The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising an annexin A5 (ANXA5) gene regulation element which comprises at least one point mutation, whereby said at least one point mutation (substitution) is selected from the group consisting of (i) a point mutation G to A at a position which corresponds to nucleotide 186 of SEQ ID NO: 2; (ii) a point mutation A to C at a position which corresponds to nucleotide 203 of SEQ ID NO: 2; (iii) a point mutation T to C at a position which corresponds to nucleotide 229 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and (iv) a point mutation G to A at a position which corresponds to nucleotide 276 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Furthermore, the present invention provides for a vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule the invention and a host transformed with the vector. The invention also relates to specific uses, in particular diagnostic uses of the nucleic acid molecules described herein. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for haplotyping an ANXA5 gene regulation element in an individual comprising the steps of: (a) isolating a nucleic acid from a sample that has been removed from the individual; (b) determining the presence of the nucleotides present at positions 186, 203, 229 and 276 of the individual's copy of the ANXA5 gene regulation element, wherein the position numbers are determined by comparison to SEQ ID NO: 2; (c) assigning the individuals a particular haplotype by comparison of the nucleotides present at said positions to the nucleotides recited in the haplotypes as defined herein.

The present invention relates to fusion proteins which are capable of binding to phosphatidylserine comprising a phosphatidylserene binding ligand and a modified O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase which is capable of autoconjugation to an O6-benzylguanine-modified label, the fusion proteins being capable of binding to phosphatidylserine on the surface of a cell undergoing apoptosis. The invention also relates to recombinant polypeptide precursors of the fusion proteins which comprise a secretion leader sequence, purification tag, protease cleavage site and the fusion protein. Also included in the scope of the invention are nucleic acids encoding the recombinant polypeptide precursor, vectors comprising the nucleic acids, host cells comprising the vectors, methods of production of the fusion proteins, kits and assays for detecting apoptosis.

The present invention provides a process for the recovery and/or purification of a recombinantly expressed intracellular protein comprising the sequence of Annexin A5 (AnxA5) from an endotoxin-producing host cell with a cell wall, wherein the process comprises releasing the intracellular protein from the host cell, characterised in that the step of releasing the intracellular AnxA5 protein is conducted in the presence of a homogenisation buffer comprising non-ionic detergent, and preferably wherein the process does not include any centrifugation steps for the recovery and/or purification of the AnxA5 protein after its release from the host cell and/or in which the AnxA5 protein remains in solution throughout the process except when temporarily bound to any chromatographic resins.

Combinations of an apyrase and an annexin, including fusion proteins thereof, are synergistic antithrombotics that do not induce unwanted bleeding

The present invention relates to a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-specific binding protein, wherein the PSMA-specific binding protein is a lipocalin 2 (Lcn2)-derived binding protein and binds to PSMA with a K.sub.D of 10 nM or lower. The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding the PSMA-specific binding protein of the invention, a vector comprising said nucleic acid molecule of the invention and a host cell transformed with the vector. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of producing the PSMA-specific binding protein of the invention, the method comprising culturing the host cell of the invention under suitable conditions and isolating the PSMA-specific binding protein produced. The present invention further relates to a protein conjugate comprising the PSMA-specific binding protein of the invention, or the PSMA-specific binding protein produced by the method of the invention. In addition, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition; to the PSMA-specific binding protein of the invention, the nucleic acid molecule of the invention, the vector of the invention, the host cell of the invention or the PSMA-specific binding protein produced by the method of the invention, for use in therapy and/or diagnosis, and in particular for use in the therapy and/or diagnosis of tumors, Crohn's disease and/or neurological diseases.

The present invention provides synthetic polypeptides comprising an annexin V protein, or a functional portion or fragment or variant thereof, conjugated to a tumor antigen, or a functional portion or fragment or variant thereof. The invention further provides methods for making said synthetic polypeptides and their use in the treatment of proliferative diseases such as cancer and tumors originating therefrom.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising an annexin A5 (ANXA5) gene regulation element which comprises at least one point mutation corresponding to nucleotide 186 (G to A), 203 (A to C), 229 (T to C), and 276 (G to A) of SEQ ID NO: 2, a vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule, and a host transformed with the vector. The invention also relates to specific uses, in particular diagnostic uses of the nucleic acid molecules described herein. The invention also relates to haplotyping an ANXA5 gene regulation element from a nucleic acid from an individual which involves determining nucleotides present at positions 186, 203, 229 and 276 of the individual's copy of the ANXA5 gene regulation element by comparison to SEQ ID NO: 2.

Methods of using recombinant human CC10 (rhCC10), also known as recombinant human uteroglobin and secretoglobin 1A1 (SCGB1A1), to reduce virus titers in the tissues of patients, particularly influenza, ebola, and coronavirus titers in lung tissues are provided. RhCC10 may be used as a therapeutic in the treatment, cure, or prevention of viral infection, particularly influenza, ebola, and coronavirus infection. More particularly, methods, including broadly the critical dosage ranges of rhCC10, intravenous and intranasal route of administration, which may be administered to treat, cure or prevent influenza, ebola, and coronavirus infection are provided. Further provided are compositions useful in the foregoing methods and in administering rhCC10 to humans.

Described herein are methods comprising administering to a mammalian subject an effective amount of an annexin chimeric fusion protein, wherein the annexin chimeric fusion protein comprises at least one immunogenic antigen, thereby enhancing the antigen specific immune response relative to administration of the immunogenic antigen alone. Methods and kits for treating or preventing recurrence of hyper proliferating diseases, e.g., cancer, are described. A method may comprise priming a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent and boosting the mammal by administering to the mammal an effective amount of an annexin chimeric fusion.

The present invention provides a process for the recovery and/or purification of a recombinantly expressed intracellular protein comprising the sequence of Annexin A5 (AnxA5) from an endotoxin-producing host cell with a cell wall, wherein the process comprises releasing the intracellular protein from the host cell, characterised in that the step of releasing the intracellular AnxA5 protein is conducted in the presence of a homogenisation buffer comprising non-ionic detergent, and preferably wherein the process does not include any centrifugation steps for the recovery and/or purification of the AnxA5 protein after its release from the host cell and/or in which the AnxA5 protein remains in solution throughout the process except when temporarily bound to any chromatographic resins.