Abstract: A synthetic molecule comprising an RNA binding sequence or sequences corresponding to the site bound by the HIV protein tat and capable of binding to tat within cells. The binding sequence or sequences, by binding tat within cells, can act to cause inhibition of growth of any HIV present in the cells, and so has potential therapeutic use in treatment of patients affected with HIV. The invention also provides an assay for identifying compounds that inhibit tat binding.

Abstract: A system for identifying mycoplasma regulatory sequences with protein fusion constructs has been developed. This system has identified mycoplasma regulatory sequences that can be used in expression vectors. The expression vectors employing these mycoplasma regulatory sequences permit the expression of foreign DNA sequences in mycoplasma hosts, such as Acholeplasma.

Abstract: An enveloped vector particle contains gag and pol proteins from a retrovirus, a nucleic acid sequence and an envelope that includes VSV G envelope glycoprotein. The vector particle can be used to introduce nucleic acids into cells.

Abstract: Methods of prophylactic and therapeutic immunization of an individual against pathogen infection, diseases associated with hyperproliferative cells and autoimmune diseases are disclosed. The methods comprise the steps of administering to cells of an individual, a nucleic acid molecule that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein which comprises at least one epitope that is identical or substantially similar to an epitope of a pathogen antigen, a hyperproliferative cell associated protein or a protein associated with autoimmune disease respectively. In each case, nucleotide sequence is operably linked to regulatory sequences to enable expression in the cells. The nucleic acid molecule is free of viral particles and capable of being expressed in said cells. The cells may be contacted cells with a cell stimulating agent. Methods of prophylactically and therapeutically immunizing an individual against HIV are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.

Abstract: Extended life hematopoietic cell lines include stromal cell lines useful for the in vitro maintenance of undifferentiated pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. Undifferentiated and differentiated immortalized stem cells are suitable for bone marrow transplantation, gene therapy and cell therapy applications, and as an in vitro model system for drug discovery and toxicological testing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and associated agents for the inhibition and treatment of protein aging in animals by stimulating the bodies of the animals to increase their recognition and affinity for advanced glycosylation end products. Specifically, the method contemplates the administration of certain agents such as advanced glycosylation endproducts, such endproducts as are bound to the carrier, monokines that stimulate phagocytic cells to increase their activity toward advanced glycosylation endproducts, and mixtures of these materials either alone, or in conjunction with other co-stimulatory agents. Numerous diagnostic and therapeutic applications are defined, and pharmaceutical compositions are also contemplated.

Abstract: This invention provides an infectious retrovirus having inserted between the 5' and 3' long terminal repeat sequences of the retrovirus a nucleic acid encoding an anti-HIV-type specific agent under the control of a pol III promoter. Host cells containing the retroviral vectors of this invention also are provided. Further provided are methods of interfering with or preventing HIV viral replication in a cell infected with HIV or likely to be infected with HIV.

Abstract: Thermoplastics interdispersed with a variety of functional thermostable proteins and methods for their production are provided. To prepare the subject thermoplastics, a plastic material is contacted with a thermostable polypeptide and then subjected to the heating and molding/extrusion/casting process. The resultant thermoplastics comprise the thermostable polypeptide on the formed plastic surface and at a depth below the plastic surface. The thermostable polypeptides contained in the disclosed compositions retain functional properties or binding specificities through the heating and molding/extrusion/casting processes. Preferred thermostable polypeptides used in the disclosed compositions include silk-like protein polymers, particularly ProNectin.RTM.F. The disclosed methods and compositions find use in many applications where plastics containing finctional thermostable proteins are desired, in particular, cell cultureware.

Abstract: The production of an active Pseudomonas glumae lipase isolated from P. glumae PG1 (CBS 322.89) and other lipases suitable for application in detergent systems is described in homologous, but particularly in heterologous hosts, e.g. Bacillus subtilis. For the latter a "helper function" or "lipase-specific stabilization/translocation protein" is needed, for which a gene is provided which, when expressed in concert with the lipase gene, can improve the stabilization of the intermediates involved in the production and translocation/secretion of the lipase. The hosts are transformed by recombinant DNA methods and modified lipases can be made by site-directed mutation or classical mutation techniques. The lipase gene and the gene encoding the helper function can be part of one operon that can be transcribed to form a polycistronic messenger or be present as separate genes yielding two mRNA's on transcription. The production level can be further improved by optimising the regulation sequences.

Abstract: A method of amplifying a desired gene in a chromosome of a coryneform bacterium, which comprises forming an artificial transposon in which a drug resistance gene and the desired gene are inserted into an insertion sequence of the coryneform bacterium, and introducing said artificial transposon into the coryneform bacterium. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a desired gene can be amplified in a chromosome in coryneform bacteria which are used in the industrial production of amino acids or nucleic acids.

Abstract: Nucleic acid encoding a functional HTLV-III/LAV (HIV-1) protein having trans-activating ability, and expression vectors comprising this nucleic acid are described.

Abstract: Saccharomyces mutants with defects in N-glycosylation which are obtainable by ?.sup.3 H!-mannose suicide selection, introduction of one or several selective markers, selection of those strains which, after transformation with the plasmid YEpL/glucose oxidase, secrete 10 mg/l glucose oxidase or more into the culture medium after culture under standard conditions, are allelic to the ngd mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, DSM 7042, DSM 7338, DSM 7160 and/or 7340 and express proteins with a uniform carbohydrate structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to the transfer and expression of genes in cells associated with fluid spaces, such as follicles of the thyroid, the synovium of the joint, the vitreous of the eye and the inner or middle ear. Formulated DNA expression vectors comprising a gene are introduced with or without formulation elements directly into a fluid space under conditions in which the cells associated with the fluid space can incorporate the formulated DNA expression vector and express the transformed gene.

Abstract: A method for detecting a tetracycline efflux pump inhibitor in the presence of tetracycline using a reporter gene system where the tetA promoter directs transcription of a reporter gene (lacZ) while the tetA is under the control of the tet repressor encoded by the tetR gene is described. The method uses a cell having a reporter gene system where the tetA promoter directs transcription of a reporter gene (lacZ) and an active efflux system in which relatively modest levels of the efflux protein encoded by the tetA gene are produced in a constitutive manner, i.e., not under the control of the tet repressor encoded by the tetR gene. Test samples which are inhibitors of the TetA efflux protein will allow accumulation of tetracycline inside the cells at levels which will induce expression of the tetA-lacZ transcriptional fusion to give a positive signal.

Abstract: A synthetic molecule comprises at least one oligonucleotide comprising an RNA binding sequence or sequences corresponding to the site bound by the HIV protein rev and capable of binding to rev within cells. The binding sequence or sequences, by binding rev within cells, can act to cause inhibition of growth of any HIV present in the cells, and so has potential therapeutic use in treatment of patients infected with HIV. The invention also provides an assay for identifying compounds that inhibit rev binding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant mycobacteria, particularly recombinant M. bovis BCG, which express heterologous DNA encoding a product (protein or polypeptide) of interest, such a protein or polypeptide (e.g., an antigen) against which an immune response is desired, or a cytokine.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid compounds encoding the stem peptide biosynthetic gene ddl of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Also provided are vectors and transformed heterologous host cells for expressing the DDL enzyme product and a method for identifying compounds that inhibit stem peptide biosynthesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for the amplification and expression of recombinant genes in cells. The methods of the present invention permit the isolation of cell lines which have co-amplified input recombinant sequences which encode an amplifiable marker, one or more expression vectors encoding a protein of interest and optionally a selectable marker. The present methods allow the efficient isolation of amplified cell lines which express the protein(s) of interest in a relatively short period of time. The present invention also provides compositions comprising amplified T lymphoid cell lines.

Abstract: A transposable element, or transposon, isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) and designated as transposon Tn5401. The invention also includes a method of using this transposon in a site-specific recombination system for construction of recombinant B.t. strains that contain insecticidal B.t. toxin protein genes and that are free of DNA not native to B.t., insecticidal compositions containing recombinant B.t. strains and their use in insect control methods.