Abstract: The present invention relates to pleomorphic cells (“morphotes”), which exhibit morphologic and genetic characteristics of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including resemblance to prokaryotic cells at the unicellular level, and resemblance to eukaryotic cells at the multicellular level due to their ability to self-organize in vitro into multicellular, mammalian tissue-like patterns consisting of tissue-like sheets, capillary-like networks, and trabecular (spongy) bone-like structures. Morphotes have a number of applications in the diagnostic medical, therapeutic medical, biological, biomaterials, bionanotechnological, and industrial fields.

Abstract: Bacteria containing eukaryotic and/or viral genes, and often having highly pleiomorphic morphology, are obtained by culturing virally-infected eukaryotic cells under aseptic, low oxygen conditions. The bacteria so produced express products encoded by the eukaryotic genes. Analyses indicate that several isolates obtained from culturing retrovirally-infected human brain capillary endothelial cells express human-specific genes previously mapped to widely separated human chromosomes.

Abstract: An anchoring device to be placed atop a slab of electrophoresis gel in a submerged electrophoresis process chamber includes a planar frame member shaped and sized to distribute weight evenly across the gel slab, particularly having a width dimension generally the same as the slab, and a plurality of legs spaced evenly around the frame. The legs have a length sufficient to raise the frame above the level of buffer liquid in process chamber, and have a blunt bottom surface in contact with the gel slab. The weight of the device and the even distribution of that weight is sufficient to anchor the gel slab and keep it submerged in the buffer liquid in the electrophoresis process chamber while making minimal contact with the slab and not distorting the electrical field through the gel, and without penetrating or lacerating the slab. The frame encloses one or more open window areas above the sample wells in the gel slab to permit easy access to load biological samples.

Abstract: Bacteria containing eukaryotic and/or viral genes, and often having highly pleiomorphic morphology, are obtained by culturing virally-infected eukaryotic cells under aseptic, low oxygen conditions. The bacteria so produced express products encoded by the eukaryotic genes. Analyses indicate that several isolates obtained from culturing retrovirally-infected human brain capillary endothelial cells express human-specific genes previously mapped to widely separated human chromosomes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of amplifying in vitro stemcells. In this method hematopoietic CD34.sup.+ stem and progenitor cells are isolated from human bone marrow and contacted with endothelial cells. The contacted stem cells and endothelial cells are cultured in the presence of at least one cytokine in an amount sufficient to support amplification/expansion of the hematopoietic CD34.sup.+ stem and progenitor cells. This method produces increased yields of hematopoietic CD34.sup.+ stem and progenitor cells which can be used in human therapeutics.