Abstract: Biologically active TR3-specific binding agents and methods for their use are disclosed. The biologically active TR3-specific binding agents are useful for inhibiting the proliferation of cells expressing TR3. These biologically active agents are particularly useful for treating T-cell mediated diseases such as graft-versus-host disease, organ rejection, tumor growth, autoimmunity, and inflammation.

Abstract: The production of a spray-dried bacteriocin lacticin 3147 powder is described. The powder is shown to have effective anti-microbial activity in a range of foodstuffs, namely infant milk formulations, powdered soup, yoghurt and cottage cheese. Increased anti-microbial activity was demonstrated when the lacticin 3147 powder was used in conjunction with increased hydrostatic pressure. The process comprises: inoculating a medium with a lacticin 3147-producing strain of bacteria, fermenting the inoculated medium, adjusting the pH of the fermentation to 6.3-6.7, inactivating the bacterial fermentate and evaporating the fermentate.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the Coactivator Associated arginine (R) Methyltransferase protein, CARM1. A method is described for the use CARM1 to regulate gene expression in vivo. CARM1 has also been used to methylate arginine residues of histones, synthetic peptides, and other proteins. A method to use CARM1 to screen for drugs that inhibit its methyltransferase activity is also described, as is a method to screen for drugs that modulate CARM1's interactions with other proteins.

Abstract: This invention provides novel substrate compounds that selectively inhibit the proliferation of pathological cells, for example, pathological calls that endogenously overexpress a target enzyme that confers resistance to biologic and chemotherapeutic agents. The enzyme acts on a substrate compound to 1) convert it to a cellular toxin and/or 2) release a toxic byproduct. In one embodiment, the activity of the target enzyme has been greatly enhanced in a target cell as a result of loss of tumor suppressor function and/or selection resulting from previous exposure to chemotherapy. In another embodiment, the pathological cell contains a target enzyme that is an expression product of an infectious agent in the cell. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a subject by delivering to the subject a prodrug as described herein. The prodrugs of this invention may be used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutics or alternative anti-cancer therapies such as radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of pathogenic E. coli in a sample comprising PCR amplification of DNA isolated from said sample using oligonucleotide primers specific for pathogenic E. coli.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device for producing a generally circular, interlamellar pathway within the corneal stroma of the eye. The device is made up of three major components: a vacuum centering guide having an inner bore which fits at one end against the front of the eye, a barrel which fits within the inner bore of the centering guide and to which is attached the third major component, a generally circular dissecting ring. The dissecting ring is shaped in such way that when an eye surgeon twists the barrel to which the ring is attached, the ring moves through the interlamellar space in the stroma producing the desired channel or pathway. The centering guide may optionally include a ring having one or more pins which firmly engage the cornea's epiphilium. The constituent parts of the surgical device, particularly the dissecting ring, also form a part of this invention.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device for producing a generally circular, interlamellar pathway within the corneal stroma of the eye. The device is made up of three major components: a vacuum centering guide having an inner bore which fits at one end against the front of the eye, a barrel which fits within the inner bore of the centering guide and to which is attached the third major component, a generally circular dissecting ring. The dissecting ring is shaped in such way that when an eye surgeon twists the barrel to which the ring is attached, the ring moves through the interlamellar space in the stroma producing the desired channel or pathway. The centering guide may optionally include a ring having one or more pins which firmly engage the cornea's epiphilium. The constituent parts of the surgical device, particularly the dissecting ring, also form a part of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic compounds, antibodies that recognize and bind to these compounds, polynucleotides that encode these compounds, and immune effector cells raised in response to presentation of these epitopes. The invention further provides methods for inducing an immune response and administering immunotherapy to a subject by delivering the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The invention discloses hybrid vectors for delivering genes or other nucleic acids into mammalian cells. The hybrid vectors of the invention contain both a helper dependent adenoviral portion and a second portion derived from either a replication incompetent retrovirus or from a transposon. Such vectors provide efficient transduction of quiescent cells and provide for stable integration of the gene to be delivered.

Abstract: This invention is an improved method and kit for producing a desired channel or pathway in the interlamellar space in the corneal stroma for inserting a biocompatible material. The biocompatible polymer may be an intrastromal corneal ring (ICR). The method involves the use of clockwise and counter-clockwise dissectors, and optionally channel connectors and finish channel connectors. The kit contains clockwise and counter-clockwise dissectors and optionally channel connectors, finish channel connectors and probes.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic compounds, antibodies that recognize and bind to these compounds, polynucleotides that encode the compounds, and immune effector cells raised in response to the presentation of these compounds. The invention further provides methods for inducing an immune response and administering immunotherapy to a subject by delivering the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: A novel antibiotic-producing Streptomyces sp. is provided that exhibits antifungal activity only on certain specific plant pathogens. Also provided is a method of treating or protecting plants from fungal infections comprising applying an effective amount of an antibiotic-producing Streptomyces sp. having all the identifying characteristics of NRRL Accession number B-30145. The invention also relates to fungicidal compositions comprising this novel Streptomyces strain and the antibiotics and metabolites produced by this strain either alone, or in combination with other chemical and biological pesticides.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating cisplatin and other positively-charged drugs into liposomes having a different lipid composition between their inner and outer membrane bilayers is disclosed. The liposomes are able to reach primary tumors and their metastases after intravenous injection to animals and humans. The encapsulated cisplatin has a high therapeutic efficacy in eradicating a variety of solid human tumors including but not limited to breast carcinoma and prostate carcinoma. Combination of the encapsulated cisplatin with encapsulated doxorubicin or with other antineoplastic drugs are claimed to be of therapeutic value. Also of therapeutic value in cancer eradication are claimed to be combinations of encapsulated cisplatin with a number of anticancer genes including but not limited to p53, IL-2, IL-12, angiostatin, and oncostatin encapsulated into liposomes as well as combinations of encapsulated cisplatin with HSV-tk plus encapsulated ganciclovir.

Abstract: This invention is a pre-formed intrastromal corneal insert. It is made of a physiologically compatible polymer and may be used to adjust corneal curvature and thereby correct vision abnormalities. The insert or segment may also be used to deliver therapeutic or diagnostic agents to the interior of the cornea or of the eye. The insert subtends only a portion of a ring, or “arc”, encircling the anterior cornea outside of the cornea's field of view. The invention also includes a procedure for inserting the device into the cornea.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for identifying potential therapeutic agents by contacting a target cell with a candidate therapeutic agent which is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme in the cell which is enhanced in its expression as a result of selection by biologic or chemotherapy. This invention also provides methods and examples of molecules for selectively killing a pathological cell by contacting the cell with a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme. The prodrug is subsequently converted to a cellular toxin. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology characterized by pathological, hyperproliferative cells in a subject by administering to the subject a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, overexpressed, intracellular enzyme, and converted by the enzyme to a cellular toxin in the hyperproliferative cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel antibiotic-producing and metabolite-producing Bacillus subtilis strain that exhibits insecticidal, antifungal and antibacterial activity. The supernatant of this novel strain contains effective insecticidal, antifungal and antibacterial agents. Also included in the invention is a solvent extractable, small molecular weight (<10,000 daltons) corn rootworm-active metabolite produced in the supernatant. Also included in the invention are methods of protecting or treating plants from fungal and bacterial infections and corn rootworm infestations comprising the step of applying to the plant an effective amount of the antibiotic/metabolite-producing novel Bacillus subtilis strain, the antibiotic/metabolite produced by the novel Bacillus subtilis strain or a combination thereof, optionally further comprising another antibiotic-producing bacterial strain and/or a chemical pesticide.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for identifying potential therapeutic agents by contacting a target cell with a candidate therapeutic agent which is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme in the cell which is enhanced in its expression as a result of selection by biologic or chemotherapy. This invention also provides methods and examples of molecules for selectively killing a pathological cell by contacting the cell with a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme. The prodrug is subsequently converted to a cellular toxin. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology characterized by pathological, hyperproliferative cells in a subject by administering to the subject a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, overexpressed, intracellular enzyme, and converted by the enzyme to a cellular toxin in the hyperproliferative cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel class of 4,5,6,7-substituted non-nucleoside, non-phosphorylatable pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines which exhibit both significantly lower levels of cytotoxicity and superior antiviral activity than known nucleoside, non-nucleoside, and non-nucleoside, non-phosphorylatable pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives, particularly against human DNA viruses such as cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for identifying potential therapeutic agents by contacting a target cell with a candidate therapeutic agent which is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme in the cell which is enhanced in its expression as a result of selection by biologic or chemotherapy. This invention also provides methods and examples of molecules for selectively killing a pathological cell by contacting the cell with a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme. The prodrug is subsequently converted to a cellular toxin. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology characterized by pathological, hyperproliferative cells in a subject by administering to the subject a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, overexpressed, intracellular enzyme, and converted by the enzyme to a cellular toxin in the hyperproliferative cell.

Abstract: Thus, this invention provides novel, synthetic polypeptide vaccines against human melanoma and methods for making these vaccines. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are further provided herein. These compositions are useful as melanoma caccinies and in adoptive immunotherapy.