Appeal No. 1997-0711
Application No. 08/271,539
[p]referably, the immunogenicity of the polypeptides is increased by
combination with an adjuvant and/or by conversion to a larger form prior to
immunization (p. 11, ll. 28-30)
or
[t]he immunogenicity of the polypeptides can also be enhanced by cross-
linking or by coupling to an immunogenic carrier molecule .... Cross-linking
or conjugation to a carrier molecule may be required because small
polypeptides sometimes act as haptens (molecules which are capable of
specifically binding to an antibody but incapable of eliciting antibody
production, i.e., they are not immunogenic). Conjugation of such
polypeptides to an immunogenic carrier molecule renders the fragments
immunogenic through what is commonly known as the "carrier effect."
[P. 12, ll. 11-22.]
Production of the desired antibodies is determined using a two-part screening procedure,
i.e., (1) an ELISA analysis using the immunizing polypeptide and IL-4 as antigens and (2) a
radioligand receptor binding analysis which measures the inhibition of the specific binding
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of I-IL-4 to cellular receptors (specification, p. 16, ll. 21-26).
The specification exemplifies immunizing rabbits by intradermal administration of a
combination of polypeptide No. 7 (i.e., amino acid residues 61 to 82 of IL-4), pertussis
vaccine and Freund's complete adjuvant (p. 21) and ELISA and radioligand analyses of
the obtained antiserum (i.e., antiserum 343-6 IgG fraction) (pp. 22-24).
OPINION
All of the appealed claims require a method comprising administration of "a
polypeptide consisting of amino acid residues 61 to 82 of IL-4" (emphasis added). The
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