302 results about "Immunologic Stimulation" patented technology

The present invention provides to a humanized monoclonal antibody having immunostimulatory effects. This antibody binds specifically to B lymphoblastoid cells, induces proliferation and activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes, particularly T cells, and is capable of eliciting an anti-tumor effect upon administration to subjects suffering from cancer.

The invention relates to a class of short CpG immunostimulatory oligonucleotides that are useful for stimulating an immune response. Preferably the short oligonucleotides are soft or semi-soft oligonucleotides.

Microparticles with adsorbent surfaces, methods of making such microparticles, and uses thereof, are disclosed. The microparticles comprise a polymer, such as a poly(α-hydroxy acid), a polyhydroxy butyric acid, a polycaprolactone, a polyorthoester, a polyanhydride, and the like, and are formed using cationic, anionic, or nonionic detergents. The surface of the microparticles efficiently adsorb biologically active macromolecules, such as DNA, polypeptides, antigens, and adjuvants. Also provided are compositions of an oil droplet emulsion having a metabolizable oil and an emulsifying agent. Immunogenic compositions having an immunostimulating amount of an antigenic substance, and an immunostimulating amount of an adjuvant composition are also provided. Methods of stimulating an immune response, methods of immunizing a host animal against a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection, and methods of increasing a Th1 immune response in a host animal by administering to the animal an immunogenic composition of the microparticles, and / or microemulsions of the invention, are also provided.

The present invention is related to the fields of molecular biology, virology, immunology and medicine. The invention provides a modified virus-like particle (VLP) comprising a VLP which can be loaded with immunostimulatory substances, in particular with DNA oligonucleotides containing non-methylated C and G (CpGs), and particular peptides derived from MelanA linked thereto. Such CpGVLPs are dramatically more immunogenic than their CpG-free counterparts and induce enhanced B and T cell responses. The immune response against MelanA peptide analogues optionally coupled, fused or attached otherwise to the VLPs is similarly enhanced as the immune response against the VLP itself. In addition, the T cell responses against the MelanA peptide analogues are especially directed to the Thl type. Antigens attached to CpG-loaded VLPs may therefore be ideal vaccines for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination against allergies, tumors and other self-molecules and chronic viral diseases.

An immunotherapeutic vaccine providing antigen presenting cells that have been pulsed with a disrupted cell preparation which includes enucleated cytosol and cell membranes of cancer cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus encoding at least one immunostimulating molecule. In a preferred embodiment, the vaccine includes autologous dendritic / monocytic cells (DC / M) that present a mixture of antigens (present in the enucleated cytosol and cell membranes) from melanoma cell lines that have been infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus encoding IL-2. In another of the preferred embodiments, the enucleated cytosol and cell membranes are from melanoma cells harvested from the patient to be treated. A method of making the vaccine and methods of using the vaccine to stimulate an anti-cancer immune response and to treat a patient with a cancer are also described.

The core structure of pentaerythritol has been used as a replacement for one or both sugars in lipid A, leading to the generation of a series of lipid A analogs. These lipid A analogs may further differ from lipid A with respect to, e.g., the number, nature and location of negatively charged groups, and the number, nature and location of the lipid chains. The lipid A analogs may be lipid A agonists useful as immunostimulatory agents, or lipid A antagonists useful in the treatment of septic shock. In a like manner, a residue of pentaerythritylamine may be used as a replacement for an amino sugar residue in a carbohydrate ligand having a biological activity of interest, generating a series of ligand analogs. These are useful, e.g., as haptens, inhibitors of bacterial-host cell adhesion, etc.