Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Gmbh

Other

Merck + Co., Inc.

Novartis Ag

John J Donnelly

Gary S Ott

Derek T O'Hagan

Manmohan Singh

Jina Kazzaz

Mildred Ugozzoli

John Barackman

Margaret A Liu

Kimberly S Denis-Mize

William D Turner

Susan Barnett

Marzia Monica Giuliani

John W Shiver

Donna Lorraine Montgomery

Elena Mori

Puiying Annie Mak

George Santos

Jeffrey Eugene Janes

Cristiana Balocchi

Enrico Luzzi

Marilena Paludi

Tong-Ming Fu

John Cupp

Douglas Martinez

The disclosure provides methods and kits for performing automated high-throughput assays to measure bactericidal activity in samples, such as plasma or sera from vaccinated subjects to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines against bacterial pathogens. The method combines obligatory linear-range data analysis, plate sealing and liquid volume handling for all assay steps to provide an automated, high-throughput measurement of bactericidal activity with favorable inter-assay and inter-operator variability.

High-throughput complement-mediated antibody-dependent and opsonic bactericidal assays

The disclosure provides compositions, methods and kits for assessing immunogenicity, potency, or both, of meningococcal capsular saccharide vaccines. The assessment is based upon measurement of binding of a bactericidal antibody to a capsular saccharide component in the vaccine.

Bactericidal antibody assays to assess immunogenicity and potency of meningococcal capsular saccharide vaccines

Microparticles with adsorbent surfaces, methods of making such microparticles, and uses thereof, are disclosed. The microparticles comprise a polymer, such as a poly(&#x3b1;-hydroxy acid), a polyhydroxy butyric acid, a polycaprolactone, a polyorthoester, a polyanhydride, and the like, and are formed using cationic, anionic, or nonionic detergents. The surface of the microparticles efficiently adsorb biologically active macromolecules, such as DNA, polypeptides, antigens, and adjuvants. Also provided are compositions of an oil droplet emulsion having a metabolizable oil and an emulsifying agent. Immunogenic compositions having an immunostimulating amount of an antigenic substance, and an immunostimulating amount of an adjuvant composition are also provided. Methods of stimulating an immune response, methods of immunizing a host animal against a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection, and methods of increasing a Th1 immune response in a host animal by administering to the animal an immunogenic composition of the microparticles, and/or microemulsions of the invention, are also provided.

Microemulsions with adsorbed macromolecules and microparticles

Provided herein are HIV vaccines comprising HIV polypeptide-encoding DNA adsorbed to PLG and/or HIV proteins. Also provided are methods of using these vaccines to generate immune responses in a subject.

HIV vaccine formulations

The present invention provides an effective method for the transfection of dendritic cells by non-viral methods. The present invention provides this benefit by incubating dendritic cells and a specified transfection agent. The transfection agent comprises a polynucleotide and microparticles, with the microparticles being comprised of biodegradable polymer and cationic detergent. The dendritic cells and transfection agent are incubated for a time sufficient to transfect the dendritic cells with the polynucleotide.

Microparticle-based transfection and activation of dendritic cells

The present invention relates to polynucleotides comprising a DNA sequence encoding an HCV protein and fragments thereof that contain codons optimized for expression in a vertebrate host. Uses of the polynucleotides include eliciting an immune response specifically recognizing HCV.

Synthetic hepatitis C genes

An emergency flasher is provided including a housing having an inboard extent and an outboard extent rotatably coupled to the inboard extent. A flasher bulb is mounted on the outboard extent for intermittently illuminating upon the actuation thereof. Next included is a coupling assembly mounted on the housing for coupling the same to a recipient surface.

Emergency alert light

Polynucleotide vaccine for papillomavirus

An improved fold-down tailgate for use on a truck-like vehicle is disclosed. The tailgate of the present invention employs a slotted work surface which permits the ready attachment of various construction implements, such as cargo ramps, extended work surfaces, and a wide variety of vises, clamps and tie-down devices. The tailgate provides improved functionality while maximizing the amount of cargo space in the vehicle.

Multiple-use workbench for use as a tailgate on a truck

Growing community of inventors

Moraga, CA, United States of America

John J Donnelly