The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health Ltd. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160122395 | Immunogenic compositions and a process for producing same - The present invention provides a modified HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) antigen or a lipid containing vehicle comprising same. The Env antigen comprises one of a second site suppressor mutation in residue 674 of the membrane proximal ectodomain region (MPER) of HIV gp41; a second site suppressor mutation which ablates a glycosylation site in the variable region (V1) region of gp120; or a second site suppressor mutation ablating a glycosylation site in the V1 region of gp120 and a second site suppressor mutation in residue 674 of the MPER of HIV gp41. It is preferred that the lipid containing vehicle is a HIVLP. | 05-05-2016 |
20120164155 | CHIMERIC MOLECULES - The invention relates to chimeric proteins comprising an antigen and a trimer forming portion or a trimer and virus-like particle forming portion of foamy virus envelope protein (FV TM). The trimer or trimer and virus-like particle forming portion comprises i) full length foamy virus transmembrane protein; ii) foamy virus transmembrane protein absent a functional cytoplasmic domain; iii) foamy virus transmembrane protein absent a functional cytoplasmic domain and transmembrane domain; iv) foamy virus ectodomain comprising N-terminal heptad repeat region and cysteine rich region between N-terminal heptad repeat region and C-terminal α-helical region; v) N-terminal heptad repeat region; vi) a functional variant of any one of i) to v); or vii) any one of i) to vi) lacking an FV fusion peptide domain. In particular, the antigen is an antigen of a virus envelope protein, such as HIV gp 120. Soluble and membrane bound forms of trimeric and higher oligomeric forms of the chimeric proteins are provided as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding and expressing same, viral-like particles comprising same, compositions including pharmaceutical compositions, host cells and kits. Methods are described for producing immune responses including antibodies determined by the chimeric protein or VLP, as well as methods of screening using the chimeric protein, VLP and/or antibodies. | 06-28-2012 |
20120064528 | METHODS AND REAGENTS FOR QUANTIFYING NUCLEIC ACID FRAGMENTATION AND APOPTOSIS (QLM-PCR, CELL NUMBER QPCR AND APOQPCR) - A method for quantifying apoptosis in absolute terms in a cellular sample by real-time ligation-mediated PCR, the method comprising: (a) obtaining first control genomic nucleic acid which is apoptotic nucleic acid from a cellular sample that is substantially 100% apoptotic; (b) obtaining test genomic nucleic acid derived from a test cellular sample; (c) subjecting a plurality of different known concentrations of first control genomic nucleic acid to real-time apoptosis-specific multi-product PCR in the presence of a nucleic acid-binding fluorophore or other detectable tag to obtain a threshold cycle number (Ct) or other equivalent value at different nucleic acid concentrations and establishing a linear numerical relationship between Ct or equivalent value and apoptotic nucleic acid concentration; (d) subjecting test nucleic acid to real-time apoptosis-specific multi-product PCR in the presence of a nucleic acid-binding fluorophore or other detectable tag to obtain a Ct or other equivalent value; and (e) establishing the quantity of apoptotic nucleic acid in the test nucleic acid, which corresponds numerically to the concentration of nucleic acid in (c) which determines the Ct or equivalent value obtained in (d). A standard composition of isolated genomic nucleic acid comprising substantially 100% apoptotic nucleic acid or comprising apoptotic nucleic acid as a predetermined proportion of an isolated nucleic acid sample. A kit comprising same. | 03-15-2012 |
20100119514 | Antibodies Against Cancer - An isolated binding partner of a Cripto-1 protein, Pim-1 protein or an antigen present in a colon cancer cell lysate is described. The binding partner inhibits growth of one or more cancer cell types and may be used in an anti-cancer agent for treating cancer in a subject. The binding partner may also be used in a method of inducing apoptosis in a cancer cell, as well as in a method of sensitising a cancer cell to a cytotoxic compound. In addition, a cancer vaccine is described wherein the vaccine comprises a Cripto-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof), Pim-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof) or an antigen present in a colon cancer cell lysate or, alternatively, comprises an expressible DNA molecule encoding a Cripto-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof), Pim-1 protein (or an antigenic fragment thereof) or an antigen present in a colon cancer cell lysate. | 05-13-2010 |