suppression in cancer. Additionally, the present invention also demonstrated that soluble fibrin enhanced metastasis in an in vivo model. Furthermore, the present invention demonstrated the utility of specific peptides that block binding of soluble fibrin to these cells as therapeutic agents in cancer progression and metastasis. It is further contemplated that these peptides can also be used to treat other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis and in many inflammatory responses where there is increased levels of soluble fibrin.

Abstract: Clinical samples can be analyzed using microparticles to determine the serodiagnosis of a viral infection from two candidate viral infections of the same viral group. Serodiagnosis can be determined via a pooled population of subsets of microparticles, with the particles in the pooled population having a bound viral group-reactive antibody and the particles in each subset having at least one characteristic classification parameter that distinguishes between subsets. Viral antigens of antibodies of interest in the same viral-class as the viral group-reactive antibody can be bound to the viral group-reactive antibody on the microparticles, and subsequently exposed to a clinical sample. Binding and labeling can be used. Automated analysis of data from multiplexed flow analysis can determine the presence or absence of antibodies of interest in the sample, thereby diagnosing for two candidate viral infections in a single assay.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrated that soluble fibrin binds to both Mac-1 and ICAM-1-expressing cells and inhibited adherence of these cells and immune cytotoxicity, thus inducing immune suppression in cancer. Additionally, the present invention also demonstrated that soluble fibrin enhanced metastasis in an in vivo model. Furthermore, the present invention demonstrated the utility of specific peptides that block binding of soluble fibrin to these cells as therapeutic agents in cancer progression and metastasis. It is further contemplated that these peptides can also be used to treat other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis and in many inflammatory responses where there is increased levels of soluble fibrin.