Abstract: The present invention provides adipose-derived stem cells and lattices. In one aspect, the present invention provides a lipo-derived stem cell substantially free of adipocytes and red blood cells and clonal populations of connective tissue stem cells. The cells can be employed, alone or within biologically-compatible compositions, to generate differentiated tissues and structures, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the cells can be expanded and cultured to produce hormones and to provide conditioned culture media for supporting the growth and expansion of other cell populations. In another aspect, the present invention provides a lipo-derived lattice substantially devoid of cells, which includes extracellular matrix material from adipose tissue. The lattice can be used as a substrate to facilitate the growth and differentiation of cells, whether in vivo or in vitro, into anlagen or even mature tissues or structures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the isolation and use of super-infective, tumor-specific vectors that are strains of parasites including, but not limited to bacteria, fungi and protists. In certain embodiments the parasites include, but are not limited to, the bacterium Salmonella spp., such as Salmonella typhimurium, the bacterium Mycobacterium avium and the protozoan Leishmania amazonensis. In other embodiments, the present invention is concerned with the isolation of super-infective, tumor-specific, suicide gene-containing strains of parasites for use in treatment of solid tumors.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting the transcription of a gene, which is activated by AP-1 or an AP-1 component, comprising binding AP-1 or the component with a nuclear receptor so as to prevent the binding of AP-1 to the gene. The nuclear receptor can be the retinoic acid receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, vitamin D3 receptor, thyroid receptor, or estrogen receptor. Also provided is a composition of matter comprising AP-1 or an AP-1 component bound to a nuclear receptor. These methods and compositions can be used to treat arthritis and cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means for cleaving a nucleic acid cleavage structure in a site-specific manner. Enzymes, including 5′ nucleases and 3′ exonucleases, are used to detect and identify nucleic acids derived from microorganisms. Methods are provided which allow for the detection and identification of bacterial and viral pathogens in a sample.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the determination of data for the preparation of presymptomatic or prenatal diagnosis of phakomatosis, in particular, a tumor suppressor gene disease, in a high-risk patient, in particular of neurofibromatosis, comprising the steps of: making available the tumor material from a person afflicted with the tumor suppressor gene disease, who is a relative of the high-risk patient; isolating tumor DNA from the tumor in the relative; isolating blood DNA from the blood of the relative; amplifying polymorphous DNA microsatellite markers from the tumor and the blood; separating the markers by length; observing the lengths of the markers; comparing the markers from the blood and the tumor; examining for a loss of alleles; optionally, comparing amplified markers from a second tumor of the relative; and amplifying polymorphous DNA microsatellite markers from the blood of an offspring and separating and observing the markers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the isolation of prostatic cancer tumor cells from a biological fluid, using a magnetic activated cell sorter (MACS).

Abstract: Genes encoding microbial &bgr;-glucuronidases and proteins and their uses are provided.

Abstract: The sequences for both the sigX-dependent autoregulatory promoter, PX, and the sig W-dependent autoregulatory promoter, PW, are described. The protein products controlled and expressed by the &sgr;X and &sgr;W holoenzymes are identified, indicating that these &sgr; factors affect responses to antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: The invention includes auxotrophic attenuated mutants of Listeria and methods of their use as vaccines.

Abstract: A method of testing an agent for its potential at modulating induction of a molecular weight change of a first polyion is disclosed. The method is effected by (a) subjecting the first polyion to conditions under-which the first polyion undergoing the molecular weight change in a presence, in an absence or under several different concentrations of the agent; (b) interacting the first polyion with a second polyion having an opposite charge, the second polyion being fluorescently labeled; (c) providing reaction conditions so as to allow molecular weight discriminative interaction between the first polyion and the second polyion; and (d) employing a fluorescence polarization assay for determining a modulating effect of the agent on the induction of the molecular weight change of the first polyion.

Abstract: The promoter of the human p27Kip1 gene is provided. The promoter region is useful to screen a compound that regulates the promoter of the human p27Kip1 gene or regulates the activity of the promoter. It enables the gene therapy utilizing the promoter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field glycosylation engineering of proteins. More particular, the present invention is directed to the glycosylation engineering of proteins to provide proteins with improved therapeutic properties, e.g., antibodies, antibody fragments, or a fusion protein that includes a region equivalent to the Fc region of an immunoglobulin, with enhanced Fc-mediated cellular cytotoxicity.

Abstract: The present invention provides mutant proteins of steroid hormone receptors. These mutant proteins are useful in methods of distinguishing a steroid hormone receptor antagonist from a steroid hormone receptor agonist. The present invention also provides plasmids containing mutated steroid hormone receptor proteins and cells transfected with those plasmids. In addition, the present invention provides methods for determining whether a compound is a steroid hormone receptor antagonist or agonist. Also, the present invention provides methods of determining endogenous ligands for steroid hormone receptors. The invention further provides a molecular switch for regulating expression in gene therapy and methods of employing the molecular switch in humans, animals, transgenic animals and plants.

Abstract: Disclosed is the isolation and characterization of EI24, a novel gene whose 2.4 kb mRNA is induced following etoposide treatment. Induction of EI24 mRNA by etoposide required expression of wild-type p53. Overexpression of functional p53 was sufficient to induce expression of the EI24 mRNA. The EI24 mRNA was also induced in a p53-dependent manner by ionizing irradiation of primary murine thymocytes. The invention is thus directed to an isolated EI24 protein, nucleotide sequences coding for and regulating expression of the protein, antibodies directed against the protein, and recombinant vectors and host cells containing the genetic sequences coding for and regulating the expression of the protein sequence. The invention is also directed to genomic DNA, cDNA, and RNA encoding the EI24 protein sequence and to corresponding antisense RNA sequences. Antibodies can be used to detect EI24 in biological specimens, including, for example, human tissue samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for facilitating site directed homologous recombination in a eukaryotic organism to produce genomic mutants using transposon mediated mutagenesis of cosmid vectors carrying large genomic inserts from the target eukaryotic organism. The transposon carries a bifunctional marker that can be used for selection in both bacteria and the target eukaryotic organism. Minimization of the length of the cosmid vector allows for maximization of the size of the genomic insert carried by the cosmid. Maximization of the size of the genomic insert increases the frequency of homologous recombination with the genome of the target eukaryotic organism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transgenic knockout yeast which has a disruption in the gene encoding for a yeast ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences from Bacillus bacteria, which control the expression of other DNA sequences in a cell host.

Abstract: The invention discloses proteins having &bgr;(1-3)glucanosyltransferase type activities. These proteins can be used for detecting the antifungal activity of molecules.

Abstract: This invention provides a modified vaccinia topoisomerase enzyme containing an affinity tag which is capable of facilitating purification of protein-DNA complexes away from unbound DNA. This invention further provides a modified sequence specific topoisomerase enzyme. This invention provides a method of ligating duplex DNAs, a method of molecular cloning of DNA, a method of synthesizing polynucleotides, and a method of gene targeting. Lastly, this invention provides a recombinant DNA molecule composed of segments of DNA which have been joined ex vivo by the use of a sequence specific topoisomerase and which has the capacity to transform a suitable host cell comprising a DNA sequence encoding polypeptide activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotides isolated from eucaryotic organisms which are structural genes or promoters. Such isolated polynucleotides are particularly useful in the modification of gene expression in plants. This invention also relates to compositions isolated from plants and their use in the modification of gene activation and/or expression. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention provides plant polynucleotide sequences enconding promoters that are components of the cellular activation and transcription apparatus and the use of such polynucleotide sequences in the modification of expression of genes.