Abstract:
Disclosed are antibodies (immunoglobulins) and fragments thereof that hydrolyze or bind polypeptide antigens belonging to Staphyloccus aureus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and Alzheimer's disease. Also disclosed are novel methods to improve the antigen reactivity of the immunoglobulins and to treat a pathophysiological condition using the immunoglobulins as therapeutics.
Abstract:
Disclosed are monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments which recognize antigens encoded by HERV DNA sequences, and methods for production, including recombinant antibody fragments derived from lymphoid cells of lupus patients that make antibodies which neutralize HIV.
Abstract:
Disclosed are antibodies (immunoglobulins) and fragments thereof that hydrolyze or bind polypeptide antigens belonging to Staphyloccus aureus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and Alzheimer's disease. Also disclosed are novel methods to improve the antigen reactivity of the immunoglobulins and to treat a pathophysiological condition using the immunoglobulins as therapeutics.
Abstract:
Provided herein are dual epitope polypeptides and electrophilic analogs thereof having a superantigenic epitope and at least one other epitope effective to induce the production of antibodies with binary specificity for the epitopes on a polypeptide antigen. Also, provided are electrophilic analogs of polyclonal B cell stimulants or lipids, polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides or nucleotides. In addition, provided herein are methods for increasing production of binary epitope specific antibodies recognizing B cell polypeptide antigens, for stimulating production of antibodies using one or more of the polypeptides or electrophilic analogs and for isolating binary epitope specific antibodies or fragments thereof. Further provided are the antibodies so produced and methods of treating HIV using the same.
Abstract:
Covalently reactive antigen analogs are disclosed herein. The antigens of the invention may be used to stimulate production of catalytic antibodies specific for predetermined antigens associated with particular medical disorders. The antigen analogs may also be used to permanently inactivate endogenously produced catalytic antibodies produced in certain autoimmune diseases as well as in certain lymphoproliferative disorders.
Abstract:
Specific, selective inhibitors of catalytic antibodies both synthetic and naturally occurring, their use and compositions thereof are disclosed. In particular, an inhibitor preventing the hydrolysis of the peptide bond between amino acid residues 16 and 17 in the neurotransmitter vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) by an anti-VIP catalytic autoantibody is disclosed.
Abstract:
Catalytic antibody components, methods for producing catalytic antibody components, methods for using catalytic antibody components, in particular, single chain and smaller components are disclosed. Catalytic antibody components able to promote the cleavage or formation of an amide, peptide, ester or glycosidic bond, and which are prepared from monoclonal catalytic antibodies, catalytic autoantibodies or by site-directed mutagenesis are disclosed. Methods of using catalytic antibody components alone or in combination with other antibody components or other biological moieties are disclosed.