Abstract: This application describes a purified and isolated fragment of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an amyloid precursor mutein, wherein the fragment comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one marker and a nucleic acid sequence of about 419, about 475 or about 494 amino acid residues in which a portion thereof encodes a .beta.-amyloid protein domain. Also described is a method for screening for a compound which reduces the formation of .beta.-amyloid protein.

Abstract: A plasmid for expression of human coagulation factor VIII H-chain, a plasmid for expression of human coagulation factor VIII L-chain, an animal cell transformed with either said H-chain expression plasmid or said L-chain expression plasmid or with both thereof, and a process for preparing a human coagulation factor VIII protein complex which comprises forming a transformed animal cell by introducing both said H-chain expression plasmid and said L-chain expression plasmid into said animal cell, culturing said cell to produce the human coagulation factor VIII protein complex in the culture medium and collecting the same. The process of the present invention allows for the production of a safe factor VIII at a high expression level applicable for the production of Factor VIII on an industrial scale.

Abstract: Discussed are therapeutic approaches to the treatment of thrombolic conditions. The therapies use thrombolytically active proteins which function by, e.g., inhibiting reocclusion in the subject. The proteins are administered in two or more boli.

Abstract: Phosphorylated plasminogen activator, such as phosphorylated pro-urokinase (pro-u-PA), which is substantially free from unphosphorylated plasminogen activator, may be obtained by phosphorylating unphosphorylated plasminogen activator with a phosphorylating enzyme or by separating phosphorylated plasminogen activator from a mixture of phosphorylated plasminogen activator and unphosphorylated plasminogen activator. Phosphorylated pro-u-PA, which is substantially free from unphosphorylated pro-u-PA, is converted by plasmin into phosphorylated u-PA. The phosphorylated plasminogen activators such as phosphorylated pro-u-PA, u-PA and t-PA are useful as thrombolytic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antagonists of vertebrate growth hormones obtained by mutation of the third alpha helix of such proteins (especially bovine or human GHs). These mutants have growth inhibitory or other GH-antagonizing effects. These novel hormones may be administered exogenously to animals, or transgenic animals may be made that express the antagonist. Animals have been made which exhibited a reduced growth phenotype.

Abstract: This invention particularly provides a novel polypeptide having high protease-inhibiting activity, preferably FXa-inhibiting activity, which comprises, at least as a part of the polypeptide, an amino acid sequence resulting from substitution of an amino acid for at least one amino acid in the following amino acid sequence (1), wherein the amino acid substitution is at least one substitution selected from the following substitution means (i) to (iii). It also provides a process for the production of the polypeptide, a novel DNA fragment encoding the polypeptide and a drug composition containing the same.Amino acid sequence (1) ##STR1## (i) Substitution of 15 position Gln counting from the N-terminus by an amino acid other than Gln.(ii) Substitution of 42 position Tyr counting from the N-terminus by an amino acid other than Tyr.(iii) Substitution of 7 position Arg counting from the N-terminus by an amino acid other than Arg.

Abstract: Programmed cell death antagonist proteins and nucleic acids are provided, as well as expression vectors and host cells which contain the nucleic acids encoding the programmed cell death antagonist proteins.

Abstract: Immunotherapy for the treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus eye infections is disclosed. The invention involves a local therapeutic or prophylactic vaccine for the eye, comprising one or more recombinant HSV-1 glycoproteins or proteins, specifically gB and gD, in combination with at least one adjuvant to reduce the incidence of primary HSV-1 infection and/or decrease spontaneous HSV-1 ocular shedding which in turn, controls recurrent corneal disease.

Abstract: The use of various thrombolytically active proteins in therapy is disclosed. The proteins are markedly superior to wild type t-PA in their pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profiles.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for protecting cycling or dividing stem cells from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation by administering prior to exposure to these agents, an effective amount of Stem Cell Inhibitory Factor as well as a composition useful therefore.

Abstract: Disclosed are 1) osteogenic devices comprising a matrix containing osteogenic protein and methods of inducing endochondral bone growth in mammals using the devices; 2) amino acid sequence data, amino acid composition, solubility properties, structural features, homologies and various other data characterizing osteogenic proteins, 3) methods of producing osteogenic proteins using recombinant DNA technology, and 4) osteogenically and chondrogenically active synthetic protein constructs.

Abstract: The present invention refers in particular to the structural gene sequence of the peptide antibiotic mersacidin. Sequencing revealed that premersacidin consists of an unusually long 48 amino acid leader sequence and a 20 amino acid propeptide part (Seq. ID No:1) which is modified during biosynthesis to the mature lantibiotic.

Abstract: Functional human factor VIII produced recombinantly is used in the treatment of human beings diagnosed to be deficient in factor VIII coagulant activity. Also provided are DNA isolates and expression vehicles encoding functional human factor VIII, as well as transformed host cells and processes for producing human factor VIII by use of recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: DNA encoding the prepro inhibin .alpha. and .beta. chains has been isolated. This DNA is ligated into expression vectors and used to transform host cells for the preparation of inhibin or activin. Also provided are prohormone domains and other inhibin .alpha. or .beta. chain derivatives having therapeutic or diagnostic interest. The compositions provided herein are useful in the manipulation of fertility in animals.

Abstract: A process for producing cholesterol oxidase from a recombinant microorganism, the microorganism itself and its recombinant plasmid are disclosed. The cholesterol oxidase has a particular amino acid sequence, a high substrate affinity and a working pH in the acidic range. The gene for this cholesterol oxidase was derived from Brevibacterium sterolicum. The cholesterol oxidase is used for the quantitative determination of cholesterol.

Abstract: A hybrid human/animal coagulation factor VIII is produced by isolation and recombination of human and other non-human mammalian factor VIII subunits or domains, or by genetic engineering of the human and animal factor VIII genes. Subunits or domains of factor VIII that have been purified from human or animal plasma are isolated, and hybrid human/animal factor VIII is produced by (1) mixing either animal heavy chain subunits with human light chain subunits or by mixing human heavy chain subunits with animal light chain subunits, thereby producing human light chain/animal heavy chain and human heavy chain/animal light chain hybrid molecules; or by (2) mixing one or more domains of one species with one or more domains of the other species. These hybrid molecules are isolated by ion exchange chromatography.

Abstract: A DNA sequence coding for a biologically active recombinant human factor VIII derivative, comprising a first DNA segment coding for the amino acids 1 through 740 of human factor VIII and a second DNA segment coding for the amino acids 1649 through 2332 of human factor VIII, said segments being interconnected by a linker DNA segment coding for a linker peptide of at least 3 amino acid residues and up to about 10 amino acid residues which are selected from lysine and arginine; recombinant expression vector comprising such DNA sequence; host cells of animal origin transformed with such recombinant expression vector; a process for the manufacture of recombinant human factor VIII derivative; and human factor VIII derivative containing the heavy chain and the light chain linked by metal ion bond.

Abstract: The present invention provides derivatives of tissue plasminogen activator that lack the Finger, Growth Factor and Kringle 1 domains and comprise a Kringle 2 domain that is monoglycosylated at a site other than that of t-PA. Using recombinant DNA techniques, an alternate glycosylation sequence is provided within the Kringle 2 domain of these t-PA derivatives. This alternate glycosylation consensus sequence, as well as the glycosylation consensus sequence within the Serine Protease domain, is glycosylated upon the expression and secretion of these molecules from eucaryotic host cells. Thus, a homogeneous population of diglycosylated t-PA derivatives that lack the Finger, Growth Factor and Kringle 1 domains is produced.

Abstract: Fabry disease results from an X-linked deficiency in the enzyme .alpha.-galactosidase A. The present invention is directed to recombinant human .alpha.-galactosidase A and provides baculovirus expression vectors and recombinant virus that provide stable expression of extracellular and intracellular levels of this enzyme in an insect cell culture. The recombinant-derived enzyme can be used in enzyme replacement therapy to treat Fabry patients. Composition useful in therapeutic administration of .alpha.-galactosidase A are also provided.

Abstract: New compounds that bind specifically to vascular permeability factor (VPF) are used in methods of targeting these compounds, which include effector molecules that are, e.g., toxic, radioactive, or serve as marker labels, for tumor cells and the associated blood vessel endothelial cells, based on the discovery that VPF concentrates selectively in the endothelium and basement membrane lining tumor-associated blood vessels to a far greater degree than in normal vessels. By targeting VPF rather than the tumor cells themselves, the invention avoids the problems of tumor heterogeneity and diffusion distance.