Immunogenicity of the carcinoembryonic antigen derived peptide 694 in HLA-A2 healthy donors and colorectal carcinoma patients

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEACAM5) is commonly overexpressed in human colon cancer. Several antigenic peptides recognized by cytolytic CD8+ T-cells have been identified and used in colon cancer phase-I vaccination clinical trials. The HLA-A*0201-binding CEA694-702 peptide was recently isolated from acid eluted MHC-I associated peptides from a human colon tumor cell line. However, the immunogenicity of this peptide in humans remains unknown. We found that the peptide CEA694-702 binds weakly to HLA-A*0201 molecules and is ineffective at inducing specific CD8+ T-cell responses in healthy donors. Immunogenic-altered peptide ligands with increased affinity for HLA-A*0201 were identified. Importantly, the elicited cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) lines and clones cross-reacted with the wild-type CEA694-702 peptide. Tumor cells expressing CEA were recognized in a peptide and HLA-A*0201 restricted fashion, but high-CEA expression levels appear to be required for CTL recognition. Finally, CEA-specific T-cell precursors could be readily expanded by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from colon cancer patients with altered CEA peptide. However, the CEA-specific CD8+ T-cell clones derived from cancer patients revealed low-functional avidity and impaired tumor-cell recognition. Together, using T-cells to demonstrate the processing and presentation of the peptide CEA694-702, we were able to corroborate its presentation by tumor cells. However, the low avidity of the specific CTLs generated from cancer patients as well as the high-antigen expression levels required for CTL recognition pose serious concerns for the use of CEA694-702 in cancer immunotherap

Search for Heavy Isosinglet Neutrino in e+e- Annihilation at LEP

We report on a search for the first generation heavy neutrino that is an isosinglet under the standard SU(2)_L gauge group. The data collected with the L3 detector at center-of-mass energies between 130 GeV and 208 GeV are used.The decay channel N_e --> eW is investigated and no evidence is found for a heavy neutrino, N_e, in a mass range between 80 GeV and 205 GeV. Upper limits on the mixing parameter between the heavy and light neutrino are derived

Direct Observation of Longitudinally Polarised W Bosons

The three different helicity states of W bosons, produced in the reaction e+e- -> W+W- -> l nu q q~ are studied using leptonic and hadronic W decays at sqrt{s}=183GeV and 189GeV. The W polarisation is also measured as a function of the scattering angle between the W- and the direction of the e- beam. The analysis demonstrates that W bosons are produced with all three helicities, the longitudinal and the two transverse states. Combining the results from the two center-of-mass energies and with leptonic and hadronic W decays, the fraction of longitudinally polarised W bosons is measured to be 0.261 +/- 0.051(stat.) +/- 0.016(syst.) in agreement with the expectation from the Standard Model

Study of Z Boson Pair Production in e^+e^- Interactions at \sqrt{s}=192 - 202 GeV

The cross section for the production of Z boson pairs is measured using the data collected by the L3 detector at LEP in 1999 in e^+e^- collisions at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 192 GeV up to 202 GeV. Events in all the visible final states are selected, measuring the cross section of this process. The special case of final states containing b quarks is also investigated. All results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions

K0s K0s Final State in Two-Photon Collisions and Implications for Glueballs

The K0s K0s final state in two-photon collisions is studied with the L3 detector at LEP. The mass spectrum is dominated by the formation of the f_2'(1525) tensor meson in the helicity-two state with a two-photon width times the branching ratio into K Kbar of 76 +- 6 +- 11 eV. A clear signal for the formation of the f_J(1710) is observed and it is found to be dominated by the spin-two helicity-two state. No resonance is observed in the mass region around 2.2 GeV and an upper limit of 1.4 eV at 95% C.L. is derived for the two-photon width times the branching ratio into K0s K0s for the glueball candidate xi(2230)

Search for a Higgs Boson Decaying into Two Photons at LEP

A Higgs particle produced in association with a Z boson and decaying into two photons is searched for in the data collected by the L3 experiment at LEP. All possible decay modes of the Z boson are investigated. No signal is observed in 447.5 pb^-1 of data recorded at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. Limits on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay into two photons as a function of the Higgs mass are derived. A lower limit on the mass of a fermiophobic Higgs boson is set at 105.4 GeV at 95% confidence level

Measurement of the W-Pair Production Cross Section and W-Decay Branching Fractions in e+e−e^{+}e^{-} Interactions at s\sqrt{s}= 189 GeV

The data collected by the L3 experiment at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of $188.6~\rm{Ge\kern -0.1em V}$ are used to measure the W-pair production cross section and the W-boson decay branching fractions. These data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 176.8~pb$^{-1}$. The total cross section for W-pair production, combining all final states, is measured to be $\sigma_{\rm{WW}}= 16.24 \pm 0.37~(stat.) \pm 0.22~(syst.)$~pb. Including our data collected at lower centre-of-mass energies, the hadronic branching fraction of the W-boson is determined to be $B(\rm{W} \rightarrow \rm{qq})= \left[ 68.20 \pm 0.68~(stat.) \pm 0.33~(syst.)\right]~\%$. The results agree with the Standard Model predictions.The data collected by the L3 experiment at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV are used to measure the W-pair production cross section and the W-boson decay branching fractions. These data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 176.8pb^-1. The total cross section for W-pair production, combining all final states, is measured to be sigma_WW = 16.24 +/- 0.37(stat.) +/- 0.22(syst.) pb. Including our data collected at lower centre-of-mass energies, the hadronic branching fraction of the W-boson is determined to be B(W ->qq) = [68.20 +/- 0.68 (stat.) +/- 0.33 (syst.) ] %. The results agree with the Standard Model predictions.The data collected by the L3 experiment at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV are used to measure the W-pair production cross section and the W-boson decay branching fractions. These data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 176.8 pb −1 . The total cross section for W-pair production, combining all final states, is measured to be σ WW =16.24±0.37 (stat.)±0.22 (syst.) pb. Including our data collected at lower centre-of-mass energies, the hadronic branching fraction of the W-boson is determined to be B (W→qq)=[68.20±0.68 (stat.)±0.33 (syst.)]%. The results agree with the Standard Model predictions

Measurement of the Running of the Fine-Structure Constant

Small-angle Bhabha scattering data recorded at the Z resonance and large-angleBhabha scattering data recorded at $\sqrt{s} = 189$ \textrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V} bythe L3 detector at LEP are used to measure the running of the effective fine-structure constant for spacelike momentum transfers. The results are\begin{eqnarray*} \alpha^{-1}(-2.1 \mathrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V}^{2}) - \alpha^{-1}(-6.25 \mathrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V}^{2}) & = & 0.78 \pm 0.26 \\ \alpha^{-1}(-12.25 \mathrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V}^{2}) - \alpha^{-1}(-3434 \mathrm{Ge\kern -0.1em V}^{2}) & = & 3.80 \pm 1.29, \\\end{eqnarray*}in agreement with theoretical predictions.Bhabha scattering data recorded at \sqrt{s}=189 GeV by the L3 detector at LEP are used to measure the running of the effective fine-structure constant for spacelike momentum transfers. The results are alpha^-1(-2.1 GeV^2) - alpha^-1(-6.25 GeV^2) = 0.78 +/- 0.26 alpha^-1(-12.25 GeV^2) - alpha^-1(-3434 GeV^2) = 3.80 +/- 1.29, in agreement with theoretical predictions.Small-angle Bhabha scattering data recorded at the Z resonance and large-angle Bhabha scattering data recorded at s =189 GeV by the L3 detector at LEP are used to measure the running of the effective fine-structure constant for spacelike momentum transfers. The results are α −1 (−2.1 GeV 2 )−α −1 (−6.25 GeV 2 )=0.78±0.26 α −1 (−12.25 GeV 2 )−α −1 (−3434 GeV 2 )=3.80±1.29, in agreement with theoretical predictions

f1_1(1285) Formation in Two-Photon Collisions at LEP

The $\eta \pi^+ \pi^-$ final state in two-photon collisions is studied with the L3 detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209~GeV with an integrated luminosity of 664.6~pb$^{-1}$. The f$_1$(1285) meson is observed and the $Q^2$ dependence of its production is compared to different form factor models. The $\gamma\gamma$-coupling parameter $\tilde\Gamma_{\gamma\gamma}$ is found to be $3.5 \pm 0.6\,(stat.) \pm 0.5\,(sys.)$~keV. The branching fraction $\Gamma\bigl({\rm f}_1(1285)\rightarrow{\rm a}_0\pi\bigr) / \Gamma\bigl({\rm f}_1(1285)\rightarrow\eta\pi\pi\bigr)$ is also measured.The eta pi^+ pi^- final state in two-photon collisions is studied with the L3 detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV with an integrated luminosity of 664.6/pb. The f_1(1285) meson is observed and the Q^2 dependence of its production is compared to different form factor models. The gamma-gamma coupling parameter is found to be 3.5 +/- 0.6(stat.) +/- 0.5(sys.) keV. The branching fraction (f_1(1285) -> a_0 pi) / (f_1(1285) -> eta pi pi) is also measured.The ηπ + π − final state in two-photon collisions is studied with the L3 detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV with an integrated luminosity of 664.6 pb −1 . The f 1 (1285) meson is observed and the Q 2 dependence of its production is compared to different form factor models. The γγ -coupling parameter Γ γγ is found to be 3.5±0.6(stat.)±0.5(sys.) keV. The branching fraction Γ (f 1 (1285)→a 0 π )/ Γ (f 1 (1285)→ ηππ ) is also measured

Study of Multiphoton Final States and Tests of QED in e+e- collisions at \root(s) up to 209 GeV

The process e+ e- -> n gamma with n>=2 is studied at centre-of-mass energies ranging from \root(s)=192 to 208 GeV. The data sample corresponds to a total integrated luminosity of 427 1/pb. The total and differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the QED expectations. Using all the data collected with the L3 detector above the Z pole, limits on deviations from QED, excited electrons, contact interactions, extra space dimensions and excited spin-3/2 leptons are set