Anergen, Inc.

Applied Immunesciences, Inc.

City of Hope

Aventis Pharmaceuticals Products Inc.

Aventis Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.

Amergen, Inc.

Brian R Clark

Somesh D Sharma

L Bernard Lerch

Bishwajit Nag

Bernard L Lerch

Arthur D Riggs

Thomas B Okarma

John A Zaia

Chin-Hai Chang

Hema Pande

Harden M McConnell

David A Okrongly

Jack Spesard

Molded articles formed of polystyrene or other polymers containing an aromatic moiety can be derivatized on the surface of the article by subjecting the molded article to a chemical reaction wherein the reaction media utilizes tetramethylsulfone as the reactant solvent and a suitable substituent group which is substituted on to the aromatic moiety of the polystyrene or other polymer by electrophilic substitution. By choosing the substituent group to further include a leaving group, further substitution of the primary substituent can be effected normally by nucleophilic substitution reaction. In this way, biologically important molecules can be attached to a polystyrene or other aromatic containing polymer without effecting certain properties of the molded article such as its optical or spectroscopic clarity.

Derivatized polystyrene and other polymer supports for spectroscopic studies

The present invention is directed to complexes consisting essentially of an isolated MHC component and an autoantigenic peptide associated with the antigen binding site of the MHC component. These complexes are useful in treating autoimmune disease.

MHC conjugates useful in ameliorating autoimmunity

Solid substrates and methods for their preparation are provided, where enhanced functionalization of solid substrates is achieved, so that higher levels of binding of a wide variety of moieties can be obtained. The surface is nitrated with a nitronium agent, where the nitro groups may be modified in a variety of ways to serve as sites for linking. The resulting solid substrates find use in therapy, diagnosis and processing.

Activated and conjugated polystyrene substrate

Disclosed are amino acid sequences of the late 64 kilodalton protein of human cytomegalovirus (HCMVgp64), useful in diagnosing and preventing HCMV infections.

Method for detection and prevention of human cytomegalovirus infection

A DNA probe has been isolated which is capable of hybridizing to an oligonucleotide sequence coding for a polypeptide from a major 64 Kilodalton protein of human cytomegalovirus (HCMVgp64). The probe has a sequence of at least seventeen (17) to as many as seven hundred twenty-one (721) nucleotides. The DNA fragments coding for the major late protein of human cytomegalovirus (HCMVgp64) may be hybridized to DNA fragments of HCMV DNA from an individual having human cytomegalovirus infection. The major late protein of human cytomegalovirus (HCMVgp64) also reacts with T-lymphocytes of an individual after natural infection of that individual with human cytomegalovirus. Thus, the HCMVgp64 protein may be used as a vaccine to prevent HCMV infection.

The present invention is directed to complexes comprising an isolated MHC subunit component, an antigenic peptide and, in some cases, an effector component. The antigenic peptide is associated with the antigen binding site of the MHC subunit component. These complexes are useful in treating autoimmune disease.

MHC class II .beta. chain/peptide complexes useful in ameliorating

Solid substrates and methods for their preparation are provided, where enhanced functionalization of solid substrates is achieved, so that higher levels of binding of a wide variety of moleties can be obtained. The surface is nitrated with a nitronium agent, where the nitro groups may be modified in a variety of ways to serve as sites for linking. The resulting solid substrates find use in therapy, diagnosis and processing.

MHC class II-peptide conjugates useful in ameliorating autoimmunity

Intracellularly cleavable derivatives of toxic compounds including antibiotics are described.

Intracellularly cleavable compounds

Methods and compositions are provided, where oligopeptides are produced on a transparent surface while retaining transparency by the cyclical addition of protected monomers. Reagents are specifically selected to allow for efficient reproducible addition, while maintaining transparency of the support. Linkers are provided which permit retention of the oligopeptide to the surface or release of the oligopeptide at completion of the preparation of the oligopeptide. The oligopeptide bound to the support finds use in diagnostic assays, as well as other application, while the free oligopeptides may be used in a variety of ways.

Solid phase multiple peptide synthesis

The invention is directed to methods and materials useful in treating autoimmune diseases. The therapeutic agents are of the formula X--MHC--peptide or MHc--peptide--X wherein X represents a functional moiety selected from a toxin and a labeling group; MHC is an effective portion of the MHC glycoprotein, said glycoprotein dissociated from the cell surface on which it normally resides; and 'peptide' represents an antigenic peptide sequence associated with an autoantigen;--represents a covalent bond or a linker bound to X and MHC or to X and peptide by covalent bonds; and--represents a covalent bond, a noncovalent association, or a linker covalently bound to or associated with the MHC and peptide. These complexes can be used to target helper T-cells which are specifically immunoreactive with autoantigens.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Brian R Clark