Stemcell Technologies Inc.

University of Southampton

Allelix Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

Tetramerics Biotechnology, Inc.

The Terry Fox Laboratory of the British Columbia Cancer Agnecy

Magnetix Biotechnology, Inc.

Peter Michael Lansdorp

Terry Thomas

Carrie E Peters

Albertus Wernerus Wognum

Jack Gauldie

Richards, Carl

Adrian J Richards

A method for preventing or inhibiting non-specific binding reactions between a detection reagent and an antigen in an immunological assay is described. The method involves using tetrameric antibody complexes that can bind to the antigen and are comprised of two monoclonal antibodies of a first animal species linked to two monoclonal antibodies of a second animal species that can bind the antibodies of the first animal species. Preferably, the antigen is an Fc Receptor and the method reduces the binding of a detection antibody with Fc receptors present on the surface of many cells.

Tetrameric antibody complexes for blocking non-specific labeling of antigens

The present invention relates to methods for separating cells using immunorosettes. The method involves contacting a sample containing nucleated cells and red blood cells with an antibody composition which allows immunorosettes of the nucleated cells and the red blood cells to form. The antibody composition preferably contains bifunctional antibodies or tetrameric antibody complexes.

Method for separating cells using immunorosettes

A method for detecting or quantitating multiple copies of a repeat sequence in a nucleic acid molecule involving treating the nucleic acid molecule with a probe which is a nucleic acid analogue which is capable of hybridizing to the repeat sequence in the nucleic acid molecule and which is labelled with a detectable substance. The nucleic acid molecule is treated with the probe under conditions permitting the probe to hybridize to the repeat sequences in the nucleic acid molecule. Probe hybridized to complementary repeat sequences is identified in the nucleic acid molecule by directly or indirectly detecting the detectable substance. The method is preferably used for quantitating multiple copies of a repeat sequence in a nucleic acid molecule, preferably a telomere or centromere repeat sequence. Novel probes for use in the method of the invention and kits are described.

Method for detecting multiple copies of a repeat sequence in a nucleic acid molecule

The present invention relates to antibody composition that are useful in preparing enriched cell preparations such as human hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells and non-hematopoietic tumor cells. The invention also relates to kits for carrying out the processes and to the cell preparations prepared by the processes.

Antibody compositions for preparing enriched dendritic cell preparations

Antibody compositions for preparing enriched cell preparations

The present invention relates to an antibody composition which contains antibodies specific for glycophorin A, CD3, CD24, CD16, CD14, and optionally CD45RA, CD38, CD36, CD38, CD56, CD2, CD19, CD66e, CD66b, and/or antibodies specific for antigens expressed on non-hematopoietic tumor cells. A process is also provided for enriching and recovering human hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells in a sample containing human hematopoietic differentiated, progenitor, and stem cells, and optionally tumor cells. The process involves reacting the sample with an antibody composition containing antibodies capable of binding to the antigens glycophorin A, CD3 CD24, CD16, and CD14, and optionally CD45RA, CD36, CD38, CD56, CD2, CD19, CD66e, CD66b, and/or antibodies specific for antigen expressed on non-hematopoietic tumor cells under conditions so that cell conjugates are formed between the antibodies and differentiated cells having the antigens glycophorin A, CD3 CD24, CD16, and CD14, and optionally CD45RA, CD38, CD36, CD38, CD56, CD2, CD19, CD66e, CD66b, and/or antibodies specific for antigens expressed on non-hematopoietic tumor cells on their surfaces. The cell conjugates are removed and a cell preparation is obtained which is enriched in human hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells. The invention also relates to kits for carrying out this process and to the cell preparations prepared by the process.

Methods for preparing enriched human hematopoietic cell preparations

The present invention relates to an antibody composition which contains antibodies specific for glycophorin A, CD3, CD24, CD16, CD14, and optionally CD45RA, CD36, CD56, CD2, CD19, CD66a and/or CD66b. A process is also provided for enriching and recovering human hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells in a sample containing human hematopoietic differentiated, progenitor, and stem cells. The process involves reacting the sample with an antibody composition containing antibodies capable of binding to the antigens glycophorin A, CD3, CD24, CD16, and CD14, and optionally CD45RA, CD36, CD56, CD2, CD19, CD66a and/or CD66b under conditions so that cell conjugates are formed between the antibodies and differentiated cells having the antigens glycophorin A, CD3, CD24, CD16, and CD14, and optionally CD45RA, CD36, CD56, CD2, CD19, CD66a and/or CD66b on their surfaces. The cell conjugates are removed and a cell preparation is obtained which is enriched in human hematopoietic progenitor cells and stem cells. The invention also relates to kits for carrying out this process and to the cell preparations prepared by the process.

A device for separating magnetically labelled cells in a sample using an applied magnetic field having a housing; an inlet element at the top portion of the housing having an input end and an output end; a filter chamber adjacent to the output end of the inlet element for filtering the magnetically labelled cells from the fluid while allowing unlabelled cells to pass through when a magnetic field is applied thereto, and containing a multiplicity of magnetic matrix elements extending transversely across the filter chamber; and an outlet element for collecting the fluid which passes through the filter chamber having an input end coupled to the filter chamber and an output end. The device has one or more of the following features: (i) the inlet and/or outlet element having flow distribution means for distributing the flow from the inlet element generally uniformly across the filter chamber; (ii) the peripheries of the magnetic matrix elements are connected to the housing by a junction which is substantially impenetrable to the fluid; and (iii) the magnetic matrix elements are ordered and spaced apart so as to maximize the magnetic capture of magnetically labelled cells onto the magnetic matrix element when a magnetic field is applied. Methods of using the device and a hematopoietic cell preparation obtained using the device of the invention are also described.

Device for separating magnetically labelled cells

A device for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials in a sample using an applied magnetic field includes an inverted upstream funnel containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced, non-magnetisable flow-smoothing surfaces extending transversely across the width of the funnel, a coaxial filter chamber coupled to the output end of the upstream funnel having mounted therein an ordered wire array of magnetisable wires and a coaxial downstream funnel containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced, non-magnetisable flow-smoothing surfaces extending transversely across the width of the downstream funnel. The device may be used to separate magnetically labelled materials from samples such as biological samples.

Magnetic filter with ordered wire array

Interferon .beta..sub.2 has been identified as the major factor responsible for stimulating hepatocytes to produce anti-inflammatory agents. A method for its use in so stimulating hepatocytes is described herein.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Peter Michael Lansdorp