Abstract:
The present invention concerns novel amides derived from pantothenic acid having antibiotic activity and novel analogues of pantetheine inhibiting the activity of pantetheinase. Combinations of such substances can suitably beused in therapeutic and or prophylactic treatment of bacterial infections, fungal and yeast infections in a human or animal subject. The present invention resides in the findingthat pantothenamidesaloneare not at antibiotically active in the presence of plasma due to the breakdown of pantothenamides by enzymes with pantetheinase activityandthat inhibition of these enzymes prevented breakdown of pantothenamides,thuspreserving their antibiotic activity under physiological conditions in mammals. The present invention thus, for the first time, makes available treatment relying on interference with microbial CoA dependent pathways and, simultaneously, inhibiting or reducing pantetheinase activity.
Abstract:
The present invention provides proteins/genes, which are essential for survival, and consequently, for virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in vivo, and thus are ideal vaccine candidates for a vaccine preparation against pneumococcal infection. Further, also antibodies against said protein(s) are included in the invention.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns novel pantothenone compounds having pantetheinase inhibitory activity as well as antiplasmodial activity. These compounds can suitably be used in therapeutic and or prophylactic treatment of malaria. Furthermore, the present invention provides combinations of pantothenone compounds and pantothenamides. Combining a pantothenone with a pantothenamide increases the antimalarial potency by an order of magnitude. It is hypothesized that inhibition of pantetheinase activity could protect pantothenamides against degradation by serum-derived pantetheinases, thereby revealing the hitherto unknown antimalaria activity of pantothenamides. The present invention thus, for the first time, makes available compounds and combinations of compounds for use in therapeutic and or prophylactic treatment of malaria infection in a human or animal subject in need thereof, relying on interference with host or pathogen-derived pantetheinase dependent pathways.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for providing an activated antigen-presenting cell or a composition that comprises at least one activated antigen-presenting cell, which method at least comprises the steps of providing a composition that comprises at least one antigen-presenting cell and contacting said composition with a vaccine. Suitably, the at least one dendritic cell is brought into a state in which it is capable of stimulating T-cells and/or a T-cell mediated response.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for providing an activated antigen-presenting cell or a composition that comprises at least one activated antigen-presenting cell, which method at least comprises the steps of providing a composition that comprises at least one antigen-presenting cell and contacting said composition with a vaccine. Suitably, the at least one dendritic cell is brought into a state in which it is capable of stimulating T-cells and/or a T-cell mediated response.
Abstract:
The present invention is related to a method for deriving shape information of a person's dentition. The method comprises the steps of - obtaining a first data set by taking a 3D scan of the person's dentition with markers fixed in the person's intra-oral cavity, - digitizing an impression of the person's dentition with the markers fixed, yielding a second data set, - fusing the first and the second data set based on corresponding pairs of the markers, - deriving the shape information from the fused first and second data sets.
Abstract:
Use of a compound (I) that binds to a C-type lectin (II) on the surface of a dendritic cell (DC) for producing a composition for modulating (especially reducing) the immune response in an animal (particularly human or other mammal), provided that (II) is not the DEC-205 receptor. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) an antibody (Ab), preferably monoclonal, directed against a C-type lectin (IIa) having a fully defined sequence of about 400 amino acids (given in the specification) or its natural variants, equivalents, parts, fragments or epitopes; (2) a pharmaceutical composition containing Ab and at least one carrier, excipient, adjuvant or auxiliary; (3) a combination of (I) attached to an antigen (Ag) or its fragment; (4) a method for producing, isolating and/or purifying DC from a biological sample or culture medium; and (5) DC prepared by method in (4). ACTIVITY : Immunosuppressant; immunostimulant; anti-allergic; antiviral; antitumor; antibacterial; antiprotozoal. MECHANISM OF ACTION : (I) mediates adhesion between DC and other cells by inhibiting interaction between (II) and (i) an ICAM (intracellular adhesion molecule) on T cells or (ii) gp 120 on HIV (human immune deficiency virus)-infected cells. A new (II), DC-SIGN, is not only involved in DC-T cell clumping but is also a major HIV receptor. Cells of the leukemia line K562 were transfected to express ICAM-3 and tested for binding to DC. Clumping between the cells was inhibited by antibodies directed against DC-SIGN, and DC-mediated T cell proliferation was then only about 1/3 of that in an antibody-free medium. The effect was greatly increased when anti-LFA3 antibodies were additionally present (practically no proliferation).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for providing an activated antigen-presenting cell or a composition that comprises at least one activated antigen-presenting cell, which method at least comprises the steps of providing a composition that comprises at least one antigen-presenting cell and contacting said composition with a vaccine. Suitably, the at least one dendritic cell is brought into a state in which it is capable of stimulating T-cells and/or a T-cell mediated response.