New York Blood Center, Inc.

The Community Blood Council of Greater New York, Inc.

New York University

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Bioprocess Pty Ltd.

Eugene Tech International, Inc.

Alfred M Prince

John Vnek

Christian G Trepo

Robert A Neurath

Dong-Hun Lee

Hafeez Ikram

Marc Nasoff

Gad Lavie

Genevieve Inchauspe

A Robert Neurath

Kwang S Kim

Suzanne Zebedee

Betsy Brotman

Arnold Lippin

Marc S Nasoff

The present invention relates to recombinant expression vectors which express segments of deoxyribonucleic acid that encode recombinant HIV and HCV antigens. These recombinant expression vectors are transformed into host cells and used in a method to express large quantities of these antigens. The invention also provides compositions containing certain of the isolated antigens, diagnostic systems containing these antigens and methods of assaying body fluids to detect the presence of antibodies against the antigens of the invention.

Method for detecting NANBV associated seroconversion

The invention relates to a method for purifying of a nucleic acid from a biological sample. The method involves contacting a biological sample containing a nucleic acid with a hydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane which contains pores having an average diameter less than about 0.45 &mgr;m and recovering the nucleic acid. The method can further include adding silica beads to the biological sample prior to the contacting step.

Method for purifying nucleic acids

Method for DNA-based immunotherapy of mammalian subjects in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection through a series of injections of DNA transcription units encoding hepatitis B surface antigen followed by booster injections of a DNA transcription unit encoding at hepatitis B surface antigen.

Nucleic acid based immunotherapy of chronic hepatitis B infection

The invention relates to a method for purification of viral RNA from a biological sample. The method involves lysing the virus envelope to liberate the RNA and passing the lysate through a porous hydrophilic PVDF filter to capture the viral RNA. The filter with bound RNA is then washed to remove proteins, lipids and other contaminants. The RNA is released from the filter using a low ionic strength ribonuclease (RNase) free solution to form a solution containing purified viral RNA. From this solution the RNA is recovered. The invention is also compatible with purification of nucleic acids from other types of samples.

Method for purifying viral nucleic acids

The invention provides improved methods for delivery of nucleic acids to cells, which comprise forming ternary complexes between a hydrophobic, membrane-binding anion such as hypericin; a polycation such as polylysine; and a nucleic acid such as DNA; and contacting cells with the tenary complexes. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations comprising these ternary complexes and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The methods and compositions find use in mediating DNA uptake into cells, including gene therapy applications.

Method for delivery of nucleic acids to cells using hypericin polyamine

There is disclosed a process for producing a proteinaceous mass containing particles of HBsAg in a morphological form not found in nature while inactivating any live virus contained therein. The process comprises subjecting a concentrated mass thereof free of protein diluent or a stabilizer to a heat inactivation by heating the same while in a concentration of at least 1 mg/ml at a temperature of 101.degree. to 105.degree. C. for 1 to 5 minutes and thereafter cooling the so heated particles.

Process for preparing hepatitis B surface antigen containing particles

There are disclosed a process for enhancing the immunogenicity of a lipid membrane based immunogen comprising flash heating it at a membrane concentrations sufficient under the conditions of flash heating to result in melting of membranes and fusing the melted membranes into novel morphologic forms and a proteinaceous mass comprising particles of HBsAg, said particles including particles of HBsAg in morphologic form not found in nature, said HBsAg contains particles being filaments, branched filaments, closed circular or closed circular branched filaments.

Hepatitis B antigenic compositions and vaccines against hepatitis B

A mammalian blood plasma or plasma derivative substantially free of active hepatitis B or non-A, non-B viruses is disclosed, the plasma being characterized by the presence of factor VIII, the percent by weight of denatured factor VIII to the sum of undenatured factor VIII and denatured factor VIII being less than 50%. The plasma is sterilized by contact with a detergent, alcohol or ether, and mixtures thereof and preferably a mixture of detergent and ether, usually followed by removal of the viral sterilizing agent.

Process for inactivating hepatitis B virus

There is disclosed a new synthetic peptide which evokes an immunological response. The synthetic peptide, moreover, interacts with antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Thus, the synthetic peptide is useful as an immunizing agent in a vaccine as an active component thereof where it serves to produce antibodies in vivo which are protective against hepatitis B virus. The synthetic peptide of the invention comprises the following sequence of amino acids: Arg Trp Met Met Leu Arg Arg (I) and preferably has the following sequence: Gly Tyr Arg Trp Met Met Leu Arg Arg Phe Gly (II).

Synthetic antigenic peptide derived from hepatitis B surface antigen

There is disclosed a new synthetic peptide which evokes an immunological response. The synthetic peptide, moreover, interacts with antibodies to Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG). Thus, the synthetic peptide is useful as an immunizing agent in a vaccine as an active component thereof where it serves to produce antibodies in vivo which are protective against Hepatitis B virus. The synthetic peptide of the invention comprises the following sequence of amino acids: Arg Trp Met Met Leu Arg Arg(I) and preferably has the following sequence: Gly Tyr Arg Trp Met Met Leu Arg Arg Phe Gly (II).

Synthetic antigenic peptide derived from Hepatitis B surface antigen

A mammalian blood plasma or plasma derivative substantially free of active hepatitis B or non-A, non-B viruses is disclosed, the plasma being characterized by the presence of factor VIII, the percent by weight of denatured factor VIII to the sum of undenatured factor VIII and denatured factor VIII being less than 50%. The plasma is sterilized by contact with a detergent, alcohol or ether, preferably a mixture of detergent and ether, usually followed by removal of the viral sterilizing agent.

Process for preparing sterilized plasma and plasma derivatives

A vaccine against viral hepatitis comprising:

Vaccine for active immunization containing hepatitis B surface antigen

A vaccine against viral heptitis comprising:

A process for preparing a vaccine containing unprecipitated filaments and hepatitis B Dane particle specific antigens by removal from a blood serum of other proteinaceous matter such that the serum contains less than 10% proteinaceous matter other than that associated with hepatitis B surface antigen or the filament or Dane particle specific antigen. Any virus present is inactivated, and the antigenous mass is diluted with a physiologically acceptable medium.

Vaccine manufacture for active immunization containing hepatitis B

After a polyethylene glycol purification procedure, virus particles, viral components and virus associated particles having concanavalin A binding sites are further purified by subjecting such particles or components to affinity chromatography utilizing insoluble concanavalin A as a chromatography adsorbent and an eluant capable of interacting with concanavalin A to thereby inhibit the binding of the virus particles or components to the insoluble concanavalin A. Specifically, the insoluble concanavalin A may be concanavalin A linked to agarose beads and the eluant may be methyl-.alpha.-D-mannopyranoside. Specifically, these procedures may be utilized to purify hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) particles.

Growing community of inventors

Pound Ridge, NY, United States of America

Alfred M Prince