Abstract: The invention concerns uranium-chelating peptides as well as their uses for decontaminating soils and water, and for detecting and treating people contaminated by uranium. Said peptides have a helix-loop-helix type structure comprising the sequence of a calmodulin loop including at least one mutation of neutral residues selected from the group consisting of S, T, C, H, Y, N and Q, of one, two or three residues of at least one of the four calmodulin calcium binding sites: site I: residues selected among D20, D22 and D24 residues; site II: residues selected among D56, D58 and N60 residues; site III: residues selected among D93, D95 and N97 residues; site IV: residues selected among D129, D131 and D133 residues; said positions being indicated with reference to the human calmodulin sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating aging and photodamaged skin employing topical application of compositions which comprise at least one peptide manganese complex. Also disclosed are methods wherein the composition further comprises retinol, at least one retinol derivative, or a mixture thereof and methods wherein the composition further comprises active agents selected from active drug substances, emollients, sunscreen agents, skin lightening agents, skin protectants, skin conditioning agents, humectants, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for producing metal binding sites on polypeptides, and particularly for producing metal binding sites within the CDR regions of immunoglobulin heavy or light chains that are displayed on the surface of filamentous phage particles. The invention also describes oligonucleotides useful for preparing the metal binding sites, and human monoclonal antibodies produced by the present methods.

Abstract: There are disclosed polychelant compounds, that is multi-site metal chelating agents, and chelates formed therewith. The polychelants and especially their paramagnetic metal, heavy metal or radioactive metal polychelates are particularly suitable for use in diagnostic imaging, heavy metal detoxification or radiotherapy. The polychelants have a linear or branched oligomeric structure comprising alternating chelant and linker moieties bound together by amide or ester moieties the carbonyl groups whereof being adjacent the chelant moieties, each polychelant comprising at least two said chelant moieties capable of complexing a metal ion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to genes, termed Rpt-1 (regulatory protein T lymphocyte-1), which are expressed at higher levels by resting CD4.sup.+ helper/inducer T cells relative to activated CD4.sup.+ cells. The invention also relates to the proteins encoded by such genes, termed rpt-1 proteins, which regulate gene expression directed by the promoter region of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2r) alpha chain gene or by the promoter region of the long terminal repeat of human lymphotropic retroviruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I, and HTLV-II. In particular, rpt-1 proteins down-regulate gene expression controlled by the promoter of the IL-2r alpha chain gene or by the promoter of the long terminal repeat of HIV-1. The proteins and nucleic acids of the invention have value in diagnosis and therapy of immune disorders such as AIDS.