Abstract: The invention concerns a recombinant vector characterised in that it comprises a polynucleotide comprising a central initiation cis-active region (cPPT) and a termination cis-active region (CTS), said regions being of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, said vector further comprising a predetermined nucleotide sequence (transgene or nucleotide sequence of interest) and retranscription regulating, expressing and packaging signals of retroviral or retroviral-like origin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus, resulting from a sample collected in Hanoi (Vietnam), reference number 031589, nucleic acid molecules originating from the genome of same, proteins and peptides coded by said nucleic acid molecules and, more specifically, protein N and the applications thereof, for example, as diagnostic reagents and/or as a vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant cells as well as to methods for the generation of non-segmented negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses (NNV or mononegavirales) from cloned deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA), especially from measles virus and in particular from attenuated strains such as those approved for vaccination, in particular from the attenuated Schwarz measles virus and various recombinant Schwarz measles-based viruses expressing heterologous sequences. Such rescued viruses can be used, after amplification, as vaccines for immunization against measles and/or against the heterologous peptides or proteins expressed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns wild-strains of Chikungunya virus isolated from patients exhibiting severe forms of infection and stemming from a human arbovirosis epidemy. The present invention also concerns polypeptide sequences and fragment thereof derived from their genome, the polynucleotide encoding same and their use as diagnostic products, as vaccine and/or as immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: Methods of eliciting humoral responses, methods of immunization, and methods of vaccination using lentiviral vector are disclosed. Additionally, immunogenic compositions and vaccines for West Nile Virus are disclosed.

Abstract: Use of a recombinant lentiviral vector comprising a polynucleotide fragment encoding at least one protein of a virus of the family Flaviviridae or an immunogenic peptide of at least 8 amino acids of said protein, for preparing a pharmaceutical composition intended for the prevention and/or the treatment of a Flaviviridae infection in a sensitive species.

Abstract: An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognised by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hepatic cell line derived from wild-type mammalian liver tissue by culture methodology, the cells of the cell line being capable of differentiating into hepatocytes and bile duct cells. The present invention also relates to methods of producing such cells as well as to their applications in therapy and as an investigational tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid, vectors, viruses, and recombinant cells comprising triple-stranded structures, such as those resulting from central initiation and termination of HIV-1 reverse transcription at the center of HIV-1 linear DNA genomes. These triplex structures can act as a cis-determinant of HIV-1 DNA nuclear import, allowing infection of non-dividing target cells. In one aspect, the presence of the DNA triplex sequence in an HIV vector strongly stimulates gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides methods of using these triplex structures for making recombinant cells, as well as methods of using the recombinant cells to express proteins of interest both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus, resulting from a sample collected in Hanoi (Vietnam), reference number 031589, nucleic acid molecules originating from the genome of same, proteins and peptides coded by said nucleic acid molecules and, more specifically, protein N and the applications thereof, for example, as diagnostic reagents and/or as a vaccine.

Abstract: Methods of eliciting humoral responses, methods of immunization, and methods of vaccination using lentiviral vector are disclosed. Additionally, immunogenic compositions and vaccines for West Nile Virus are disclosed.

Abstract: An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognised by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

Abstract: The invention concerns a recombinant vector characterised in that it comprises a polynucleotide comprising a central initiation cis-active region (cPPT) and a termination cis-active region (CTS), said regions being of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, said vector further comprising a predetermined nucleotide sequence (transgene or nucleotide sequence of interest) and retranscription regulating, expressing and packaging signals of retroviral or retroviral-like origin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hepatic cell line derived from wild-type mammalian liver tissue by culture methodology, the cells of the cell line being capable of differentiating into hepatocytes and bile duct cells. The present invention also relates to methods of producing such cells as well as to their applications in therapy and as an investigational tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant vector characterized in that it comprises a polynucleotide comprising the cis-acting central initiation region (cPPT) and the cis-acting termination region (CTS), these regions being of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, said vector comprising in addition a defined nucleotide sequence (transgene or sequence of interest) and regulatory signals of retrotranscription, expression and encapsidation of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, wherein the composition is capable of inducing or of stimulating a cellmediated response for instance a CTL (Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes) response or a CD4 response, against one or several epitopes encoded by the transgene sequence present in the vector.

Abstract: A recombinant vector comprising a polynucleotide containing a cis-acting central initiation region (cPPT) and a cis-acting termination region (CTS) is disclosed. These regions are of retroviral or retroviral-like origin. The vector further comprises a defined nucleotide sequence (transgene or sequence of interest) and regulatory signals for reverse transcription, expression, and packaging, wherein the regulatory signals are of retroviral or retroviral-like origin. In some embodiments the vector is incorporated into compositions for therapeutic purposes. In other embodiments the vector is incorporated into immunogenic compositions, The vector is also useful for methods such as ex vivo transfection or ex vivo transduction of non-mitotic differentiated cells.

Abstract: The present ivention provides nucleic acid, vectors, viruses, and recombinant cells comprising triple-stranded structures, such as those resulting from central initiation and termination of HIV-1 reverse transcription at the center of HIV-1 linear DNA genomes. These triplex structures can act as a cis-determinant of HIV-1 DNA nuclear import, allowing infection of non-dividing target cells. In one aspect, the presence of the DNA triplex sequence in an HIV vector strongly stimulates gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also provides methods of using these triplex structures for making recombinant cells, as well as methods of using the recombinant cells to express proteins of interest both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro single cycle, recombinant virus assay (RVA) for determining inhibition of HIV replication by a protease inhibitor. The assay comprises transfecting a human epithelial cell line with amplified HIV protease sequences of an HIV virus; an HIV envelope defective molecular clone having a complete deletion of its protease coding sequence as well as two separate deletions in its env gene and a deletion of part of its gag gene; and a plasmid containing HIV envelope coding sequence under the control of a promoter for phenotypic complementation of the envelope defective molecular clone. The transfected cells are cultured in the presence of a protease inhibitor to produce a testable stock of infectious particles that can be used to infect indicator cells containing an indicator gene without amplification of the infectious particles prior to infecting the indicator cells. Accumulation of indicator gene product is a measure of inhibition of HIV replication by the protease inhibitor.

Abstract: An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognised by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro single cycle, recombinant virus assay (RVA) for determining inhibition of HIV replication by a protease inhibitor. The assay comprises transfecting a human epithelial cell line with amplified HIV protease sequences of an HIV virus; an HIV envelope defective molecular clone having a complete deletion of its protease coding sequence as well as two separate deletions in its env gene and a deletion of part of its gag gene; and a plasmid containing HIV envelope coding sequence under the control of a promoter for phenotypic complementation of the envelope defective molecular clone. The transfected cells are cultured in the presence of a protease inhibitor to produce a testable stock of infectious particles that can be used to infect indicator cells containing an indicator gene without amplification of the infectious particles prior to infecting the indicator cells. Accumulation of indicator gene product is a measure of inhibition of HIV replication by the protease inhibitor.