Abstract: The present invention relates to a host cell, which comprises under the control of a heterologous promoter a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing a polysaccharide consisting of a dimeric repeating unit as well as to a vaccine composition comprising such host cell. Furthermore, either such host cell or a polypeptide expressed by such host cell is used for the production of a polysaccharide consisting of a dimeric repeating unit which may be used as a glycoconjugate vaccine.

Abstract: The invention provides an analytical method for detecting bladder cancer by analysing a urine sample for presence of a glycan tumour antigen, the presence of which has been identified to indicate bladder cancer. The analytical method has the advantage that the tumour antigen can be analysed in a urine sample and has a high accuracy for indicating presence of cancer in the urinary tract, especially bladder cancer, e.g. the method has a low rate of false positive results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polysialic acid according to the general formula (1) as given as follows and derivatives thereof: (?(2?8)Neu5Ac)n, with n being an integer in the range from 6 to 13, for use in the prevention or treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient said polysialic acid and/or derivatives and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of producing said polysialic acid and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides manipulated adenovirus, i.e. a viral particle based on a manipulated adenovirus, for use as a medicament, especially for use in the treatment of tumours. The viral particle of the invention has the advantage of having a preference or specificity for tumour cells, yielding a preferred infection of tumour cells. The viral particle is based on adenovirus, especially type C, preferably serotype 2 (Ad2), more preferably serotype 5 (Ad5), in which the native entire fiber protein, and its coding sequence, respectively, is deleted and replaced by a fusion protein providing specificity for cell surface bound polysialic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a host cell, which comprises under the control of a heterologous promoter a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of synthesizing a polysaccharide consisting of a dimeric repeating unit as well as to a vaccine composition comprising such host cell. Furthermore, either such host cell or a polypeptide expressed by such host cell is used for the production of a polysaccharide consisting of a dimeric repeating unit which may be used as a glycoconjugate vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to in vitro methods for producing Neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharides which have a defined length. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one capsule polymerase, at least one donor carbohydrate and at least one acceptor carbohydrate, wherein the ratio of donor carbohydrate to acceptor carbohydrate is a ratio from 10:1 to 400:1. Moreover, the present invention provides truncated versions of the capsule polymerases of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A and X. Also provided herein are pharmaceuticals, in particular vaccines, comprising the synthetic capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis which have a defined length. Furthermore, the invention provides for methods for the production of said vaccines.

Abstract: The invention provides manipulated adenovirus, i.e. a viral particle based on a manipulated adenovirus, for use as a medicament, especially for use in the treatment of tumours. The viral particle of the invention has the advantage of having a preference or specificity for tumour cells, yielding a preferred infection of tumour cells. The viral particle is based on adenovirus, especially type C, preferably serotype 2 (Ad2), more preferably serotype 5 (Ad5), in which the native entire fiber protein, and its coding sequence, respectively, is deleted and replaced by a fusion protein providing specificity for cell surface bound polysialic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to in vitro methods for producing Neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharides which have a defined length. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one capsule polymerase, at least one donor carbohydrate and at least one acceptor carbohydrate, wherein the ratio of donor carbohydrate to acceptor carbohydrate is a ratio from 10:1 to 400:1. Moreover, the present invention provides truncated versions of the capsule polymerases of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A and X. Also provided herein are pharmaceuticals, in particular vaccines, comprising the synthetic capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis which have a defined length. Furthermore, the invention provides for methods for the production of said vaccines.

Abstract: The invention provides for an in vitro method for producing capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis. The invention also provides capsular polysaccharides obtainable by the methods described herein. The capsular polysaccharides comprise capsular polysaccharide specific for Neisseria meningitidis serogroups W-135, Y, X and A. Also encompassed are chimeric capsular polysaccharides comprising or composed of CPS of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups Y/W-135, W-135/Y, B/Y, C/Y, B/W-135, C/W-135, B/Y/W-135, C/Y/W-135, B/W-135/Y, C/W-135/Y. X/A or A/X. The invention also provides for the use of these capsular polysaccharides foi as pharmaceuticals, particularly as vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: A protein having polysialyl transferase activity, which a) is a product of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression of an exogenous DNA, b) is coded by the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1, c) is coded by the DNA sequences which hybridize with the sequences SEQ ID No. 1 and/or SEQ ID No. 3, d) is coded by DNA sequences which if there was no degeneracy of the genetic code, would hybridize with the sequences defined in b) to c), and e) catalyzes the polycondensation of .alpha.-2,8-linked sialic acids, and its related nucleic acid molecules and fragments are useful for the production of therapeutic agents for tumor therapy.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polysialyl transferases, and the polysialyl transferases themselves are disclosed. SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 7 and 8 present examples of these. The nucleic acid molecules and the proteins can be used diagnostically or therapeutically. Additionally, antisense oligonucleotides and antibodies are described, which can also be used diagnostically or therapeutically.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polysialyl transferases, and the polysialyl transferases themselves are disclosed. SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 7 and 8 present examples of these. The nucleic acid molecules and the proteins can be used diagnostically or therapeutically. Additionally, antisense oligonucleotides and antibodies are described, which can also be used diagnostically or therapeutically.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polysialyl transferases, and the polysialyl transferases themselves are disclosed. SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 7 and 8 present examples of these. The nucleic acid molecules and the proteins can be used diagnostically or therapeutically. Additionally, antisense oligonucleotides and antibodies are described, which can also be used diagnostically or therapeutically.