Abstract: Provided herein are methods of reducing or eliminating undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, where the methods comprise contacting an effective amount of a compound to a heterogeneous cell population or sample comprising or suspected of comprising differentiated cell types and undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, whereby the contacting selectively reduces or eliminates undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells from the cell population or sample. Also provided are methods for obtaining a population of stem cell-derived cell types substantially free of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells as well as isolated populations of such of stem cell-derived cell types.

Abstract: We tested the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of a recombinant bispecific immunotoxin that recognizes both EGFRwt and tumor-specific EGFRvIII receptors. A single chain antibody was cloned from a hybridoma and fused to toxin, carrying a C-terminal peptide which increases retention within cells. The binding affinity and specificity of the recombinant bispecific immunotoxin for the EGFRwt and the EGFRvIII proteins was measured. In vitro cytotoxicity was measured. In vivo activity of the recombinant bispecific immunotoxin was evaluated in subcutaneous models and compared to that of an established monospecific immunotoxin. In our preclinical studies, the bispecific recombinant immunotoxin, exhibited significant potential for treating brain tumors.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition for treating brain injury comprising a polyarginine peptide of from 5 to 9 arginines (SEQ ID NO: 1), and further comprising 1 or more terminal cysteines. The composition is administered in therapeutically effective dosages prophylactically or as soon as possible post-injury in treating neuronal injury.

Abstract: We have constructed bispecific antibody engaging molecules which have one arm that specifically engages a tumor cell which expresses the human EGFRvIII mutant protein on its surface, and a second arm that specifically engages T cell activation ligand CD3. The engaging molecules are highly cytotoxic and antigen-specific. These may be used as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel microparticles formed using a coacervation process, methods of forming the microparticles, and methods of using the microparticles for the sustained release administration of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and compositions for treating and diagnosing cancer, in particular ?-catenin related cancers. In general, the methods include administering RNAi constructs. The invention further relates to methods of identifying CTNNB1 related cancer therapeutics.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods or the detection of immunodeficiency virs infection, especially immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. The invention particularly concerns compositions and methods that may be used in HIV vaccine recipients whose sera may contain vaccine-generated anti-HIV-1 antibodies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a deflectable tip guiding device, such as a catheter, that enables a physician, or other health care personnel, to vary the radius of curvature of the tip of the device. In one embodiment, a guiding device includes an elongate body and a deflectable distal tip. An elongate stiffener tube is coupled to the body for longitudinal movement relative thereto and has a distal end spaced a variable distance from the distal end of the tip, thereby serving as a fulcrum for the tip. Longitudinal movement of the stiffener tube relative to the body varies the distance between the distal ends of the tip and tube, which in turn causes a corresponding increase or decrease in the radius of curvature of the tip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetic vaccines for stimulating cellular and humoral immune responses in humans and other hosts, and, in particular, relates to recombinant viruses that express heterologous antigens of pathogenic viruses, in single dose form.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods or the detection of immunodeficiency virus infection, especially immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. The invention particularly concerns compositions and methods that may be used in HIV vaccine recipients whose sera may contain vaccine-generated anti-HIV-1 antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of purifying adeno-associated virus (AAV) particles. These AAV particles include AAV2, AAV4 and AAV5 particles. The present invention also provides AAV particles purified by the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating diabetes in a subject, comprising administering to the diabetic subject an immunotoxin, thereby reducing the subject's T-cell population, and administering to the subject pancreatic islet cells from a donor. The immune tolerance inducing treatment regimen, used optionally with adjunct immunosuppressive agents, prevents pancreatic islet cell rejection while maintaining long term islet cell function following xenogeneic and allogeneic pancreatic islet cell transplantation. Thus, the methods of the present invention provide a means for treating diabetes, wherein the need for exogenous insulin or immunosuppressive agents is decreased or eliminated. Also provided is a method of inhibiting a rejection response of a transplant recipient, comprising administering an immunotoxin during the peritransplant period, thereby transiently reducing the number of T-cell lymphocytes and promoting long-term survival of the transplant.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of diagnosing and prognosticating ovarian tumors by detecting increased expression of an ovarian tumor marker gene in a subject or in a sample from a subject. Also featured are kits for the aforementioned diagnostic and prognostic methods. In addition, the invention features methods of treating and preventing ovarian tumors, and methods of inhibiting the growth or metastasis of ovarian tumors, by modulating the production or activity of an ovarian tumor marker polypeptide. Further featured are methods of inhibiting the growth or metastasis of an ovarian tumor by contacting an ovarian tumor cell with an antibody that specifically binds an ovarian tumor marker polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides of human p53 that contain mutations. These mutations can be toxic mutations, supertransactivating mutations or tox-suppressor mutations. Further provided by the invention are methods of identifying toxic, supertransactivating, weak transactivating and tox-suppressor mutations as well as methods of identifying compounds that mimic the toxic, supertransactivating and tox-suppressor mutations in human p53. Also provided are methods of inducing toxicity in a cell by administering a polypeptide comprising a supertransactivating or a toxic mutation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a population of insulin producing cells made by a process comprising contacting non-insulin producing cells with a growth factor selected from the group consisting of GLP-1 or Exendin-4, growth factors having amino acid sequences substantially homologous to GLP-1 or Exendin-4, and fragmets thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of differentiating non-insulin producing cells into insulin producing cells and of enriching a population of cells for insulin-producing cells. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diabetes.