Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the use of the sequence CGGCAGGGTCTC, or a variant, homologue or fragment thereof, as a control element for activating transcription of a nucleotide sequence or nucleotide sequences from a promoter. The invention accordingly provides nucleic acid constructs in which at least one heterologous copy of the element is operatively liniked upstream or downstream of a promoter which is itself operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence.

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 provides methods for the selective transduction of a cell in a ductal system in a mammary gland by contacting, via ductal cannulation, the cell with a vector that selectively targets the cell. In this context, the invention provides prophylactic and therapeutic methods of treating the ductal epithelium of the breast, for disease, in particular cancer. The present invention further provides diagnostic methods of determining the presence of disease in the ductal epithelium of the breast, in particular cancer.

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

Abstract: The present invention pertains to novel inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), particularly CDK/cyclin complexes, which inhibitors can be used to control proliferation and/or differentiation of cells in which the inhibitors are introduced.

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: Hybrid compounds comprising a first domain and a second domain are provided. The first domain and the second domain are preferably covalently linked, and the first domain comprises a domain which is capable of specific binding to Gb3; and the second domain comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of drug moiety, a nucleic acid, a probe, a polypeptide, and a hook, with the proviso that the second domain is not a verotoxin or a fragment thereof. Mehtods of preapring and using the hybrid compounds are also provided.

Abstract: Detection of mutations associated with hereditary diseases is complicated by the diploid nature of mammalian cells. Mutations present in one allele are often masked by the wild-type sequence of the other allele. Individual alleles can be isolated from every chromosome within somatic cell hybrids generated from a single fusion. Nucleic acids from the hybrids can be analyzed for mutations in an unambiguous manner. This approach was used to detect two cancer-causing mutations that had previously defied genetic diagnosis. One of the families studied, Warthin Family G, was the first kindred with a hereditary colon cancer syndrome described in the biomedical literature.

Abstract: A method of treating a human suffering a disease or condition caused by a gene, cDNA or RNA-DNA oligonucleotide or RNA-DNA oligonucleotide hybrids or messenger RNA implicated in a disease or condition involving cells that express hyaluronic acid receptors is provided, the method comprising administering to such human, an effective dosage amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a form of hyaluronic acid selected from hyaluronic acid and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof associated with/bound with an effective amount of anti-sense to the gene, cDNA or RNA-DNA oligonucleotide or RNA-DNA oligonucleotide hybrids or messenger RNA implicated in the disease or condition in a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions useful for delivering antigens to dendritic cells which are then useful for inducing T antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This invention also provides assays for evaluating the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. According to the invention, antigens are provided to dendritic cells using a viral vector such as influenza virus which may be modified to express non-native antigens for presentation to the dendritic cells. The dendritic cells which are infected with the vector are then capable of presenting the antigen and inducing cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity or may also be used as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for preserving infectious recombinant viruses in frozen or liquid form, in which infectious viruses are preserved in an aqueous solution. The recombinant virus suspension comprises an aqueous sucrose solution at a concentration of 0.75 M or above, preferably between 0.75 M and 1.5 M, or more preferably at a concentration of 1 M. The preserved aqueous viral suspension further provides a medicament that can be used therapeutically or prophylactically for the treatment of a human or animal body by gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new hydrophobe biomolecular structure, which is compacted due to the passing of the structure over its point of collapse, a method for the preparation of the structure and use of the new structure for the manufacture of a medicament.

Abstract: The invention features a method of selectively killing a first microorganism. The method includes: (i) contacting the first microorganism with a second microorganism that has a microcidal compound; and (ii) allowing the first microorganism and the second microorganism to undergo fusion, whereby the microcidal compound is delivered into and kills the microorganism that forms following the fusion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of making eukaryotic gene transfer vectors comprising homologous recombining lambdid vectors with a second DNA in a bacterium to generate novel recombinant eukaryotic viral gene transfer vectors as well as a novel lambdid vector used in the inventive method and an inventive system comprising the novel lambdid vector.

Abstract: A system for in vitro transposition includes a donor DNA that includes a transposable element flanked by a pair of bacterial transposon Tn5 outside end repeat sequences, a target DNA into which the transposable element can transpose, and a modified Tn5 transposase having higher binding avidity to the outside end repeat sequences and being less likely to assume an inactive multimer form than wild type Tn5 transposase.

Abstract: The invention involves a method of identifying nucleic acid sequences encoding signal peptide-containing proteins. The method features chimeric constructs containing a KRE9 gene that lacks a signal sequence. Yeast containing chimeric KRE9 plasmid constructs that encode signal sequences are selected based on their ability to grow on media in which sucrose is the sole carbon source.

Abstract: Detection of mutations associated with hereditary diseases is complicated by the diploid nature of human cells. Mutations present in one allele are often masked by the wild-type sequence of the other allele. Individual alleles can be isolated from every chromosome within somatic cell hybrids generated from a single fusion. Nucleic acids from the hybrids can be analyzed for mutations in an unambiguous manner. This approach was used to detect two cancer-causing mutations that had previously defied genetic diagnosis. One of the families studied, Warthin Family G, was the first kindred with a hereditary colon cancer syndrome described in the biomedical literature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclease resistant nucleic acids in general and ribonuclease resistant RNAs in particular. Methods of making and using such nucleic acids are disclosed.

Abstract: Polypeptides are synthesized in cell-free translation system containing an exogenous RNA-polymerase, DNA molecules as protein genes, nucleic acid and substrates. It contains ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP and amino acids as substrates. During the translation process in the system the following products are synthesized: a specific polypeptide, AMP, GDP, CDP, UDP, pyrophosphate and inorganic phosphate. As the substrates are consumed for the synthesis of the products, the translation products including the specific polypeptide, AMP, GDP, CDP, UDP, pyrophosphate and inorganic phosphate are removed from the system and simultaneously substrates such as ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP and amino acids are delivered to maintain their initial concentration.

Abstract: The present invention involves the creation of defined chromosomal deficiencies, inversions and duplications using Cre recombinase in ES cells transmitted into the mouse germ line. These chromosomal reconstructions can extend up to 3-4 cM. Chromosomal rearrangements are the major cause of inherited human disease and fetal loss. Additionally, translocations and deletions are recognized as major genetic changes that are causally involved in neoplasia. Chromosomal variants such as deletions and inversions are exploited commonly as genetic tools in organisms such as Drosophila. Mice with defined regions of segmental haploidy are useful for genetic screening and allow accurate models of human chromosomal diseases to be generated.