Abstract: A method of treating adenosine depletion in a subject in need of such treatment is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject folinic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount effective to treat adenosine depletion. A method of treating asthma in a subject in need of such treatment is also disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject dehydroepiandrosterone, analogs thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in an amount effective to treat asthma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing a large number of reactions using array assembly. In particular, the present invention features a method and apparatus for performing a large number of chemical and biological reactions by bringing two arrays into close apposition and allowing reactants on the surfaces of two arrays to come into contact. The present invention is exemplified by performing a large number of polynucleotide amplification reactions using array assembly. In addition, the present invention features a method and apparatus for coupling the amplification of polynucleotides and the detection of sequence variations, expression levels, and functions thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of regulating water and mucin secretions and fluid transport in the gastrointestinal tract. The invention also provides a method for treating a gastrointestinal disease in which the mucosal barrier of the gastrointestinal system is impaired. The invention additionally provides a method for correcting disorders of fluid secretion or absorption in the gastrointestinal system. The method comprises administering to a patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a purinergic P2Y receptor agonist, in an amount effective to regulate water and mucin secretions or to correct abnormal fluid transport in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: This invention provides a DNA polymerase that is a mutant form of a naturally occurring DNA polymerase, of which one or more amino acids in the active site are mutated. The DNA polymerase mutant of this invention is characterized by altered fidelity or altered enzymatic activity in comparison with the naturally occurring DNA polymerase. For example, the DNA polymerase mutant provides increased enzymatic activity, altered dNTP/rNTP specificity, or enhanced fidelity. In one aspect of the invention, the naturally occurring DNA polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence motif: AspTyrSerGlnIleGluLeuArg in the active site. In another aspect of the invention, the naturally occurring DNA polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence motif: LeuLeuValAlaLeuAspTyrSerGlnIleGluLeuArg in the active site.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating edematous retinal disorders. The method comprises administration of a P2Y receptor agonist to stimulate the removal of pathological extraneous fluid from the subretinal and retinal spaces and thereby reduce the accumulation of said fluid associated with retinal detachment and retinal edema. The P2Y receptor agonist may be administered with therapeutic and adjuvant agents commonly used to treat edematous retinal disorders. The pharmaceutical composition useful in this invention comprises a P2Y receptor agonist with enhanced resistance to extracellular hydrolysis, such as dinucleoside polyphosphate compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for fabricating solid supports. More specifically, the present invention features methods for fabricating solid supports for in situ synthesis and for carrying out large numbers of reactions. The present invention also features solid supports with in situ synthesized long polynucleotides.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an isolated DNA sequence encoding an antigen of Taenia solium metacestodes. A 10 kDa antigen of Taenia solium metacestodes (TSM) has been shown to be specific for immunodiagnosis of Neurocysticercosis (NCC), which is an important cause of neurological disease worldwide. This invention discloses a method of cloning a cDNA library encoding a 10 kDa protein from Taenia solium metacestodes. The cloned cDNA contained a 258 bp complete open reading frame, encoding an 86 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 9,582 Da. It showed 73% homology with a 10 kDa antigen of T. crassiceps. The recombinant protein was expressed bacterially as a fusion protein at a high level. A recombinant TSM antigen prepared according: to this invention is useful in detecting neurocysticerocosis disease. In immunoblot with purified recombinant protein, 97% of sera from active NCC showed strong reactivity while 14% of sera from chronic calcified NCC were weekly positive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase and biologically active fragments and mutants thereof, large scale methods to produce and purify commercial grade recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase enzyme as well as methods to treat certain genetic disorders including &agr;-L-iduronidase deficiency and mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS 1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the quality of oligomer arrays, which is characterized in that a phosphate unit is fused to certain array positions, said phosphate unit being linked to a signal-generating reporter group, the degree of oligomer synthesis is determined using the signal of the reporter group, and the reporter group is then split off again.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase and biologically active fragments and mutants thereof, large scale methods to produce and purify commercial grade recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase enzyme as well as methods to treat certain genetic disorders including &agr;-L-iduronidase deficiency and mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS 1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain novel dinucleotide polyphosphates of general Formulae I, II and III, and formulations thereof which are selective agonists of the P2Y purinergic receptors. They are useful in the prevention, management or treatment of diseases and disorders associated with abnormalities of tissue fluid secretion, hydration and clearance, including chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (chronic bronchitis, PCD, cystic fibrosis, immobility-associated pneumonia), sinusitis, otitis media, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, dry eye disease, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, and edematous retinal disorders, including retinal detachment, vaginal dryness, and gastrointestinal tract disease. Finally, these novel dinucleotides may be useful for diagnostic purposes, such as the facilitation of sputum induction and expectoration for the analysis of respiratory tract secretions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the synthesis of a pharmaceutically useful dinucleotide, P1, P4-di(uridine 5′)-tetraphosphate, and demonstrates the applicability to the production of large quantities. The methods of the present invention substantially reduce the time required to synthesize diuridine tetraphosphate, for example, to three days or less. The tetrasodium, ammonium, lithium and potassium salts of P1, P4-di(uridine 5′)-tetraphosphate prepared by these methods are stable, soluble, nontoxic, of high purity and easy to handle during manufacture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound which contains boron and which comprises the following general formula (1) in which Cb represents carborane, R2 and R3, independent of one another, represent a hydrogen atom or an organic radical, and R and R1, independent of one another, represent a hydrogen atom or an organic group, or R and R1 form a carbonyl group with the carbon atom to which they are bound. The invention also relates to a method of producing a compound containing boron and to the application of the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inhibiting CD95-independent apoptosis, comprising the following steps: (a) blocking the bonding of HIV-1 gp120 on receptors CD4 and/or CXCR4 or of a factor competing for this bonding, and/or (b) inhibiting the signal path induced by the bonding of (a). The invention also relates to a system for identifying substances which can be utilized for inhibiting CD95-independent apoptosis.

Abstract: The invention provides novel genetic constructions for the expression of inhibitory RNA in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The inhibitory RNA may be an anti-sense RNA or a co-suppressor RNA, and functions to reduce the expression of a gene of interest in the target cell. The genetic constructions of the invention are capable of replicating in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell and comprise a promoter region in functional combination with an encoding polynucleotide. The genetic constructions may be designed so as to replicate in the cytoplasm of plant cells, yeast cells, and mammalian cells. When the eukaryotic cell of interest is a plant cell, the genetic construction is preferably derived from a plant RNA virus. Plant RNA virus derived genetic constructions may employ a plant virus subgenomic promoter, including subgenomic promoters from tobamoviruses in functional combination with the RNA encoding region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for using viral vectors to bear populations of sequence variants and using plant hosts to select the sequences that exhibit the desired traits.

Abstract: A novel method of over expressing genes in plants is provided. This method is based on the RNA amplification properties of plus strand RNA viruses of plants. A chimeric multicistronic gene is constructed containing a plant promoter, viral replication origins, a viral movement protein gene, and one or more foreign genes under control of viral subgenomic promoters. Plants containing one or more of these recombinant RNA transcripts are inoculated with helper virus. In the presence of helper virus recombinant transcripts are replicated producing high levels of foreign gene RNA. Sequences are provided for the high level expression of the enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in tobacco plants by replicon RNA amplification with helper viruses and movement protein genes derived from the tobamovirus group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of stimulating cervical and vaginal secretions in a mammal by treatment with P2Y2 and/or P2Y4 purinergic receptor agonists. Treatment of vaginal dryness associated with menopause, chemotherapy, and various disease states as well as the treatment of vulvar pain is discussed. Suitable agonists such as UTP, CTP, ATP, dinucleotides and analogs thereof are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for interfacing computer technology with biological and chemical processing and synthesis equipment. In preferred embodiments, the present invention features methods for the computer to interface with equipment useful for biological and chemical processing and synthesis in a remote manner.