Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a CAULIFLOWER (CAL) gene product such as a nucleic acid molecule encoding Arabidopsis thaliana CAL and a nucleic acid molecule encoding Brassica oleracea CAL (BoCAL). The invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding a truncated CAL gene product such as a nucleic acid molecule encoding Brassica oleracea var. botrytis CAL (BobCAL). The invention also provides a nucleic acid containing the Arabidopsis thaliana CAL gene, a nucleic acid molecule containing the Brassica oleracea CAL gene and a nucleic acid molecule containing the Brassica oleracea var. botrytis CAL gene. The invention further provides a kit for converting shoot meristem to floral meristem and a kit for promoting early flowering in an angiosperm. The invention provides a CAL polypeptide and an antibody that specifically binds CAL polypeptide.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a single, selectively N-alkylated compound and libraries of such compounds as set forth in Formula I. Furthermore, the instant invention is directed to methods of effecting analgesia, a decrease in the postprandial rise in the blood glucose levels of a mammal after ingestion of a carbohydrate load by said mammal, and treating microbial infections, utilizing such a single compound of Formula I in conjunction with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. Also, the instant invention is directed to methods for selective alkylation, positional scanning and iterative synthetic and screening technologies.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of a cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer. The invention provides, for example, a method of stimulating an immune response in a subject by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to reduce or inhibit the expression of one or more immunosuppressive agents. The invention also provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to prevent the expression of an immunosuppressive agents and, in combination with the genetically modified tumor cells, an immunostimulatory agent. The invention further provides compositions useful for practicing the claimed methods.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a peptide that inhibits the binding between the VLA-4 receptor expressed on inflammatory leukocytes and the fibronectin CS-1 peptide expressed on endothelial cells that are involved in immunoinflammatory disease states. Pharmaceutical compositions containing a contemplated peptide and processes for treating immunoinflammatory conditions using a binding-inhibitory peptide are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of preventing or reducing the severity of diabetes. In one embodiment, the method involves administering to the individual a peptide having substantially the sequence of a on-conserved region sequence of a T cell receptor present on the surface of T cells mediating diabetes or a fragment thereof, wherein the peptide or fragment is capable of causing an effect on the immune system to regulate the T cells. In particular, the T cell receptor has the V.beta. regional V.beta.6 or V.beta.14. In another embodiment, the method involves gene therapy. The invention also relates to methods of diagnosing diabetes by determining the presence of diabetes predominant T cell receptors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to prevent pregnancy in an individual by administering a trophinin vaccine, which can elicit an immune response in the individual administered the vaccine. The method utilizes mammalian trophinin and peptides derived thereof from human or mice. The method also utilizes a nucleic acid molecule encoding trophinin as the trophinin vaccine, which is expressed in the individual administered the vaccine. The nucleic acid molecule can further encode a trophinin-assisting protein that can be co-expressed with trophinin in the individual administered the vaccine. The invention also provides a method to prevent adhesion between a trophoblast cell and a uterine epithelial cell by administering a trophinin vaccine or peptides thereof. The invention further provides an adjuvant or a carrier protein to enhance the immune response to the trophinin vaccine.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting hepatitis C virus RNA replication or expression is provided. The method consists of introducing two or more ribozymes specific for hepatitis C virus RNA into a cell infected with hepatitis C virus. The ribozymes specific for hepatitis C virus RNA can specifically cleave hepatitis C RNA in a HCV 5' non-coding sequence, the capsid sequence, the NS-5 sequence or any other conserved region of the hepatitis C RNA. The ribozymes can also be selected so as to be specific for opposite strands of the virus genome. A method of inhibiting hepatitis C virus RNA replication or expression is also provided which consists of introducing into a cell infected with hepatitis C virus at least one ribozyme specific for hepatitis C virus which is selected from the group consisting of GGGAGGTCTCGTAGA [SEQ ID NO: 1], GCACCATGAGCACGA [SEQ ID NO: 2], CCCACAGGACGTCAA [SEQ ID NO: 3], CAACCGTCGCCCACA [SEQ ID NO: 4], TAAACCTCAAAGAAA [SEQ ID NO: 5] GTAAGGTCATCGATA [SEQ ID NO: 6].

Abstract: Adenoviral vectors are used for high efficiency transduction of ribozymes specific for hepatitis C virus RNA. Hepatocytes are transduced with a recombinant adenovirus vector that expresses a ribozyme capable of specifically cleaving HCV RNA. The compositions and methods thus provide new means for treating HCV, and further provide transgenic non-human animals having human hepatocytes which are useful in models of HCV disease for developing therapeutic and preventative agents.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a peptide that inhibits the binding between the VLA-4 receptor expressed on inflammatory leukocytes and the fibronectin CS-1 peptide expressed on endothelial cells that are involved in immunoinflammatory disease states. Pharmaceutical compositions containing a contemplated peptide and processes for treating immunoinflammatory conditions using a binding-inhibitory peptide are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides RGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic moieties adjacent the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Such peptides have an high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of sensitizing a human tumor cell with adenovirus E1A. The methods involve treating a human tumor cell by, first, introducing into the tumor cell nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having adenovirus E1A activity, expressing the E1A active polypeptide in the cell, and then either contacting the E1A expressing tumor cell with a chemotherapeutic agent or irradiating the E1A-expressing tumor cell. The invention also provides methods of enhancing a subject's response to chemotherapy or irradiation by introducing into a subject's tumor cells nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having adenovirus E1A activity, expressing the E1A active polypeptide in the cells and finally, administering either a chemotherapeutic agent or irradiation. The invention also provides a method of treating cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides vaccines and a means of vaccinating a vertebrate so as to prevent or control specific T cell mediated pathologies, including autoimmune diseases and the unregulated replication of T cells. The vaccine is composed of a T cell receptor (TCR) or a fragment thereof corresponding to a TCR present on the surface of T cells mediating the pathology. The vaccine fragment can be a peptide corresponding to sequences of TCRs characteristic of the T cells mediating said pathology. Such a peptide can bind to conventional antigens completed to MHC antigen presenting cells or to superantigens. Means of determining appropriate amino acid sequences for such vaccines are also provided. The vaccine is administered to the vertebrate in a manner that induces an immune response directed against the TCR of T cells mediating the pathology. This immune response down regulates or deletes the pathogenic T cells, thus ablating the disease pathogenesis. The invention additionally provides specific .beta.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a continuous process for producing viral particles comprising providing in a perfused growth medium a population of viable virally infected non-lytic cells, and removing medium containing said cells at a rate to maintain the steady-state log-phase growth of cells remaining in said perfused growth medium. The invention is also directed to a process for purifying retroviral particles comprising passing a solution comprising the retroviral particles and contaminants through an anion exchange resin, and eluting the retroviral particles from the resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of diagnosing ulcerative colitis (UC) in a subject suspected of having inflammatory bowel disease by by obtaining a sample from the individual; contacting the sample with human histone H1, or pANCA-reactive fragment thereof, under conditions suitable to form a complex of human histone H1, or pANCA-reactive fragment thereof, and antibody to human histone H1; and detecting the presence or absence of the complex, where the presence of the complex indicates that the individual has UC. The invention also provides related methods of diagnosing a perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive (pANCA-positive) clinical subtype of UC in a patient with UC. In addition, the invention further provides methods of determining susceptibility to UC in an individual.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a drug delivery material and device comprising cross-linking a biological polymer with a cross-linking agent and loading the cross-linked biopolymer with a bioactive agent. Preferred embodiments are disclosed wherein the drug delivery material is used in a catheter securing, drug delivery device, in a wound dressing, and in a wound dressing for percutaneous catheters.

Abstract: The present invention provides PR domain peptides, which are about 100 to about 120 amino acids in length and contain three highly conserved sequences of about 10 to about 12 amino acids, separated by less conserved sequences of about 20 to about 35 amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for in vivo panning of a library to identify molecules that specifically home to a selected organ.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified compound having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.9 are defined; or a salt of the compound, and provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also provides methods of reducing or inhibiting mitosis of a cell by contacting the cell with a compound of the invention, which blocks the cell at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The invention also provides a method of reducing the severity of a pathology characterized, at least in part, by undesirable proliferation of a population of cells in a subject by administering to the subject a compound of the invention in an amount sufficient to reduce or inhibit proliferation of the population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure ##STR1## wherein, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from H, alkyl, aminoalkyl, perfluoroalkyl, orpharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, useful for treating cancer.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods of transducing cells comprising providing a flexible closed culture container having cells therein and contacting said cells with a viral-vector in the presence of a multi-functional chemical moiety. Also provided are methods of delivering a functional protein to a subject in need thereof, comprising transducing mammalian cells according to the invention method and introducing said cells into a subject in need thereof. Also provided are cell-culture systems for transducing cells, comprising a flexible closed culture container and a multi-functional chemical moiety therein.