Abstract: The invention provides a novel approach to increase immunoglobulin expression in non-human transgenic animals. For instance, the invention provides a method to increase humanized immunoglobulin production in animals genetically engineered to express one or several human or humanized immunoglobulin transloci. This can be done by overexpressing the apoptosis inhibitor, i.e. a rabbit bcl-2, whose expression is driven by a B-cell specific promoter specifically in the B-cell of the animal, thereby enhancing the survival of B-cells. This invention further relates to a method for selectively enhancing the survival of exogenous B-cells, that is B-cells expressing any immunoglobulin transgene locus, over the survival of endogenous B-cells that do not express the transgene locus. Selectivity is achieved by expressing the apoptosis-inhibitor only within exogenous B-cells, that is, by coupling exogenous immunoglobulin expression with apoptosis inhibitor expression.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and means to produce humanized antibodies from transgenic non-human animals. The invention specifically relates to novel immunoglobulin heavy and light chain constructs, recombination and transgenic vectors useful in making transgenic non-human animals expressing humanized antibodies, transgenic animals, and humanized immunoglobulin preparations.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and means to produce humanized antibodies from transgenic non-human animals. The invention specifically relates to novel immunoglobulin heavy and light chain constructs, recombination and transgenic vectors useful in making transgenic non-human animals expressing humanized antibodies, transgenic animals, and humanized immunoglobulin preparations.

Abstract: The invention provides anovel approach for the suppression of endogenous antibody expression in non-human transgenic animals genetically engineered to express one or several human or humanized immunoglobulin transloci. Endogenous immunoglobulin expression in transgenic non-human animals is suppressed by selective expression of a suicide gene like a toxin only in B-cells expressing endogenous immunoglobulin but not in B-cells expressing human(ized) immunoglobulins. This method allows the dominant expression of transloci coding for humanized or human antibodies in the blood, milk and eggs of transgenic animals.

Abstract: This invention relates to humanized antibodies and antibody preparations produced from transgenic non-human animals. The non-human animals are genetically engineered to contain one or more humanized immunoglobulin loci which are capable of undergoing gene rearrangement and gene conversion in the transgenic non-human animals to produce diversified humanized immunoglobulins. The present invention further relates to novel sequences, recombination vectors and transgenic vectors useful for making these transgenic animals. The humanized antibodies of the present invention have minimal immunogenicity to humans and are appropriate for use in the therapeutic treatment of human subjects.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel approach to increase immunoglobulin expression in non-human transgenic animals. For instance, the invention provides a method to increase humanized immunoglobulin production in animals genetically engineered to express one or several human or humanized immunoglobulin transloci. This can be done by overexpressing the apoptosis inhibitor, i.e. a rabbit bcl-2, whose expression is driven by a B-cell specific promoter specifically in the B-cell of the animal, thereby enhancing the survival of B-cells. This invention further relates to a method for selectively enhancing the survival of exogenous B-cells, that is B-cells expressing any immunoglobulin transgene locus, over the survival of endogenous B-cells that do not express the transgene locus. Selectivity is achieved by expressing the apoptosis-inhibitor only within exogenous B-cells, that is, by coupling exogenous immunoglobulin expression with apoptosis inhibitor expression.

Abstract: This invention relates to humanized antibodies and antibody preparations produced from transgenic non-human animals. The non-human animals are genetically engineered to contain one or more humanized immunoglobulin loci which are capable of undergoing gene rearrangement and gene conversion in the transgenic non-human animals to produce diversified humanized immunoglobulins. The present invention further relates to novel sequences, recombination vectors and transgenic vectors useful for making these transgenic animals. The humanized antibodies of the present invention have minimal immunogenicity to humans and are appropriate for use in the therapeutic treatment of human subjects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods to immunize/vaccinate or stimulate the immune system of animals, including humans, using vectors containing expression cassettes that encode for the DNA of one or more protein/peptide antigens and/or adjuvants, in particular, cytokines like GMCSF, Flt3L, interleukins, and the like, which can be encoded by DNA as well, also recombinase mediated integration. Adjuvants known to increase immune responses following DNA vaccination. In addition, the vectors contain one or more sites recognized by a recombinase/transposase, which catalyzes the insertion of the vector into the genome of transfected cells. Stable integration of the plasmid vector into the genome of transfected cells results in higher and longer-lasting expression of the encoded protein(s), and increases the immune response in the vaccinated animal. The present invention also relates to adjuvant compositions comprising the novel polypeptide, rabbit GMCSF, for boosting antibody production in rabbits.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel approach for the suppression of endogenous antibody expression in non-human transgenic animals genetically engineered to express one or several human or humanized immunoglobulin transloci. Endogenous immunoglobulin expression in transgenic non-human animals is suppressed by selective expression of a suicide gene like a toxin only in B-cells expressing endogenous immunoglobulin but not in B-cells expressing human(ized) immunoglobulins. This method allows the dominant expression of transloci coding for humanized or human antibodies in the blood, milk and eggs of transgenic animals.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and means to produce humanized antibodies from transgenic non-human animals. The invention specifically relates to novel immunoglobulin heavy and light chain constructs, recombination and transgenic vectors useful in making transgenic non-human animals expressing humanized antibodies, transgenic animals, and humanized immunoglobulin preparations.

Abstract: This invention relates to humanized antibodies and antibody preparations produced from transgenic non-human animals. The non-human animals are genetically engineered to contain one or more humanized immunoglobulin loci which are capable of undergoing gene rearrangement and gene conversion in the transgenic non-human animals to produce diversified humanized immunoglobulins. The present invention further relates to novel sequences, recombination vectors and transgenic vectors useful for making these transgenic animals. The humanized antibodies of the present invention have minimal immunogenicity to humans and are appropriate for use in the therapeutic treatment of human subjects.