Abstract: A method is provided for forming ordered macromolecular protein arrays by avoiding a binding pathway that leads to densely packed, disordered states during protein crystal growth, by a diffusion limited process or by allowing controlled growth to occur by removal of the initial supported protein layer to a different environment.

Abstract: A cytotoxic composition is described comprising a moiety having binding affinity to a surface structure of a cell and coupled to a moiety having activity as a structural subunit of C3/C5 convertase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of virus vaccine, comprising covalently attaching virus to saccharide to form a virus-saccharide conjugate, and harvesting the resultant conjugate. The virus vaccine, prepared according to the present invention, exhibits a higher producibility of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies, while it induces less or substantially no production of immunoglobulin E antibody, in comparison with conventional-type inactivated virus vaccine; thus, the present vaccine is favorably usable for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases.

Abstract: There is described a method for splitting at least one disulphide bond --S--S--, where each of the sulphur atoms is directly bound covalently to its respective aliphatic carbon atom in an organic substance which contains at least one such disulphide bond, in which each bond --S--S-- which is split is converted substantially to two reactive groups of the formulae --S--S--R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 --S--S--, where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are equal or different and each is an organic residue. Splitting of the bond is effected by reacting said organic substance with a mixture of a compound R.sub.3 --S--S--R.sub.4 and a compound capable of existing in the tautomeric forms R.sub.5 --S--H and HR.sub.5 .dbd.S or corresponding resonance-stabilized anion forms, in which compounds the residues R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 (i) are organic residues of which all are different, two are equal or all are equal, and (ii) are defined in (a) that each of the aforesaid sulphur atoms in the compounds R.sub.3 --S--S--R.sub. 4 and R.sub.

Abstract: A method for purification of HBs antigen, which comprises treating an HBs tigen-containing material with an acid, optionally subjecting to salting out with ammonium sulfate, and subjecting the material to a chromatography with hydroxyapatite, by which a highly purified HBs antigen suitable for the preparation of HBV vaccine or diagnostic agent can be obtained in an industrial scale. This method is particularly useful for the purification of HBs antigen-containing material produced by recombinants obtained by DNA recombination technique.