Abstract:
The present invention relates to molecules, such as diabodies, tri- and tetravalent antibodies and small antigen binding peptides, which can cross-link or cross-react with the costimulatory molecules B7.1 and B7.2 expressed on professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) leading to the inhibition of antigen-specific T cell activation. The present invention also concerns methods to produce these molecules and use of these molecules to treat diseases, such as transplant rejection, graft versus host disease (GVHD), allergy and autoimmune diseases, where antigen-specific T cell activation is pathogenic.
Abstract:
The current invention relates to HCV envelope proteins or parts thereof which are the product of expression in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said HCV envelope proteins are characterized in that on average up to 80 % of their N-glycosylation sites are core-glycosylated. Of these N-glycosylated sites more than 70 % are glycosylated with an oligomannose containing 8 to 10 mannoses. Furthermore, the ratio of the oligomannoses with structure Man(7)-GlcNAc(2) over the oligomannose with structure Man(8)-GlcNAc(2) is less than or equal to 0.45. Less than 10 % of the oligomannoses is terminated with an alpha 1,3 linked mannose. The HCV envelope proteins of the invention are particularly suited for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. A suitable eukaryotic cell for production of the HCV envelope proteins of the invention is a Hansenula cell.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the general field of recombinant protein expression, purification of recombinant proteins, diagnosis of HCV infection, prophylactic treatment against HCV infection and to the prognosing/monitoring of the clinical efficiency of treatment of an individual with chronic hepatitis, or the prognosing/ monitoring of the natural disease. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of yeast, i.e. Hansenula or Saccharomyces glycosylation minus strains, for the efficient expression of HCV envelope proteins that are core-glycosylated, purification methods for these proteins, and the use in various applications, such as the use in diagnosis, prophylaxis or therapy of HCV envelope proteins purified according to the present invention.
Abstract:
The current invention relates to vectors and methods for efficient expression of HCV envelope proteins in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said vectors comprise the coding sequence for an avian lysozyme signal peptide or a functional equivalent thereof joined to a HCV envelope protein or a part thereof. Said avian lysozyme signal peptide is efficiently removed when the protein comprising said avian lysozyme signal peptide joined to a HCV envelope protein or a part thereof is expressed in a eukaryotic cell. Suitable eukaryotic cells include yeast cells such as Saccharomyces or Hansenula cells.
Abstract:
The current invention relates to vectors and methods for efficient expression of HCV envelope proteins in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said vectors comprise the coding sequence for an avian lysozyme signal peptide or a functional equivalent thereof joined to a HCV envelope protein or a part thereof. Said avian lysozyme signal peptide is efficiently removed when the protein comprising said avian lysozyme signal peptide joined to a HCV envelope protein or a part thereof is expressed in a eukaryotic cell. Suitable eukaryotic cells include yeast cells such as Saccharomyces or Hansenula cells.
Abstract:
The current invention relates to HCV envelope proteins or parts thereof which are the product of expression in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said HCV envelope proteins are characterized in that on average up to 80 % of their N-glycosylation sites are core-glycosylated. Of these N-glycosylated sites more than 70 % are glycosylated with an oligomannose containing 8 to 10 mannoses. Furthermore, the ratio of the oligomannoses with structure Man(7)-GlcNAc(2) over the oligomannose with structure Man(8)-GlcNAc(2) is less than or equal to 0.45. Less than 10 % of the oligomannoses is terminated with an α1,3 linked mannose. The HCV envelope proteins of the invention are particularly suited for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. A suitable eukaryotic cell for production of the HCV envelope proteins of the invention is a Hansenula cell.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the general field of recombinant protein expression, purification of recombinant proteins, diagnosis of HCV infection, prophylactic treatment against HCV infection and to the prognosing/monitoring of the clinical efficiency of treatment of an individual with chronic hepatitis, or the prognosing/ monitoring of the natural disease. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of yeast, i.e. Hansenula or Saccharomyces glycosylation minus strains, for the efficient expression of HCV envelope proteins that are core-glycosylated, purification methods for these proteins, and the use in various applications, such as the use in diagnosis, prophylaxis or therapy of HCV envelope proteins purified according to the present invention.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods for covalent immobilisation of biomolecules to carriers and membranes, wherein the presence of a His-tag is exploited, and wherein the amino acid residues that comprise said His-tag are directly involved in the covalent bond. The present invention also provides several strategies that further augment the probability of covalent immobilisation through said His-tags, such as improving the presentation of said His-tag, choosing the appropriate reaction conditions such as pH, temperature, concentration of reagent and kinetics, increasing contact between His-tag and reactive groups of said carrier or membrane, by for instance the use of IDA or anti-His antibodies or increasing the hydrophobicity of the membrane, or shielding the rest of the biomolecule from reaction by for instance increasing the hydrophobicity of said carrier or membrane or addition of substrate or competitors or blocking otherwise reactive groups, or by choosing chemical reactions that have a high selectivity for histidine residues. A carrier can also be another biomolecule. The present invention thus also relates to a method that allows covalent cross-linking between identical or different biomolecules. When such biomolecules have a natural tendency to interact with each other to form homo- or heterodimers, a strategy of increasing contact between the reactive groups (two His-tags or one His-tag and another reactive group) can be exploited. The present invention also relates to a method of providing a simultaneous and universal system for detection of biomolecules through said His-tag.