Abstract: A novel means of pharmaceutical delivery for therapy or prophylaxis or to assist surgical or diagnostic operations on the living body is provided by agents which undergo neuronal endocytosis and axonal transport following pharmaceutical administration into vascularized, peripherally innervated tissue, e.g., intramuscular injections of a nerve adhesion molecule comprising a physiologically active substance or a diagnostic marker.

Abstract: This invention relates to the novel identification of myelin-associated glycoprotein (“MAG”) as a potent inhibitor of neural regeneration. More particularly, this invention relates to compositions and methods useful for reversing inhibition of neural regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous system. Assays to monitor the effects of MAG on neural regeneration and to identify agents which will block or promote the inhibitory effects of MAG on neural outgrowth are provided. Screening methods for identifying such agents are also provided. This invention also relates to compositions and methods using agents that can reverse the inhibitory effects of MAG on neural regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of sulfonamides which are aspartyl protease inhibitors. In one embodiment, this invention relates to a novel class of HIV aspartyl protease inhibitors characterized by specific structural and physicochemical features. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as anti-viral agents against the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of HIV aspartyl protease using the compounds of this invention and methods for screening compounds for anti-HIV activity.

Abstract: This invention relates to the novel identification of myelin-associated glycoprotein (“MAG”) as a potent inhibitor of neural regeneration. More particularly, this invention relates to compositions and methods useful for reversing inhibition of neural regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous system. Assays to monitor the effects of MAG on neural regeneration and to identify agents which will block or promote the inhibitory effects of MAG on neural outgrowth are provided. Screening methods for identifying such agents are also provided. This invention also relates to compositions and methods using agents that can reverse the inhibitory effects of MAG on neural regeneration.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for assaying exogenous protease activity in a host cell transformed with nucleotide sequences encoding that protease and a specialized substrate. It also relates to methods for assaying endogenous protease activity in a host cell transformed with nucleotide sequences a specialized substrate. When these nucleotide sequences are expressed, the exogenous or endogenous protease cleaves the substrate and releases a polypeptide that is secreted out of the cell, where it can be easily quantitated using standard assays. The methods and transformed host cells of this invention are particularly useful for identifying inhibitors of the exogenous and endogenous proteases. If the protease is a protease from an infectious agent, inhibitors identified by these methods are potential pharmaceutical agents for the treatment or prevention of infection by that agent.