Abstract: Transgenic mice are genetically engineered for a deficiency in endoglin production. These mice may have a homozygous or hemizygous disruption of the endogenous endoglin gene. Homozygous mice exhibit a lack of endoglin production. The failure to produce endoglin results in arrested development of the vascular system of the mouse and no survival beyond E11.5. These mice and cells derived therefrom provide useful reagents for understanding the development and pathology of the mammalian vascular system.

Abstract: An integrative DNA vector and one or more viral proteins having affinity for DNA are packaged in cochleate precipitates. The integrative DNA vector contains one or more therapeutic nucleotide sequences that are preferably positioned between DNA substrates for the proteins. Upon contact with a lipid bilayer of a target cell, the cochleate vector structure delivers one or more of the therapeutic nucleotide sequences and one or more proteins to the interior of the target cell. Upon entry into the cell, the proteins facilitate the integration of the therapeutic nucleotide sequence into the genome of the host cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified Hepatitis C NS3 proteases and modified Hepatitis C NS4a-NS3 fusion proteases. These proteins are highly soluble and are useful for NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and inhibitor screening. DNA constructs are also provided.

Abstract: A composition for use in the treatment of wounds to inhibit scar tissue formation during healing is disclosed, comprising an effective activity-inhibiting amount of a growth factor neutralizing agent or agents specific against only fibrotic growth factors together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The method of preparation of said composition and method of administering the composition to a host suffering from tissue wounding is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genes located in two chromosomal regions within uropathogenic E. coli that are associated with virulence. These chromosomal regions are known as pathogenicity islands (PAIs). In particular, the present application discloses 142 sequenced fragments (contigs) of DNA from two pools of cosmids covering pathogenicity islands PAI IV and PAI V located on the chromosome of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli J96. Further disclosed are 351 predicted protein-coding open reading frames within the sequenced fragments.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for diagnosing a person's susceptibility for having an increased risk for the development of atherosclerosis and a diabetic person's susceptibility for having an increased risk for the development of diabetic retinopathy. The invention relates further to methods for treating persons diagnosed for having increased risk for the development of said diseases, in order to prevent the development of said diseases. The invention also concerns methods to investigate or screen pharmaceuticals or genetic aims useful in the treatment of said diseases, by using an animal model including a transgenic animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinantvector for the cloning and/or expression and/or transfer of an exogenous nucleotide sequence characterized in that it consists of any sequence contained in the ClaI—PvuII fragment comprising nucleotides 7702 to 1527 of the sequence given in FIG. 1 and comprising the LTR sequence included between nucleotides 7842 and 144, the PBS site starting at nucleotides 145, the packaging sequence included in the sequences of 250 nucleotides following the end of the LTR sequence, the said sequence being capable of controlling the cloning and/or expression and/or transfer of the exogenous sequence whatever its transcriptional orientation with respect to the transcriptional orientation of the virus. It relates to the use of this vector for the transfer and/or cloning and/or expression of genes, in particular in the contest of gene therapy.

Abstract: Vaccine compositions which are protective against circovirus infections, including porcine circovirus and psittacine beak and feather disease virus, in animals, comprising a nucleic acid vector comprising a eukaryotic cis-acting transcription/translation regulatory sequence functionally linked to a nucleic acid encoding an animal circovirus polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid lacks a viral origin of replication are disclosed. Nucleic acid vectors for the transient expression of one or more circovirus polypeptides in a eukaryotic cell comprising a nucleic acid vector comprising a eukaryotic cis-acting transcription/translation regulatory sequence functionally linked to the nucleic acids of the invention are described.

Abstract: A method for grafting a cell in the brain of a mammalian subject is accomplished by attaching the cell to a support matrix so that the cell attaches to the matrix surface, and implanting the support matrix with the attached cell into the brain. Preferred support matrices are glass or plastic microbeads, either solid or porous, having a diameter from about 90 to about 125 &mgr;m. The method employs cells of different types, preferably cells of neural or paraneural origin, such as adrenal chromaffin cells. Also useful are cell lines grown in vitro. Cells not of neural or paraneural origin, such as fibroblasts, may also be used following genetic alteration to express a desired neural product such as a neurotransmitter or a neuronal growth factor. The method is used to treat neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transgenic animal whose genomic DNA includes a gene comprising a C/EBP&agr; promoter operably linked to a DNA sequence encoding a C/EBP&bgr; polypeptide, wherein the transgenic animal exhibits reduced accumulation of fat in its white adipose tissue, as compared to a reference animal whose genomic DNA does not contain the gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides human and murine genomic and complementary DNA and the proteins that are encoded by the DNA, which is called “Protein Targeting to Glycogen”. Also provided is a method of increasing the amount of glycogen in a cell.

Abstract: A magnetosome comprising a magnetite monocrystal having a maximum diameter of 45 nm surrounded by a phospholipid membrane.

Abstract: Retroviral vector particles capable of infecting and transducing non-dividing mammalian target cells, which vector particles may be based on letiviruses such as HIV and which have an RNA genome constructed so as to provide in the DNA provirus a non-lentiviral expression control element in the 5′LTR of the provirus.

Abstract: The present invention provides means to modify the tropism of recombinant adenoviral vectors using genetic methods to alter the adenoviral fiber cell-binding protein while maintaining the native trimeric protein biosynthesis profile. The present invention further provides means to specifically target particular cell types for infection with recombinant adenoviral vectors using genetic methods to alter the adenoviral fiber cell-binding protein.

Abstract: A transgenic mouse whose genome comprises the H/K-ras 4B chimeric gene to form a mammary tumor and, particularly, the expression vector producing H/K-Ras 4B chimeric protein by using MMTV (mouse mammary tumor virus) promoter. This protein contains the first 164 amino acids of the H-Ras followed by the last 24 amino acids of K-Ras 4B. The second, it relates to the transgenic mouse expressing the H/K-Ras 4B protein with a mammary tumor, and the third, the method of preparation.