Human antibodies which specifically bind to human CTLA-4, and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the human antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the human antibodies.

The invention relates to compositions including a substance useful as an adjuvant for potentiating an immune response, and methods of using the composition in individuals with infections of tissue within or adjacent to a transformation zone, such as the transformation zone of the cervix or anal canal.

The invention relates to novel Muramyl Dipeptide (MDP) derivative compound of structural Formula-VIII, a process for synthesis, intermediates used in the synthesis and use thereof; ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 both are hydrogen; or R.sub.1 is hydrogen and R.sub.2 is alkyl or aryl; or R.sub.1 is alkyl or aryl and R.sub.2 is hydrogen; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 both are alkyl or aryl (same or different groups); wherein alkyl group constitute C1-C6 alkyl or higher (both linear and branched) with or without heteroatoms; and aryl group constitute phenyl, substituted phenyl, heteraryl, arylalkyl and polynuclear aromatics. These compounds possess excellent pharmacological properties, in particular immunomodulating properties for use as adjuvant in vaccine formulations. These compounds are, particularly useful as adjuvants in vaccines.

A mammalian expression system comprising an attenuated, recombinant Ranavirus that has at least one foreign expression element using a unique combination of mammalian transcriptional and translational enhancement elements is disclosed. In other contemplated embodiments, a mammalian expression system comprising a virus, wherein the virus is engineered to express at least two vaccine antigens is disclosed. In addition, methods of delivering human antigens to a mammal are disclosed that include: providing a non-mammalian virus, engineering a recombinant virus that can express at least one foreign molecule by modifying the non-mammalian virus, and using the recombinant Ranavirus to express and deliver foreign antigens to a mammal.

Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, and fusion proteins for the treatment and/or prevention of HBV infection and symptoms thereof, as well as methods of using the yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, HBV antigens, and fusion proteins for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of HBV and/or symptoms thereof.

The present invention provides Listeria vaccine strains that express a heterologous antigen and a metabolic enzyme, and methods of generating same.

The invention provides chimeric Enterovirus virus-like particles (VLPs) for protection and/or treatment against infection by more than one Enterovirus. More specifically, the present invention provides chimeric EV-A71 virus-like particles displaying CV-A16 VP1 polypeptides and at the same time maintaining important neutralizing antibody epitopes of EV-A71 itself. More specifically, the present invention provides chimeric CV-A16 virus-like particles displaying EV-A71 VP1 polypeptides. Thus, the present invention provides a bivalent vaccine comprising the chimeric virus-like particles which elicit an immune response and/or neutralizing antibody response to both EV-A71 and CVA-16 for the treatment of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

The present invention relates to epitope peptides (or mutants thereof) for treating hepatitis B virus infection, recombinant proteins comprising such epitope peptides (or mutants thereof) and carrier proteins, and uses of such epitope peptides (or mutants thereof) and recombinant proteins. The present invention also relates to antibodies against such epitope peptides, cell lines producing said antibodies, and uses thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to vaccines or pharmaceutical compositions for treating or alleviating one or more symptoms associated with hepatitis B virus infection, which comprise the recombinant proteins or antibodies according to the invention, respectively.

A vaccine vector comprising an attenuated, recombinant ranavirus that has at least one foreign expression element is disclosed. In other contemplated embodiments, a vaccine vector comprising a virus, wherein the virus is engineered to express at least two vaccine antigens is disclosed. In addition, methods of delivering human antigens to a mammal are disclosed that include: providing a non-mammalian virus, engineering a recombinant virus that can express at least one foreign molecule by modifying the non-mammalian virus, and using the recombinant ranavirus to deliver human antigens to a mammal.

The invention relates to novel Muramyl Dipeptide (MDP) derivative compound of structural Formula-VIII, a process for synthesis, intermediates used in the synthesis and use thereof.

##STR00001##

Wherein, R can be both linear and branched alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl and alkoxy alkyl. These compounds possess excellent pharmacological properties, in particular immunomodulating properties for use as adjuvant in vaccine formulations. These compounds are, particularly useful as adjuvants in vaccines.