Abstract: A method for detecting anti-filaggrin-autoantibodies specific to rheumatoid arthritis in a biological sample, by providing a filaggrin with no citrulline residues (FNC) having an arginine residue or a filaggrin peptide with no citrulline residues (PFNC) having an arginine residue. Also provided are a citrulline-containing filaggrin (FC) having the peptide sequence of the FNC where some arginine residues have been converted to citrulline residues or a citrulline-containing peptide (PFC) having the peptide sequence of the PFNC, where at least one arginine residue has been converted to a citrulline residue. The sample is contacted with the FNC or PFNC and the FC or PFC, and the resulting immune complexes are detected and quantified, with a value XNC and XC, respectively. Anti-filaggrin-autoantibodies specific to rheumatoid arthritis are determined to be present in the biological sample if the value of XC is greater than the value of XNC.

Abstract: An oligopeptides comprising the following sequence Thr Gln Cys His Cys Gly Lys Cys (SEQ ID NO: 5) may be used as an antigenic compound capable of being recognized by anti-ovary antibodies and as an immunogenic compound capable of inducing the production of anti-ovary antibodies. In addition, the oligopeptides may be used to detect and/or quantify anti-ovary antibodies.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in ? helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in ? helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two ? helices, these two ? helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.

Abstract: The nucleotide sequence of Tc100, a gene encoding PTc100, a new Trypanosoma antigen, and the amino acid sequence of PTc100 are described. Tc100 and PTc100, or fragments thereof, modified or otherwise, can be used directly or indirectly for the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi, or for the monitoring of the infection generated by Trypanosoma cruzi, in man or in animals.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for diagnosing a prostate adenocarcinoma in a male human patient without performing a prostatic biopsy, using the PSA protein (prostate specific antigen) present in the patient's blood, serum, urine or seminal fluid that involves measuring the free PSA total level, i.e., cleaved and non-cleaved; measuring the level of all or part of the cleaved free PSA; calculating the proportion of cleaved free PSA relative to the total free PSA, non-cleaved free PSA to free PSA, and/or cleaved free PSA to any of non-cleaved free, total, or complexed PSA; and diagnosing that the patient suffers from a prostate adenocarcinoma when the ratio used is not more than a reference value or a benign pathology when the ratio used is higher than the reference value.

Abstract: The invention concerns an artificial antigen specifically identified by the anti-filaggrin autoantibodies present in the serum of patients suffering from rheumatoid polyarthritis, and consisting of one polypeptide comprising all or part of the sequence of one filaggrin unit or of a related molecule, in which an arginine radical has been substituted by a citrulline radical. The invention also concerns the use of this antigen for diagnosing rheumatoid polyarthritis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection and/or characterization of circulating tumour cells, in a biological sample from a patient suffering from solid cancer, which can release or secrete in vitro one or more tumour markers. The inventive method consists in: (i) depositing a known quantity of the aforementioned cells at the bottom of a culture surface to which at least one specific binding partner of the tumour marker(s) is fixed, (ii) cultivating said cells in conditions such that they release or secrete the aforementioned tumour markers which are immunocaptured at the bottom of the culture surface, (iii) eliminating the cells by washing, (iv) adding at least one specific labelled conjugate of said tumour markers, and (v) viewing the lablelling thus obtained.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting rheumatoid arthritis-specific autoantibodies, in a biological sample suspected of containing said autoantibodies and other autoantibodies not specific of rheumatoid arthritis, comprising the following steps: providing filaggrin (FNC) or a citrulline-containing filaggrin derivative (FNC) or a filaggrin peptide (PFNC) comprising at least an arginine residue and said citrulline-containing filaggrin (FC) or said citrulline-containing filaggrin derivative (FC) or said citrulline-containing peptide (PFC); contacting said biological sample with said filaggrin (FNC) or said filaggrin derivative (FNC) or said peptide (PFNC) and said filaggrin (FC) or said filaggrin derivative (FC) or said peptide (PFC) in conditions suitable for the formation of immune complexes with the autoantibodies; detecting and quantifying the immune complexes formed between the autoantibodies or the other antibodies present in the sample and said filaggrin (FNC) or said filaggrin derivative (FNC) or

Abstract: An oligopeptides comprising the following sequence Thr Gln Cys His Cys Gly Lys Cys (SEQ ID NO: 5) may be used as an antigenic compound capable of being recognized by anti-ovary antibodies and as an immunogenic compound capable of inducing the production of anti-ovary antibodies. In addition, the oligopeptides may be used to detect and/or quantify anti-ovary antibodies.

Abstract: Oligopeptides containing one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-5 may be used as antigenic compounds to recognize anti-ovary antibodies. The oligopeptides may also be used as immunogenic compounds to induce the production of anti-ovary antibodies.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in &agr; helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in &agr; helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two &agr; helices, these two &agr; helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a structural peptide, identified by antibodies directed against a polypeptide, comprising the 2-45 amino acid sequence of the N-terminal end of the Core or nucleocapsid (p21) protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), excluding any protein or peptide compound comprising or consisting of the N-terminal end. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a tertiary structure consisting of at least a first peptide fragment having a secondary structure in &agr; helix, a second peptide fragment having secondary structure in &agr; helix and a third peptide bond fragment linking the two &agr; helices, these two &agr; helices being substantially perpendicular to each other in space. This peptide can be used for detecting antibodies directed against the p21 protein of HCV, for detecting all of part of the RNA of HCV and for preparing a diagnostic, prophylactic or therapeutic composition for detecting, preventing or treating an HCV infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent for the detection or monitoring of a Toxoplasma gondii infection, which includes as a reactive substance a truncated Toxoplasma gondii P30 protein in which all of the hydrophobic C-terminal region of the native protein starting with the amino acid positioned after the amino acid 299 (SEQ ID NO: 1) has been deleted and all of the region of the native protein having the sequence starting with amino acid 31 and ending with the amino acid 299 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is contained.

Abstract: The nucleotide sequence of Tc100, a gene encoding a new antigenic protein from Trypanosoma cruzi called PTc100, is disclosed. The amino acid sequence of the PTc100 protein is also disclosed, along with the amino acid sequence of the dominant antigenic epitope of the PTc100 protein. The PTc100 protein and Tc100 gene, or a fragment thereof, modified or otherwise, can be used directly or indirectly for the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi, or for the monitoring of an infection generated by T. cruzi in man or animals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reagent for the detection or monitoring of a Toxoplasma gondii infection, which includes as a reactive substance a truncated Toxoplasma gondii P30 protein in which all of the hydrophobic C-terminal region of the native protein starting with the amino acid positioned after the amino acid 299 (SEQ ID NO: 1) has been deleted and all of the region of the native protein having the sequence starting with amino acid 31 and ending with the amino acid 299 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is contained. The present invention further describes methods of screening for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in a biological sample.

Abstract: The nucleotide sequence of Tc100, a gene encoding PTc100, a new Trypanosoma antigen, and the amino acid sequence of PTc100 are described. Tc100 and PTc100, or fragments thereof, modified or otherwise, can be used directly or indirectly for the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi, or for the monitoring of the infection generated by Trypanosoma cruzi, in man or in animals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new Trypanosoma cruzi antigen, called PTc100, and to a code gene ?sic! encoding the latter, called Tc100.According to the invention, the nucleotide sequences of Tc100 and the amino acid sequences of PTc100 were determined and described.PTc100 and Tc100, or fragments thereof, modified or otherwise, can be used directly or indirectly for the detection of Trypanosoma cruzi, or for the monitoring of the infection generated by the latter, in man or in animals.

Abstract: Peptide fragment of M protein of S. pyrogenes elecit opsonic antibodies which are type-specific for type 24 streptococci.