Abstract: The present invention relates to a natural cell control carrier, more specifically to a natural cell control carrier containing water-soluble chitosan (HFP) and elecampane (Inula Helenium L.) extract, which solves problems of conventional synthesized antibacterial agents and provides various superior properties, improved antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory effect with a broad antibacterial spectrum, so that it can be used for food, cosmetics and medicine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an artificial bait for marine animals, comprising cell-free hemolymph of a horseshoe crab. The cell-free hemolymph of the horseshoe crab, which is the byproduct from the manufacture of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), is an excellent attractant to be used in artificial baits for marine animals. The baits according to the invention attract the target marine animals better than the horseshoe crab itself. Further, the baits of the invention seem to attract non-target game less than the target game. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a bait comprising cell-free hemolymph of a horseshoe crab, and a method of attracting marine animals.

Abstract: The goal of the present invention is to provide substances to prevent diseases by activating inherently possessed functions, for cultured fishes and shellfishes and livestock with tendency of decreased immune function due to densely populated breeding environment, and for humans with tendency of easily lowered immune functions due to complicated social structures and aging. The present invention expresses marked effect in preventing infection and cancer by administrating appropriate dose of swine plasma, swine plasma albumin, peptides isolated from swine plasma and swine plasma albumin, and swine plasma mixture, among others including fine powder of Crustacea (including crust of Crustacea), to activate immune function of Crustacea, Pisces, Aves, Mammals, and humans.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process for producing Guilu Erxian Gao used as a tonic medicine, comprising the steps of: (a) extracting medicinal materials comprising tortoise plastron and buckhorn with an edible acid to obtain an extract; (b) dialyzing the extract; (c) decocting ginseng and medlar and filtrating to obtain a filtrate; and (d) concentrating the mixtures of dialyzed extract and the filtrate to form a gel-like solid.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the development of anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatoric, lysozomic and/or anti-collagenolytic agents and/or collagen and/or chondroitinsulphate from cultured chondrocytes. These chondrocytes are collected from a wide variety of animals, preferably elasmobranches cartilage and a detailed culturing procedure is described. The cartilage may be obtained from dead animals or as a biopsy from living animals. Then the chondrocytes are denuded from the extracellular matrix. Thereafter the chondrocytes are cultured to produce the agents, which are then isolated and purified.

Abstract: For providing an anti-bacteria agent which is made from a natural material, therefore harmless if it is absorbed in the human body, produced in mass production with low cost, and showing a high anti-bacterial effect, the anti-bacteria agent is obtained by heating a shell in an atmosphere of inactive gas and burning the shell under the temperature which finally reaches 700° C.-2,500° C.

Abstract: A food supplement composition which is derived from dehydrated crabs and which contains 150 to 250 g/kg of protein, 200,000 to 300,000 mg/kg of calcium, 10,000 to 15,000 mg/kg of phosphorus and 200 to 300 mg/kg of iron. The food supplement composition may be taken directly or in admixture with liquid or solid food or drink. It is beneficial for people with iron, calcium or protein deficiencies, and relieves the symptoms of asthma when taken by a person suffering from asthma.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with immunomodulatory and antimicrobial peptide materials obtainable from the body fluid of invertebrates, especially insects.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with immunomodulatory and antimicrobial peptide materials obtainable from the body fluid of invertebrates, especially insects.

Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods useful for tick control. The tick control methods of the subject invention are particularly advantageous because they utilize natural chemical signals (phermones) in combination with an acaricide. The use of environmentally friendly phermones makes it possible to use acaricides in a highly selective and efficient manner thereby reducing exposure of the environment to acaricides.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pharmaceutical and/or food composition comprising a suitable pharmaceutical and/or food vehicle and a heat shock protein and at least conformation or sequential epitopes of an antigenic structure inducing a graft versus host, an allergic or autoimmune reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitor of an activation of &bgr;-glucan recognition protein in a body fluid of an insect comprising a sugar compound comprising plural member of sugar residues, at least one of which have a substituent at the 6-position, the sugar residues being bonded mainly through &bgr; 1→3 linkage with one another, a process for inhibiting the activation; an agent for treating the body fluid of an insect, a process for the treatment; a novel agent for measuring peptidoglycan simply and effectively, and a process for the measurement. The present invention is markedly effective in that a reagent, which are obtained form a body fluid of an insect, can easily be obtained.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides are isolated from the venom of the parasitic wasp, Bracon hebetor, and are designated Brh-I to Brh-V. These polypeptides are paralytic and/or toxic to insects. The entire amino acid sequence of Brh-I and the DNA encoding it is also determined. These polypeptides may be cloned into a baculovirus, and used for insect control.

Abstract: A composition containing natural drugs is disclosed. The composition is effective for relieving physical and mental fatigue and for ameliorating a weakened constitution without any side effects, even if administered for a long time.

Abstract: Aquatic organism repellent agents are derived from algae, sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, echinoderms and coelenterates and prevent the attachment and accumulation of microscopic and macroscopic organisms to surfaces in aquatic environments. One or more of the agents may be incorporated into a carrier for release of the agent in the locus to be protected.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stabilized keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) composition in which (i) its intact non-degraded subunit is approximately 400,000 in molecular weight based on SDS-PAGE analysis; and (ii) are contained at least about 50% didecameric or higher KLH multimers, based on sedimentation-equilibrium and/or sedimentation-velocity ultracentrifugation analyses. The KLH composition is stabilized at 4.degree. C. by dissolving and storing it in an isotonic buffer preferably containing calcium and magnesium. It is critical that the KLH not have been frozen or lyophilized during its preparation or storage. The KLH composition demonstrates enhanced immunogenic activity, particularly enhanced anti-tumor activity, which is reduced if the KLH is frozen or lyophilized. The KLH composition of the present invention exhibits enhanced anti-tumor activity in a murine bladder tumor model and thereby represents a new and useful anti-tumor immunotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel peptide isolated from the venom of the spider Grammostola spatulata which peptide has antiarrhthymic activity. The invention also provides methods of treating arrhthymia comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of the peptide. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of mediating hypotonic cell swelling induced calcium increase in cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing a combination of natural drugs for treatment of diabetes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition containing 17 kinds of main natural drugs, i. e. Cordyceps, Bezoar bovis, Carthami flos, Astragali radix, Hirudo, Polygoni cuspidati radix, Polygonati falcati rhizoma, Euonymi lignum suberalatum, Corni fructus, Moutan cortex, Lycii cortex radicis, Lycii fructus, Atractylodis rhizoma alba, Atractylodis rhizoma, Coptidis rhizoma, Puerariae radix and Rehmaniae radix crudae.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for promoting the healing of dermal wounds by applying a composition containing chitosan and the polysaccharide, heparin or heparan sulfate. Heparin or heparan sulfate can be immobilized to chitosan by ionic or covalent bonds, and the degree of N-acetylation of chitosan can range from 25% to 90%. The composition can include a cellulose derivative as an additional polysaccharide to increase the viscosity of the composition. The combination of chitosan and polysaccharide, when applied to a wound site, effectively stimulates and accelerates wound healing.

Abstract: The present invention herein provides a method for collecting insect hemolymph which permits the collection of hemolymph, at a time, from a vast number of insect bodies, which does not cause any scattering of the hemolymph during collection thereof, which may widely be used, which permits the collection of the hemolymph free of unnecessary tissues or the like and which can inhibit the melanization of the collected hemolymph. The insect hemolymph can be collected by freezing anesthetized lepidopterous insects, piercing the epidermis of the frozen insects without damaging the alimentary canals thereof and then thawing them in a buffer solution containing a melanization-inhibitory agent to thus discharge the hemolymph of the insects into the buffer solution through the holes while making use of the self-contraction phenomenon caused during the thawing process.

Abstract: Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin expression in Pseudomonads can be improved by modifying the gene encoding the Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin. Chimeric genes are created by replacing the segment of the Bacillus thuringiensis gene encoding a native protoxin with a segment encoding a different protoxin. Exemplified herein is the cryIF/cryI(b) chimera wherein the native cryIF protoxin segment has been substituted by the cryIA(b) protoxin segment, to yield improved expression of the cryIF toxin in Pseudomonads. The invention also concerns novel genes and plasmids.

Abstract: There is provided a skin substitute that can suitably be used for covering the surface of a damaged skin area which is typically a wound produced by a traumatic local loss of the skin of the human body as a result of a burn or some other cause of damage. It is a skin substitute of a laminate comprising a squid chitin sheet and a fish skin collagen coat layer, which may be a salmon skin collagen coat layer. Such a skin substitute effectively exploits the suppleness and the effect of proving an environment for encouraging the production of lysozyme and defending the wound of squid chitin and, at the same time, compensate the disadvantage of poor adhesion of fibroblast cells that operate for curing the wound.

Abstract: Aquatic organism repellent agents are derived from algae, sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, echinoderms and coelenterates and prevent the attachment and accumulation of microscopic and macroscopic organisms to surfaces in aquatic environments. One or more of the agents may be incorporated into a carrier for release of the agent in the locus to be protected.

Abstract: An insecticidal product comprises a solid substrate impregnated with sterile cockroach aggregation pheromones, a sterile insecticidal composition comprises a solvent extract of the product, which may be in solution, and an insect attractant product comprises a solid substrate having the composition partially or fully coated thereon. The product and composition of the invention may be utilized in the manufacture of insect traps provided with a hollow receptacle and an opening, and optionally, a cover. An insect trap may comprise a hollow receptacle with a slippery internal surface to prevent the exit of the insects, and an opening, and optionally a cover. The present products are particularly suitable for trapping insects, such as cockroaches.

Abstract: The present invention features a method and composition for attracting a target insect to a selected location. The invention is based on the discovery that negatively charged chitosan polymers, e.g., NOCC, have advantageous properties for use in a semiochemical delivery system for releasing a volatile semiochemical at a substantially sustained rate over an extended period of time to attract a target insect to a selected location. The present invention may be used for monitoring a target insect by capturing the insect. Alternatively, the present invention may be used for the management of a target insect by disrupting mating patterns of such insects.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a soil-borne diseases controlling agent by the use of newly discovered microorganisms having strong antibacterial action. The soil-borne diseases controlling agent according to the present invention is characterized by that the agent comprises microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Bacillus sp. International Deposit Number FERM BP-4375 and Bacillus sp. International Deposit Number FERM BP-4376 as an active ingredient antagonistic against pathogenic Fusarium fungi (Fusarium species).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cosmetic or dermatological composition, as well as a cell culture medium. This composition and this medium contain an ecdysteroid, an ecdysteroid derivative or a plant or animal extract containing it. This composition is aimed notably to give to skin a smoother and softer appearance, to strengthen the water barrier function of skin, and to strengthen the cohesion of the cells of the epidermis. This composition may also be used for improving the hair appearance. The cell medium may be used advantageously for the mass culture of keratinocytes.

Abstract: A polypeptide isolated from the venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider blocks calcium channels in cells of various organisms and is useful in blocking such calcium channels in cells per se, in the treatment of calcium channel-mediated diseases and conditions, and in the control of invertebrate pests.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides are isolated from the venom of the parasitic wasp, Bracon hebetor, and are designated Brh-I to Brh-V. These polypeptides are paralytic and/or toxic to insects. The entire amino acid sequence of Brh-I and the DNA encoding it is also determined. These polypeptides may be cloned into a baculovirus, and used for insect control.

Abstract: Disclosed are two lectin species isolated from the hemolymph of Japanese horseshoe crabs and Southern horseshoe crabs which bind to N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid, but not to N-acetylglucosamine, glucoronic acid, or N-acetylgalactosamine.

Abstract: This invention provides a family of insecticidally effective peptides which may be isolated from Tegenaria spider venom, DNA encoding such insecticidally effective peptides and methods for controlling invertebrate pests.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stabilized keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) composition in which (i) its intact non-degraded subunit is approximately 400,000 in molecular weight based on SDS-PAGE analysis; and (ii) are contained at least about 50% didecameric or higher KLH multimers, based on sedimentation-equilibrium and/or sedimentation-velocity ultracentrifugation analyses. The KLH composition is stabilized at 4.degree. C. by dissolving and storing it in an isotonic buffer preferably containing calcium and magnesium. It is critical that the KLH not have been frozen or lyophilized during its preparation or storage. The KLH composition demonstrates enhanced immunogenic activity, particularly enhanced anti-tumor activity, which is reduced if the KLH is frozen or lyophilized. The KLH composition of the present invention exhibits enhanced anti-tumor activity in a murine bladder tumor model and thereby represents a new and useful anti-tumor immunotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an underwater anti-fouling composition which contains at least one indole compound represented by the Formula (1) which serves as an underwater anti-fouling agent: ##STR1## wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and phenyl; and wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4, X.sup.5 and X.sup.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, nitro, cyano, cyano lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, aralkyl, aralkyloxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, aliphatic lower acyl, aliphatic lower acyloxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl-lower alkyl, aromatic acyl, lower-cycloalkylamino-lower alkyl, nitrovinyl, pyridyl lower alkyl, carbamoyl lower alkyl, carbamoyl, diallylamino lower alkyl and di-lower-alkylamino-lower alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for isolating brush border membranes from insects. The method can be used to isolate brush border membranes from small insects.

Abstract: This invention provides a recipe for making a detoxification medicine named DTS (Deities) for curing drug addiction. This DTS (Deities) medicine comprises no narcotic but mainly is made up by several kinds of effective ingredients of biological substances refined from various natural herbs and bioproducts. Drug addicts can be weaned and cured safely from addiction induced by Heroin, Cocaine, Morphine, Amphetamines, Hemp or Opium, and other substances within 7-30 days, by means of DTS (Deities) which can get rid of drug poisons present in an addict's blood and marrow. Further, DTS (Deities) can also be used to clear away tobacco tar and nicotine deposits so that it serves to wean from cigarette smoking as well.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for blocking various channels and receptors within an organism are provided. For example, two toxins were isolated from the Agelenopsis aperta spider. The first toxin comprised a toxin having a molecular weight of from aproximately 5,000 to approximately 10,000. This toxin was found to have an irreversible effect on calcium channels within the central nervous system. A second toxin having a molecular weight of less than about 1,000 was also isolated. This toxin was found to have a reversible blocking effect on calcium channels within the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.A third toxin was isolated from the Argiope aurantia spider. This toxin was found to have a reversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors. Finally, a toxin having a molecular weight of from approximately 5,000 to approximately 7,000 daltons was isolated from the Hololena curta spider. This toxin was found to have an irreversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polypeptide found to be present in the venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider and to polypeptides having substantially the same amino acid sequence and substantially the same activity as said polypeptide. The polypeptides of this invention and the salts thereof block calcium channels in cells of various organisms and are useful in blocking said calcium channels in cells, per se; in the treatment of calcium channel mediated diseases and conditions; and in the control of invertebrate pests. This invention also relates to compositions comprising said polypeptides and salts thereof.

Abstract: A method and composition for treating parasitic infestation of animals, including human beings, by the oral administration of a piperidine alkaloid composition over a period of days. Administration of Solenopsin A in an oral dosage form or whole body extract of the imported red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, over a period of one to eleven days with regular booster dosages dissiminates the alkaloid composition through the blood and tissue fluids of the treated animals resulting in the elimination of blood and tissue-fluid feeding parasites.

Abstract: A bait composition in a tablet form, which comprises as the essential components (a) at least one insect-growth controlling agent chosen from (a-1) insect juvenile hormone-like compounds and (a-2) insect chitin-synthesis inhibitors, (b) dextrin and (c) a plant oil in an amount of not more than 10% by weight to the total bait composition.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for blocking various channels and receptors within an organism are provided. For example, a toxin was isolated from the Argiope aurantia spider. This toxin was found to have a reversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors. Another toxin having a molecular weight of from approximately 5,000 to approximately 7,000 daltons was isolated from the Hololena curta spider. This toxin was found to have an irreversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors.The present invention further relates to methods of treating heart and neurological diseases by applying the toxins isolated and identified. In particular, the low molecular weight toxin from Agelenopsis aperta may provide a treatment of certain heart conditions such as arrhythmia, angina, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. In addition, the toxins may provide beneficial effects on certain neuological conditions including seizures.

Abstract: Nonpolypeptide factors isolated from the venom of funnel-web spiders are capable of binding calcium channel proteins. These nonpolypeptide factors are used to purify calcium channels and completely block voltage-dependant calcium conductance of cell membranes.