Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: It is intended to provide highly safe antitumor agents which exhibit an antitumor effect on human remote tumors such as metastatic tumors too and by which an antitumor immune reaction enabling an immune therapy for cancer can be induced, tumor immunity inducers, T cell activators, dendritic cell activators, a method of treating cancer using the same, etc. Inactivated herpes simplex virus (inactivated HSV), herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (HSVgD), etc. are employed as the active ingredients of antitumor agents, tumor immunity inducers, T cell activators or dendritic cell activators. As a specific example of the treatment for the above-described inactivation, citation may be made of a combination of UV-irradiation using ultraviolet light at 254 nm at 4 J/m2 for 30 minutes with heating at 56° C. for 30 minutes.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of efficiently inducing the growth of nerve stem cells, which are most important in transplantation therapy for nerve damage and neurological dysfunction, either in vitro or in vivo, a method of using the nerve stem cells obtained by the above growth induction method, etc. A mammalian nerve tissue containing nerve stem cells is separated and the nerve stem cells are selectively cultured in a medium containing growth factors such as EGF and FGF. Next, the nerve stem cells are co-cultured with dendritic cell such as an immature dendritic cell subset having a CD11c surface marker on the cell surface, spleen cells or blood cell-type cells such as CD8-positive T cells. Alternatively, the nerve stem cells after the culture are further cultured in the presence of GM-CSF or the nerve stem cells after the culture are further cultured in a culture supernatant of dendritic cells or a culture supernatant of blood cell-type cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a testis-derived antigenic protein having an immunity induction activity comparable to a glioma antigenic protein and a gene encoding the same, etc., which can be applied to diagnosis and treatment of glioma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic method using RNAi directed at BRAF, of which the point mutation, especially V599E, occurs frequently in melanomas. RNAi specific for the mutated BRAF will provide a specific therapeutic intervention for cancers such as malignant melanoma. Several target sequences for RNAi were selected in the protein coding region of the BRAF mRNA. The short hairpin RNA expression cassette was constructed on the lentiviral vector. One recombinant viral vector for the mutated BRAF V599E and two other vectors sites for wild type BRAF were constructed to infect various malignant melanoma cell lines, and the effects on the growth inhibition and the signaling of MAPK pathway were examined. The inhibitory effect on the invasion ability of malignant melanoma cell line and in vivo growth of a malignant melanoma cell line were examined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a remedy for a nerve dysfunctional disorder such as a central nervous system damage including a spinal cord injury and a cerebral infarction and the like having an excellent nerve regeneration promoting action which can be administered not only by injecting into a injured site but also by various administration methods including intravenous administration, which can be easily handled and stored over a long time, and can be prepared in a large amount at any time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human glioma antigen or a method for preparing the same, which can be applied to diagnosis and therapy of glioma. A glioma antigen or a glioma antigen gene is prepared by a process comprising the steps of: total RNA is extracted from a glioma cell line and cDNA was synthesized; &lgr; phage cDNA library, which was constructed by infection of E. coli caused by introducing said cDNA into &lgr; phage vector, and the sera of glioma patients are made to react; positive clones to which antibodies in the serum reacted are detected with the use of labeled anti-IgG antibodies; screening is repeated several times for the detected positive clones; antigens are isolated from positive clones confirmed to be antibody-reactive; serum screening is conducted by using the isolated antigens, the sera of glioma patients and healthy persons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.