Abstract: Compounds and methods for diagnosing tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one antigenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins, and DNA sequences encoding such polypeptides. Diagnostic kits containing such polypeptides or DNA sequences and a suitable detection reagent may be used for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection in patients and biological samples. Antibodies directed against such polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for inducing protective immunity against tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one immunogenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins and DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides. Such compounds may be formulated into vaccines and/or pharmaceutical compositions for immunization against M. tuberculosis infection, or may be used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Abstract: Disclosed are TGF-60 mimetics that PEGylated TGF-&agr; polypeptides and PEGylated TGF-60 related polypetides or fragments thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are TGF-&agr; polypeptides, related polypeptides, fragments and mimetics thereof useful in stimulating cell or precursor cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. The methods of the invention are useful to treat tissue injury as well as expand stem cell populations in, or obtained from, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, urogenital, neurological and cardiovascular tissues. The methods include ex vivo and in vivo applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides related to human TGF-&agr;, having TGF-&agr; biological activity, which are useful for many of the indications that full-length TGF-&agr; polypeptide is useful. Also provided are methods of use of such peptides, as well as human TGF-&agr; and biologically related polypeptides. For example, methods for treating or preventing cachexia in subjects are provided as well as methods for stimulating hematopoiesis in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. In addition, the use of TGF-&agr; related peptides to related neurodengenerative diseases is also provided. Methods of the invention also provide protection for patients undergoing cytotoxic therapy from side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) mucositis.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides related to human TGF-&agr;, having TGF-&agr; biological activity, which are useful for many of the indications that full-length TGF-&agr; polypeptide is useful. Also provided are methods of use of such peptides, as well as human TGF-&agr; and biologically related polypeptides. For example, methods for treating or preventing cachexia in subjects are provided as well as methods for stimulating hematopoiesis in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. In addition, the use of TGF-&agr; related peptides to related neurodengenerative diseases is also provided. Methods of the invention also provide protection for patients undergoing cytotoxic therapy from side effects such as gastrointestinal (GI) mucositis.

Abstract: Disclosed are TGF-&agr; polypeptides, related polypeptides, fragments and mimetics thereof useful in stimulating stem cell or precursor cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. The methods of the invention are useful to treat tissue injury as well as expand stem cell populations in, or obtained from, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, urogenital, neurological and cardiovascular tissues. The methods include ex vivo and in vivo applications.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for diagnosing tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one antigenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins, and DNA sequences encoding such polypeptides. Diagnostic kits containing such polypeptides or DNA sequences and a suitable detection reagent may be used for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection in patients and biological samples. Antibodies directed against such polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are TGF-&agr; polypeptides, related polypeptides, fragments and mimetics thereof useful in stimulating stem cell or precursor cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. The methods of the invention are useful to treat tissue injury as well as expand stem cell populations in, or obtained from, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, urogenital, neurological and cardiovascular tissues. The methods include ex vivo and in vivo applications.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel genus of small peptides, much smaller than TGF&agr;, was discovered as having TGF&agr; biological activity and therefore are useful as pharmacologic agents for the same indications as full length TGF&agr; polypeptide. There is further disclosed that TGF&agr; and consequently the genus of small peptides disclosed herein, was found to have therapeutic activity to stimulate hematopoiesis in patients undergoing cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy and to act as a cytoprotective agent to protect a patient undergoing cancer cytotoxic therapy from gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, such as mucositis and otherwise support the barrier function of the GI tract when it is harmed by cytotoxic therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative disorders, such as tumors, in a subject, utilizing TGF-&agr; or functional fragments thereof. Optionally, a chemotherapeutic agent is administered in combination with TGF-&agr; or fragments thereof.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for diagnosing tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one antigenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins, and DNA sequences encoding such polypeptides. Diagnostic kits containing such polypeptides or DNA sequences and a suitable detection reagent may be used for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection in patients and biological samples. Antibodies directed against such polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for inducing protective immunity against tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one immunogenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins and DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides. Such compounds may be formulated into vaccines and/or pharmaceutical compositions for immunization against M. tuberculosis infection, or may be used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating and diagnosing prostate cancer are provided. The inventive compounds include polypeptides containing at least a portion of a prostate protein. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for immunotherapy of prostate cancer comprising such polypeptides or DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides are also provided. The inventive polypeptides may also be used to generate antibodies useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer. Nucleic acid sequences for preparing probes, primers, and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for treating and diagnosing prostate cancer are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least a portion of a secreted or cell associated prostate cell protein. Such polypeptides may be formulated into vaccines and/or pharmaceutical compositions for immunotherapy of prostate cancer. Alternatively, or in addition, the polypeptides may be used to generate antibodies useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer.

Abstract: Antiproliferative compositions are provided which are capable of sustained release of an antiproliferative agent, particularly a TGF-.beta., at a site proximal to a target cell. The compositions are effective in inhibiting proliferation of the target cell, particularly when used in combination with a vasoconstrictive agent.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide compositions are provided which inhibit human tumor cell growth, which may or may not stimulate autophosphorylation of pp6src and induce the release of a 52 kD polypeptide from neoplastic cells. Individual polypeptides may be isolated from mammalian blood platelets by selected extraction and purification procedures, may be synthesized or produced by hybrid DNA technology.

Abstract: Novel cytotoxic agents are provided as small polypeptides related to a low molecular weight peptide derived from Crotalus atrox. The compounds may be used by themselves or in combination with other reagents, such as antibodies, for inhibiting cell growth.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide compositions are provided which inhibit human tumor cell growth, which may or may not stimulate autophosphorylation of pp60 src and induce the release of a 52kDal polypeptide from neoplastic cells. Individual polypeptides may be isolated from mammalian blood platelets by selected extraction and purification procedures, may be synthesized or produced by hybrid DNA technology.

Abstract: Novel cytotoxic agents are provided as small polypeptides related to a low molecular weight peptide derived from Crotalus atrox. The compounds may be used by themselves or in combination with other reagents, such as antibodies, for inhibiting cell growth.