Abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Intron A fragments for expressing gene products are disclosed. Also described are expression vectors including the fragments, as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: A chimney cap provides not only protective features of conventional chimney caps, but may also provide energy production. The chimney cap may include one or more wind turbines that may capture wind energy and, with associated generators, may convert the wind energy to electricity. The chimney cap may also include one or more solar panels which may capture solar energy and convert that energy into electricity. A control box may receive the electricity from the generators and the solar panels and may provide the energy to a home, business, a storage device, the electric grid, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, which specifically bind to BMP2, BMP4, BMPR1A, BMPR1B, ACTR1, and/or BMPR2 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the invention, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the invention are also provided. Also provided are immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the invention and, optionally, one or more additional therapeutic. The invention also provides methods for treating diseases associated with abnormal bone formation and ossification mediated by BMP2, BMP4, BMPR1A, BMPR1B, ACTR15 and/or BMPR2.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of eliciting antibodies and neutralizing of binding antibodies against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 or E2 antigen using HCV E2 or HCV E1E2 polypeptides and/or HCV E2 or E1E2 polynucleotides. Elicitation of anti-E2 antibodies and anti-E2 NOB antibodies can be used, inter alia, to provide model systems to optimize anti-E2 antibody responses and/or anti-E2 NOB antibody responses to HCV and to provide prophylactic or therapeutic treatment against HCV infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to LAG-3 with high affinity, particularly human monoclonal antibodies. Preferably, the antibodies bind human LAG-3. In certain embodiments, the antibodies bind both human and monkey LAG-3 but do not bind mouse LAG-3. The invention provides anti-LAG-3 antibodies that can inhibit the binding of LAG-3 to MHC Class II molecules and that can stimulate antigen- specific T cell responses. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the invention, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the invention are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the invention are also provided. This disclosure also provides methods for detecting LAG-3, as well as methods for treating stimulating immune responses using an anti-LAG-3 antibody of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient expression of HIV polypeptides in a variety of cell types, including, but not limited to, mammalian, insect, and plant cells. Synthetic expression cassettes encoding the HIV Gag-containing polypeptides are described, as are uses of the expression cassettes in applications including DNA immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of Env-, tat- or Gag-containing proteins. The invention provides methods of producing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), as well as, uses of the VLPs including, but not limited to, vehicles for the presentation of antigens and stimulation of immune response in subjects to whom the VLPs are administered.

Abstract: Polypeptides comprising a mutant non-structural Hepatitis C virus useful in diagnostic and/or immunogenic compositions are disclosed, in which the mutant is an N-terminal mutation that functionally disrupts the catalytic domain of NS3. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, host cells transformed with polynucleotides and methods of using the polypeptides and polynucleotides are also disclosed.

Abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Intron A fragments for expressing gene products are disclosed. Also described are expression vectors including the fragments, as well as methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to BTLA with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the disclosure, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the disclosure are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the disclosure are also provided. The disclosure also provides methods for detecting BTLA, as well as methods for treating various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases, using anti-BTLA antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient expression of HIV polypeptides in a variety of cell types, including, but not limited to, mammalian, insect, and plant cells. Synthetic expression cassettes encoding the HIV Gag-containing polypeptides are described, as are uses of the expression cassettes in applications including DNA immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of Env-, tat- or Gag-containing proteins. The invention provides methods of producing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), as well as, uses of the VLPs including, but not limited to, vehicles for the presentation of antigens and stimulation of immune response in subjects to whom the VLPs are administered.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of activating hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. HCV-specific T cells are activated using fusion proteins comprising HCV NS3, NS4, NS5a, and NS5b polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such fusion proteins, or polypeptide or polynucleotide compositions containing the individual components of these fusions. The method can be used in model systems to develop HCV-specific immunogenic compositions, as well as to immunize a mammal against HCV.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of activating hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. HCV-specific T cells are activated using fusion proteins comprising HCV NS3, NS4, NS5a, and NS5b polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such fusion proteins, or polypeptide or polynucleotide compositions containing the individual components of these fusions. The method can be used in model systems to develop HCV-specific immunogenic compositions, as well as to immunize a mammal against HCV.

Abstract: Polypeptides comprising a mutant non-structural Hepatitis C virus useful in diagnostic and/or immunogenic compositions are disclosed, in which the mutant is an N-terminal mutation that functionally disrupts the catalytic domain of NS3. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, host cells transformed with polynucleotides and methods of using the polypeptides and polynucleotides are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polypeptides comprising a mutant non-structural Hepatitis C virus useful in diagnostic and/or immunogenic compositions are disclosed, in which the mutant is an N-terminal mutation that functionally disrupts the catalytic domain of NS3. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, host cells transformed with polynucleotides and methods of using the polypeptides and polynucleotides are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient expression of HIV polypeptides in a variety of cell types, including, but not limited to, mammalian, insect, and plant cells. Synthetic expression cassettes encoding the HIV Gag-containing polypeptides are described, as are uses of the expression cassettes in applications including DNA immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of Env-, tat- or Gag-containing proteins. The invention provides methods of producing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), as well as, uses of the VLPs including, but not limited to, vehicles for the presentation of antigens and stimulation of immune response in subjects to whom the VLPs are administered.

Abstract: Chimeric antigens derived from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are described which form virus-like particles when co-expressed with an excess of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). The chimeric antigens are fusion proteins containing an immunogenic peptide derived from an HCV protein coupled to the amino terminus of HBsAg. Also described are nucleic acid constructs and vectors for transfection of cells and expression of the chimeric antigens. The invention further provides methods for producing HBV/HCV virus-like particles containing the chimeric antigens, cell lines for producing the virus-like particles, combination vaccines containing the virus-like particles, and DNA vaccines that express the virus-like particles.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining recombinantly produced, C-terminally truncated, E1 and E2 polypeptides from cell lysates are disclosed. The intracellularly expressed truncated molecules display improved biological properties as compared to their secreted counterparts.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of eliciting antibodies and neutralizing of binding antibodies against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 or E2 antigen using HCV E2 or HCV E1E2 polypeptides and/or HCV E2 or E1E2 polynucleotides. Elicitation of anti-E2 antibodies and anti-E2 NOB antibodies can be used, inter alia, to provide model systems to optimize anti-E2 antibody responses and/or anti-E2 NOB antibody responses to HCV and to provide prophylactic or therapeutic treatment against HCV infection.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of eliciting antibodies and neutralizing of binding antibodies against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 or E2 antigen using HCV E2 or HCV E1E2 polypeptides and/or HCV E2 or E1E2 polynucleotides. Elicitation of anti-E2 antibodies and anti-E2 NOB antibodies can be used, inter alia, to provide model systems to optimize anti-E2 antibody responses and/or anti-E2 NOB antibody responses to HCV and to provide prophylactic or therapeutic treatment against HCV infection.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of activating hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. HCV-specific T cells are activated using fusion proteins comprising HCV NS3, NS4, NS5a, and NS5b polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such fusion proteins, or polypeptide or polynucleotide compositions containing the individual components of these fusions. The method can be used in model systems to develop HCV-specific immunogenic compositions, as well as to immunize a mammal against HCV.