Stratagene

Mmrglobal, Inc.

Stratagene California

Favrille, Inc.

Robert J Shopes

Daniel P Gold

Daniel Davis Shoemaker

John Lewis Danssaert

The present invention provides compositions for altering a B cell mediated pathology in a patient. The compositions may comprise at least one and/or two chimeric proteins. Each chimeric protein comprises at least a portion of either the Vor Vregion of a immunoglobulin molecule from particular B cells from a patient having a B cell mediated pathology, and an immunoglobulin constant region. The genes encoding Vand/or Vregions and the genes encoding immunoglobulin constant regions are isolated and inserted in an expression vector. The chimeric proteins may be produced by introducing the expression vectors into insect cell lines. Proteins may be further purified and conjugated to a compound such as an immunogenic carrier.

Method and composition for altering a B cell mediated pathology

The present invention provides a method for altering a B cell mediated pathology in a patient. This method comprises administering a composition comprising at least one and/or two chimeric proteins. Each chimeric protein comprises at least a portion of either the Vor Vregion of a immunoglobulin molecule from particular B cells from a patient having a B cell mediated pathology, and an immunoglobulin constant region. The genes encoding Vand/or Vregions and the genes encoding immunoglobulin constant regions are isolated and inserted into an expression vector. The chimeric proteins are produced by introducing the expression vectors into insect cell lines. The chimeric proteins are purified using antibody affinity columns, and then chemically conjugated to an immunogenic carrier, keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Since the conjugates comprise chimeric proteins made specifically from particular B cells from a patient having B cell mediated pathology, when it is administered to such a patient, with or without a cytokine, such as granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, or a chemokine, it can induce immune responses to alter such a B cell mediated pathology.

A method in which a temperature gradient is generated across a 'gradient' block, and an apparatus comprising a block across which a temperature gradient can be generated. By setting up such a gradient, multiple reaction mixtures held in wells on the gradient block can be simultaneously run at temperatures which differ only slightly, thereby permitting an optimum temperature for the reaction to be quickly identified. In a preferred embodiment the gradient block is integrated into a thermal cycler used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Thermal cycler including a temperature gradient block

The present invention provides methods and compositions for altering a B cell mediated malignancy in a patient. These methods comprise administering a composition comprising at least one or two chimeric proteins. Each chimeric protein comprises at least a portion of either the Vor Vregion of the Id protein of the B cells associated with the B cell mediated malignancy, and an immunoglobulin constant region. The genes encoding Vor Vregions are isolated and inserted into an expression vector encoding immunoglobulin constant regions. The chimeric proteins are expressed in insect cell lines. The purified chimeric proteins are conjugated to an immunogenic carrier protein. The conjugates comprising the chimeric Id protein(s) are administered to such a patient, with or without a cytokine or chemokine, the chimeric protein induces immune responses to alter the B cell mediated malignancy.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Robert J Shopes