Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant plant viral nucleic acids and to hosts infected thereby. The recombinant plant viral nucleic acids comprise a native plant viral subgenomic promoter, at least one non-native plant viral subgenomic promoter, a plant viral coat protein coding sequence, and optionally, at least one non-native nucleic acid sequence to be transcribed or expressed in the infected host plant. The recombinant plant viral nucleic acids are stable, capable of systemic infection and capable of stable transcription or expression in the plant host of the non-native nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses structures of the formula ##STR1## wherein: X is oxygen, methylene, or difluoromethylene;n=0 or 1;m=0 or 1;n+m=0, 1 or 2; andB and B' are each independently a purine residue or a pyrimidine residue linked through the 9- or 1-position, respectively, provided that compounds disclosed in Table I are excluded. In the instance where B and B' are uracil, attached at the N-1 position to the ribosyl moiety, then the total of m+n may equal 3 or 4 when X is oxygen.The compounds of the present invention are highly selective agonists of the P2Y.sub.2 purinergic receptor, thus, they are useful in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis, PCD, cystic fibrosis, as well as prevention of pneumonia due to immobility. Furthermore, because of their general ability to clear retained mucus secretions and stimulate ciliary beat frequency, the compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of sinusitis and otitis media.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the treatment of degenerative diseases of tissues which have lost melanin and which share a common embryological basis as tissues of the nervous system by the administration of an active substance which causes an increased concentration of melanin in the tissue. Such active substances include melanin, melanin variants, melanin analogs, melanin derivatives, tyrosinase, tyrosinase gene, melanin-concentrating hormone and combinations thereof. Examples of such diseases include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, retinitis pigmentosa, schizophrenia and dementia. The invention is also useful in assisting in the repair of neurons in a mammal having neuron damage by administering an effective amount of an active substance which causes an increased concentration of melanin in the neuron to aid in nerve repair.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel sodium channel active compounds, processes for making such compounds, and the use of such compounds as local anesthetics and pesticides.

Abstract: A new mutation has been found in the BRCA1 gene. The mutation is a two base pair deletion at nucleotides 3888 and 3889 of the published cDNA sequence of BRCA1 (GENBANK ACCESSION NO:U14680). The invention provides a method for diagnosing persons at risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. The invention also provides a further tool with which to characterize tumors.

Abstract: This invention is directed to three coding sequences of the BRCA1 gene. The three coding sequences, BRCA1.sup.(omi1), BRCA1.sup.(omi2) and BRCA1.sup.(omi3) as well as their frequencies of occurrence are provided together with the protein sequences they code for. Another aspect of this invention is a method of determining the consensus sequence for any gene. Another aspect of the invention is a method of identifying an individual having an increased genetic susceptibility to breast or ovarian cancer because they have inherited a causative mutation in their BRCA1 gene. This invention is also related to a method of performing gene therapy with any of the isolated BRCA1 coding sequences.

Abstract: A consensus DNA sequence has been determined for the BRCA1 gene. As has been seven polymorphic sites and their rates of occurrence in normal BRCA1 genes. The consensus gene BRCA1.sup.(omi) and the seven polymorphic sites will provide greater accuracy and reliability for genetic testing. One skilled in the art will be better able to avoid misinterpretations of changes in the gene, determine the presence of a normal gene, and of mutations, and to classify tumors.

Abstract: The recovery of live ancient bacteria, fungi and other biological material from various sources fossilized in amber or related resins is described. Several ancient bacterial strains have been classified as related to various species of the modern genus Bacillus, for example, based upon their morphological and biochemical characteristics, and enzymatic activity profiles. Although some of the characteristics of the ancient microorganisms correlate well with their modern counterparts, several differences have been observed. In addition, several of the ancient microorganisms described herein exhibit potent antimicrobial activities against modern bacterial and fungal pathogens which attack animals and plants. Various uses for these ancient microorganisms are envisioned, including their use in agriculture, industrial processes, bioremediation, diagnostic and disease treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymeric compositions of matter and their use. Said polymeric compositions of matter are surface active endgroup-containing polymers that comprise a linear base polymer having covalently bonded surface active endgroups of a nature and present in an amount such that said polymers have a surface or interfacial tension that differs by at least 1 dyne/cm from the surface or interfacial tension of an otherwise identical polymer that does not contain said covalently bonded surface active endgroups. The novel linear polymers according to the present invention are particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of medical devices, and especially of medical devices intended to be used in contact with bodily fluids such as blood. Examples of such medical devices include catheters and artificial hearts.

Abstract: Unsubstituted or substituted 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrones are potent, selective and non-toxic inhibitors and suppressants of viral infections in a mammalian host. The compounds are particularly useful for treatment of AIDS, herpetic episodes and cytomegaloviral infections. The method of treatment of viral diseases by 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrones is described.

Abstract: Methods and materials for the cloning of DNA, in particular, for the cloning of "unclonable" DNA using genetically engineered host cells. Host cell organisms have been discovered that stabilize and inhibit rearrangement of DNA molecules capable of forming non-standard secondary and tertiary structures. Organisms are engineered to contain at least one mutation which inactivates homologous recombination and at least one mutation in a DNA repair pathway. Examples of such DNA pathways include UV repair pathway, the SOS repair pathway, the mismatch repair pathway, the adaptive response pathway, the heat shock response pathway, the osmotic shock response pathway, the repair pathway of alkylation damage, the repair pathway of uracil incorporation into DNA and pathways involved in maintaining DNA superhelicity. The host organisms of this invention are suitable for cloning DNA capable of forming non-standard and tertiary structures such as found in eukaryotic DNA.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for novel compounds for inactivating viruses. These compounds include 6-nitroso-1,2-benzopyrone, 3-nitrosobenzamide, 5-nitroso-1(2H)isoquinolinone, 7-nitroso-1(2H)-isoquinolinone, 8-nitroso-1(2H)-isoquinolinone. The invention also provides for compositions containing one or more of the compounds, and for methods of treating viral infections, cancer, infectious virus concentration with the subject compounds and compositions.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for novel compounds for inactivating viruses. These compounds include 6-nitroso-1,2-benzopyrone, 3-nitrosobenzamide, 5-nitroso-1(2H)-isoquinolinone, 7-nitroso-1(2H)isoquinolinone, 8-nitroso-1(2H)isoquinolinone. The invention also provides for compositions containing one or more of the compounds, and for methods of treating viral infections, cancer, infectious virus concentration with the subject compounds and compositions.

Abstract: Peptide medicaments, and antibody thereto, useful for treating or preventing diseases, particularly diseases involving an inflammatory response by a host organism against infection, that are preferably derived from the .beta. subunit, CD18, of the leukocyte integrins, and that have the property of either interfering with, or preventing undesirable leukocyte adhesion to biological materials, particular to endothelial cells, or that interfere with, or prevent the chemotaxis of leukocytes through the endothelial cell monolayer, consequently minimizing undesirable cell/tissue leukocyte binding and thus preventing or minimizing diseases resulting therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant plant viral nucleic acids and to hosts infected thereby. The recombinant plant viral nucleic acids comprise a native plant viral subgenomic promoter, at least one non-native plant viral subgenomic promoter, a plant viral coat protein coding sequence, and optionally, at least one non-native nucleic acid sequence to be transcribed or expressed in the infected host plant. The recombinant plant viral nucleic acids are stable, capable of systemic infection and capable of stable transcription or expression in the plant host of the non-native nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to the isolation, purification and utilization of sialidase-L, a novel enzyme capable of producing 2,7-anhydro N-acetylneuraminic acid by the selective cleavage of sialic acid-.alpha.2.fwdarw.3D-galactose glycosidic bonds. The instant invention also relates to a method for the preparation of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid using sialidase-L. The instant invention also relates to methods for selectively cleaving sialic acid-.alpha.2.fwdarw.3D-galactose glycosidic linkages and providing a means to selectively destroy the selectin ligands for the treatment of selectin-mediated inflammation. The instant invention also relates to methods for using 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and sialidase-L for the selective sialylation of acceptor glycosides to form sialic acid-.alpha.2.fwdarw.3D-galactose glycosidic linkages.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is prepared wherein a biologically active conjugated protein is selectively conjugated to at least one heparin fragment having a terminal 2,5-anhydro-D-mannose residue which has an aldehyde not involved in intramolecular hemiacetal formation. The resulting conjugate has a prolonged half-life as compared to native protein and is able to deliver heparin to the site of clots or to prevent reocclusion within the blood stream. Typical proteins include enzymes such as plasminogen activators, and in particular tissue plasminogen activators, and erythropoietin, hormones, antibodies and the like.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel methods and apparatus for synthesizing carbohydrates of a desired structure. The subject synthesis methods include using carbohydrage-modifying enzymes to perform individual synthesis reaction steps and electrophoresis to purify the reaction products for possible further use as substrates in additional synthesis reactions. The subject invention also provides novel methods and apparatus for detecting carbohydrates of interest. The methods and apparatus for synthesizing or detecting carbohydrates involve the use of carbohydrate-modifying enzymes immobilized in a reaction matrix gel and fluorophore labelled substrates that may be removed from the reaction matrix gel by electrophoresis and subsequently analyzed or transferred to another reaction gel matrix.The subject invention also provides methods for detecting and quantitating specific carbohydrate-modifying enzymes that might be present in a sample for analysis.

Abstract: This invention provides restriction endonuclease, Srf I, capable of recognizing the eight nucleotide base palindromic sequence shown below on a double-stranded DNA molecule and cleaving the DNA chain at the asterisk-marked position resulting in blunt ends5' GCCC*GGGC 3'3' CGGG*CCCG 5'(wherein C and G respectively represent cytosine and guanine). The restriction endonuclease is produced by culturing Streptomyces rf in a culture medium and recovering it from the culture.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences encoding the bacterial cellulose synthase operon derived from Acetobacter are disclosed. Methods for isolating the genes, vectors containing the genes, and transformed hosts useful for the expression of recombinant bacterial cellulose synthase or production of cellulose are also described.