Duke University

Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

Dhavalkumar D Patel

Barton F Haynes

Hua-Xin Liao

Alejandro A Aruffo

David J Pickup

Munir Alam

Hans Marquardt

Michael A Bowen

Herman F Staats

Gregory D Sempowski

Anthony W Siadak

James B Antczak

The present invention relates, in general, to vaccines and, in particular, to a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus, to a composition comprising such a virus and to methods of using same to induce an immune response.

Modified vaccinia ankara virus vaccine

The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogen and, in particular, to an immunogen for inducing antibodies that neutralize a wide spectrum of HIV primary isolates. The invention also relates to a method of inducing anti-HIV antibodies using same.

Immunogen comprising an HIV envelope protein, a ligand and H2 peptide

Method of inducing the production of antibodies to HIV

A method of eliciting an immune response against an antigen in a vertebrate subject, the method comprising the steps of providing an antigen-adjuvant composition comprising the antigen and a substantially non-toxic adjuvant molecule having biological activity in mucosal tissues, and administering said antigen-adjuvant composition to the vertebrate subject in a manner such that initial contact occurs in mucosal tissue of the vertebrate subject, whereby an immune response is elicited. Cytokines are preferred adjuvants. Preferred cytokines are interleukin-1&#x3b1;(IL-1&#x3b1;) and interleukin-1&#x3b2; (IL-1&#x3b2;).

Substantially non-toxic biologically active mucosal adjuvants in vertebrate subjects

The invention relates to an immunogen comprising an HIV envelope protein bound to a ligand, which ligand upregulates at least one of the CD4 binding site and the CCR5 binding site on the protein, and bound to an HR-2 peptide. The invention also relates to a method of inducing anti-HIV antibodies using such an immunogen.

A method of eliciting an immune response against an antigen in a vertebrate subject, the method comprising the steps of providing an antigen-adjuvant composition comprising the antigen and a substantially non-toxic adjuvant molecule having biological activity in mucosal tissues, and administering said antigen-adjuvant composition to the vertebrate subject in a manner such that initial contact occurs in mucosal tissue of the vertebrate subject, whereby an immune response is elicited. Cytokines are preferred adjuvants. Preferred cytokines are interleukin-1&agr; (IL-1&agr;) and interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;).

The present invention relates, in general, to CD6 and, in particular, to a CD6 ligand present on the surface of thymic epithelial cells, monocytes, activated T cells and a variety of other cell types. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting the interaction of CD6 and the CD6 ligand, and to methods of screening compounds for their ability to inhibit that interaction. The invention also relates to antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, specific for CD6 ligand.

Anti-CD6 ligand antibodies

The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a sequence that encodes a CD6 ligand present on the surface of thymic epithelial cells, monocytes, activated T cells and a variety of other cell types. The invention further relates to a construct containing the nucleic acid molecule and to a host cell comprising same. Further, the invention relates to a method of producing a CD6 ligand.

CD6 ligand encoding sequence

The present invention relates, in general, to CD6 and, in particular, to a CD6 ligand present on the surface of thymic epithelial cells, monocytes, activated T cells and a variety of other cells types. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting the interaction of CD6 and the CD6 ligand, and to the methods of screening componunds for their ability to inhibit that interaction.

CD6 ligand

The present invention relates to a method of effecting site-specific cleavage of RNA and to an element and a factor responsible for such cleavage.

Site-specific RNA cleavage

The invention comprises a plasmid vector, utilizing genetic material that causes high levels of expression of poxvirus genes, and the method of using this genetic material. One preferred embodiment comprises an upstream cis-acting element of a poxvirus gene encoding the major protein component of the poxvirus A-type inclusion. A second preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a downstream cis-acting element of a poxvirus gene encoding the major protein component of the poxvirus A-type inclusion. These elements are inserted upstream and downstream respectively, of selected cloned genes in the plasmid vector to obtain very high levels of expression of the cloned gene.

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Durham, NC, United States of America

Dhavalkumar D Patel