Hyperthermic treatment of tissue such as cancer tumors, is realized by providing an ohmic heating element on the distal tip of a catheter endovascularly inserted upstream of the tissue. Electrical power is provided to the element for a selected time and degree to raise the temperature of blood to a thermally mediating level such as 42.degree. C., but not to heat the blood so that distal tissues downstream are adversely affected. The element comprises a helical coil heater disposed proximate to the end of a catheter and within an expandable cage. The cage can be selectively deployed by expanding it to maintain the coil out of contact with the vessel walls while still allowing free blood flow. Alternatively a guidewire within an expandable cage can be disposed within the same catheter wherein the heating coil has been wound onto the guidewire or the guidewire is uninsulated at that portion within the cage serves as an electrode to directly heat the blood. Angioplasty without blood flow blockage is realized by expanding a cage instead of a balloon on the catheter. The cage can be selectively expanded by withdrawal of a guidewire temporarily coupled to the catheter tip. The cage can widen the narrowed vascular lumen while still allowing free blood flow and/or contrast agent, and it avoids the risk of balloon deflation failure. The expandable cage can be detachable and implantable as a stent.

Compositions derived from a novel viral isolate designated feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) include the whole virus, proteins, polypeptides and, polynucleotide sequences derived from the virus; and antibodies to antigenic sites on the virus. These compositions are useful in a variety of techniques for the detection of and vaccination against FIV. Detection methods disclosed include immunoassays for both the virus and antibodies to the virus, and the use of polynucleotide probes to detect the viral genome. Vaccines include both wholly and partially inactivated viruses inactivated cell lines expressing FIV antigens, and subunit vaccines. Whole, live virus is also useful as a model system for predicting the behavior of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The subject invention pertains to novel methods and compositions for protecting cats from infection by a broad range of FIV strains using a multi-subtype FIV vaccine. Multi-subtype FIV vaccines comprising either cell free whole virus or cell lines infected with viruses are described. Methods for vaccinating cats with the subject vaccine compositions are also described. Cats vaccinated according to the methods and compositions of the subject invention exhibit protective humoral and cellular immune responses to FIV when challenged with homologous or heterologous strains of FIV. The subject invention also pertains to novel feline cell lines that are susceptible to infection by FIV and their methods of use.

Disclosed are vaccines containing both a DNA sequence encoding FIV gag protein and a DNA sequence encoding FIV env protein. The gag and env proteins are preferably expressed by baculovirus expression systems containing the DNA sequences encoding the FIV env and gag proteins or in feline herpes virus vectors containing the DNA sequences encoding the FIV env and gag proteins. Also disclosed are combined mucosal/parenteral, mucosal/mucosal and parenteral/parenteral inoculation methods.

The subject invention pertains to novel methods and compositions for protecting cats from infection by a broad range of FIV strains using a multi-subtype FIV vaccine. Multi-subtype FIV vaccines comprising either cell free whole virus or cell lines infected with viruses are described. Methods for vaccinating cats with the subject vaccine compositions are also described. Cats vaccinated according to the methods and compositions of the subject invention exhibit protective humoral and cellular immune responses to FIV when challenged with homologous or heterologous strains of FIV. The subject invention also pertains to novel feline cell lines that are susceptible to infection by FIV and their methods of use.