Generation of monoclonal antibodies, or fragments thereof, that recognize the human parainfluenza virus (PIV) chimeric protein L, where the monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof have a heavy chain variable region and a light chain variable region. In addition, a method of diagnosing PIV infection in a biological sample of nasopharyngeal secretion is provided, using the monoclonal antibodies in diagnostic kit format.

The invention provides an agent for the treatment or prevention of viral infection in a subject. The agent is preferably a compound of Formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.11, X, Y and Q are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising such agents. An in vitro method of evaluating the antiviral activity or potential antiviral activity of a compound against a virus is also provided.

Highly antigenic yet safe vaccines against diseases caused by Paramyxoviridae viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are provided. The vaccines comprise attenuated Paramyxoviridae viruses with high antigenicity but which display impaired cell-to-cell transmission as a result of genetic manipulation of the gene encoding the matrix (M) protein. In the viruses, the M protein is absent or mutated to a less active form. Screening or assay systems and methods for evaluating the infectivity of mutant M proteins anf for identifying suitable M candidates for live-attenuated vaccine virus and VLP production, are also provided.

The present invention relates to a novel feline paramyxovirus. The paramyxovirus of the present invention is a (-)ssRNA virus and has in one aspect a genome which is complementary to the nucleic acid according to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8. The invention further relates to corresponding nucleic acids and polypeptides, antibodies and vaccines. Further, the invention relates to medical uses and diagnostic methods concerning the paramyxovirus of the invention.

Disclosed are compositions that comprise one or more broad-spectrum capture molecules (including, for example, the small, homodimer-forming lectin protein, Griffithsin), or glycoproteins that coat the viral envelope surface in methods for the identification of one or more virus particles in an airborne, aerosol, or aerosolized sample. Also disclosed are methods for the use of such capture agents in the manufacture of diagnostic reagents (as well as kits, devices, and systems comprising them), useful in developing viral detection platforms that are both rapid and facile to perform, yet highly-sophisticated, accurate, and sensitive. Methods are also provided for using these compositions in the identification, molecular capture, characterization, and design of therapeutic regents related thereto for the treatment of one or more symptoms of a viral infection, or a virally-induced disease in mammals and, particularly, in humans.

Disclosed herein are methods for detecting and producing PoMV. Further, disclosed herein are immunogenic and/or vaccine compositions and methods for treating or preventing PoMV. The compositions and methods include immunogenic portions of PoMV including entry proteins. In at least particular cases, a mutated version of a portion of the PoMV is utilized, such as a deglycosylated, or amino acid substituted mutant of the spike protein.

This invention relates to Hendra virus and Nipah virus immunogenic compositions and methods of use. The invention further relates to immunogenic compositions comprising Hendra virus G glycoprotein, and methods of protecting against Nipah virus infection and disease. The invention also relates to methods of distinguishing subjects vaccinated with the immunogenic compositions of the invention from those infected with Hendra and/or Nipah virus.

Highly antigenic yet safe vaccines against diseases caused by Paramyxoviridae viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are provided. The vaccines comprise attenuated Paramyxoviridae viruses with high antigenicity but which display impaired cell-to-cell transmission as a result of genetic manipulation of the gene encoding the matrix (M) protein. In the viruses, the M protein is absent or mutated to a less active form. Screening or assay systems and methods for evaluating the infectivity of mutant M proteins anf for identifying suitable M candidates for live-attenuated vaccine virus and VLP production, are also provided.

The present invention describes a liquid direct fluorescence antibody assay that is rapid and sensitive to detect respiratory virus in infected cells. The assay includes centrifugation of the specimen, incubation of sample and reagents in solution, and detection of the absence or presence of respiratory virus. Sapogenin is used as a detergent to permeabilize the cells for entry of the monoclonal antibodies to react with intracellular antigens. The cells are stained with fluorescently labeled monoclonal antibodies against the viral antigens along with a background stain and a fluorescent nuclear stain. This counter staining decreases background and allows co-localization of antigen and nuclear structures for enhanced detection.

The present invention discloses a polypeptide compound, a preparation method and an application thereof. The structural formula of the polypeptide compound is (X.sub.AX.sub.BX.sub.CX.sub.DX.sub.EX.sub.FX.sub.GX).sub.2KY or {(X.sub.AX.sub.BX.sub.CX.sub.DX.sub.EX.sub.FX.sub.GX).sub.2K}.sub.2KY or {({X.sub.AX.sub.BX.sub.CX.sub.DX.sub.EX.sub.FX.sub.GX}.sub.2K).sub.2K}.sub.2KY, where, X.sub.A, X.sub.B, X.sub.D, X.sub.E and X.sub.G are one of aliphatic amino acid molecules respectively, X.sub.C and X.sub.F are aliphatic amino acid molecules or heterocyclic amino acid molecules, K is lysine (Lys, K), X or Y is null or any one or more amino acid or chemical groups. The polypeptide compound provided in the invention has an effect of enhancing the immune function of a body and has an application potential of being developed into a clinical medicine capable of enhancing the immune function of a body.