The present invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to human C5a, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises a central stretch of nucleotides, wherein the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ AUGn.sub.1GGUGKUn.sub.2n.sub.3RGGGHUGUKGGGn.sub.4Gn.sub.5CGACGCA 3′ [SEQ ID NO: 61], wherein n.sub.1 is U or dU, n.sub.2 is G or dG, n.sub.3 is A or dA, n.sub.4 is U or dU, n.sub.5 is U or dU and G, A, U, C, H, K, and R are ribonucleotides, and dU, dG and dA are 2′-deoxyribonucleotides.

This disclosure provides a novel method for detecting one or more cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPs) using a capillary tube agglutination/lattice formation test. The method as disclosed has a wide variety of applications, including diagnosing or monitoring lupus or pre-lupus and other diseases or disorders (e.g., autoimmune or inflammatory diseases or disorders).

An objective of the invention is to provide anti-C5 antibodies and methods of using the same. The invention provides anti-C5 antibodies and methods of using the same. In some embodiments, an isolated anti-C5 antibody of the present invention binds to an epitope within the β chain of C5 with a higher affinity at neutral pH than at acidic pH. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acids encoding an anti-C5 antibody of the present invention. The invention also provides host cells comprising a nucleic acid of the present invention. The invention also provides a method of producing an antibody comprising culturing a host cell of the present invention so that the antibody is produced. The invention further provides a method of producing an anti-C5 antibody comprising immunizing an animal against a polypeptide which comprises the MG1-MG2 domain of the β chain of C5. Anti-C5 antibodies of the present invention may be for use as a medicament. Anti-C5 antibodies of the present invention may be for use in treating a complement-mediated disease or condition which involves excessive or uncontrolled activation of C5. Anti-C5 antibodies of the present invention may be for use in enhancing the clearance of C5 from plasma.

Compositions, methods and kits are provided for treating complement related disorders in a subject with protein in combination having protein fusions of at least two of a CD46 protein, a CD55 protein and a CD59 protein or with a recombinant chimeric protein having at least two of a CD46 protein, a CD55 protein and a CD59 protein or with nucleic acids encoding these proteins. The composition negatively modulates classical and alternative complement pathways thereby treating complement related disorder such as macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroiditis, cryoglobulinaemia, fetal loss, organ graft rejection, cancer, etc.

In some aspects, the present invention cell-penetrating compstatin analog and compositions comprising cell-penetrating compstatin analog. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using cell-penetrating compstatin analogs treat a complement-mediated disorder. e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ, to inhibit production or release of biologically active C3 cleavage products.

The present invention provides anti-C1q antibodies and methods of using the same.

A method of identifying a potential therapeutic compound that affects a Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) pathway in cancer cells, which includes: providing a device capable of measuring cell-substrate impedance; culturing cancer cells in serum-free media in at least two wells of the device; adding to a first well a proposed therapeutic compound that affects a RTK pathway and a RTK stimulating factor for the RTK pathway to form a test well, and adding to another well the RTK stimulating factor to form a control well; continuously monitoring cell-substrate impedance of the at least two wells and optionally determining cell indices from the monitored cell-substrate impedance; and determining a difference in impedance or optionally cell index between the test well and control well; and if significantly different, concluding the proposed therapeutic compound is therapeutically active in the RTK pathway within the cancer cells.

The invention relates to complement inhibitors that inhibit both the classical and alternative complement pathways. In particular, the invention relates to complement inhibitors derived from the salivary glands of haematophagous arthropods that inhibit both the classical and alternative complement pathways. The invention also relates to the use of the complement inhibitors in the treatment and prevention of diseases.

Provided is a method for measuring ADAs appearing in a patient receiving molecular-targeted therapy with a drug or the like in a simpler and more accurate manner.

A method for measuring anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) in an analyte to be measured, the method comprising:

(1) a step of providing a sample comprising an analyte to be measured for ADAs, the step comprising adding a corresponding drug to an analyte to be measured for ADAs to prepare a sample with a drug-ADAs immune complex formed;

(2) a step of contacting the sample prepared in step (1) with a carrier coated with complement Clq, anti-C3d antibody, or anti-Clq antibody;

(3) a step of contacting a labeled or non-labeled antibody to a drug corresponding to the ADAs with the coated carrier prepared in step (2); and

(4) a step of quantifying the drug-ADAs immune complex binding to the complement Clq, anti-C3d antibody, or anti-Clq antibody.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides compositions and kits comprising light-emitting versions of the monoclonal antibody to C3d (mAB 3d29) for imaging and methods of use thereof for detecting infectious and inflammatory cells in vivo. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides methods for detecting and/or monitoring a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection in a subject, as well as methods of treating a M. tuberculosis infection in a subject.