Abstract: A new group of picornaviruses is disclosed. The picornaviruses of the invention comprise in the non-coding region of their viral genome a nucleotide sequence which corresponds to cDNA sequence (I) or homologous sequences having at least 75% homology to the SEQ ID NO:1, and they cause mammalian disease. Further aspects of the invention comprise a protein corresponding to a protein of the picornaviruses, antiserum or antibody directed against a protein of the picornaviruses, antigen comprising a protein of the picornaviruses, diagnostic kits, vaccines, use of the picornaviruses in medicaments, particularly for the treatment or prevention of Myocarditis, Cardiomyopathia, Guillain Barré Syndrome, and Diabetes Mellitus, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatique Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Spontaneous Abortion, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and methods of treatment of diseases caused by the picornaviruses.

Abstract: The present invention provides structure-based combinatorial libraries of compounds containing the functional group minima of picornaviruses including poliovirus and rhinovirus. The libraries can be used to screen for therapeutical antiviral compounds, e.g., anti-picornaviral capsid-binding compounds.

Abstract: A multivalent poultry vaccine is provided having two or more live biological agents or microbial components. Each live biological agent or microbial component is effective in preventing or treating an avian disease, and the multivalent vaccine is safe and effective for immunizing poultry in ovo. Methods are also provided for vaccinating poultry by administering such a multivalent vaccine in ovo.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated feline calicivirus and mutants thereof, which were isolated from the urine of a cat with lower urinary tract disorder. The present invention further provides nucleic acid clones of the virus, in particular, a clone which encodes the capsid antigen of the virus. The present invention is useful for providing a live or killed virus vaccine comprising the virus or mutants thereof, a subunit vaccine comprising the capsid antigen of the virus, a nucleic acid vaccine encoding the capsid antigen of the virus, and a recombinant virus vector vaccine encoding the capsid antigen of the virus. The present invention also provides a method for isolating feline calicivirus from urine and an assay for diagnosing cats infected with feline calicivirus.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences obtained from the genome of the capsid gene of FCV strain 2280 wherein the splicing sites have been modified, so as to be deleted or inactivated are provided. The nucleotide sequences include DNA sequences that encode polypeptides, such as the capsid gene of FCV strain 2280, whereby the coding sequences are capable of being transcribed in the nucleus of a eukaryotic organism without the DNA coding sequence being altered by the organism's natural splicing machinery and the amino acid structure of the expressed protein is not altered. The recombinant molecules may be incorporated into FHV-1 vectors that are used to infect cell cultures for use, inter alia, in the development of vaccines and, in particular vaccines for preventing or treating FCV disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene of swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) and the mutant strains of the gene, and the expression plasmids, the preparation process thereof. The invention also relates to a vaccine for use in the prophylaxis of swine vesicular disease composition containing the mutant strains. Furthermore, the invention provides a process for differentiating mutant strains of SVDV from the wild type strain of SVDV, coxsackievirus and foot-and-mouth disease virus by polymerase chain reaction.