Abstract: A separation procedure for separating a selected desired or undesired population from a biological sample utilizing relatively heavy, dense particles and gravity sedimentation. The particles have one or more reactants bound thereto which are specific to and will bind with the selected population. The particles preferably are mixed with the sample by repeatedly causing the particles to settle through a substantial portion of the sample to bind to the selected population. The particles with the bound selected population then are allowed to preferentially settle in the sample and the supernatant including an enriched population is separated from the particles with the selected population bound thereto. The enriched populations in the biological sample supernatant can be further enriched by multiple removal steps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immunogenic polypeptides, and fragments thereof, and vaccines for the prevention and treatment of pneumococcal infection, especially by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The invention also relates to antibodies against the disclosed polypeptides, as well as vaccines containing said polypeptides and methods of disease prevention.

Abstract: Miniature swine whose genomes contain sequences characteristic of pig endogenous retrovirus genes but which are non-infectious to humans are disclosed as sources of organs, tissues and cells for introduction into human recipients afflicted with diseases, or at risk of diseases, whose etiology involves the presence of inadequately functioning organs and for which xenotransplantation of such organs, tissues and cells would have a palliative effect. Methods of producing such animals and for screening animals for the desired properties are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for augmenting bone formation by administering isolated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with a ceramic material or matrix or by administering hMSCs; fresh, whole marrow; or combinations thereof in a resorbable biopolymer which supports their differentiation into the osteogenic lineage. Contemplated is the delivery of (i) isolated, culture-expanded, human mesenchymal stem cells; (ii) freshly aspirated bone marrow; or (iii) their combination in a carrier material or matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides bacterial immunogenic agents for administration to humans and non-human animals to stimulate an immune response. It particularly relates to the vaccination of mammalian species with pneumococcal derived polypeptides that include an alpha helix but exclude a choline binding region as a mechanism for stimulating production of antibodies that protect the vaccine recipient against infection by pathogenic bacterial species. In another aspect the invention provides antibodies against such proteins and protein complexes that may be used as diagnositics and/or as protective/treatment agents for pathogenic bacterial species.

Abstract: A viral or non-viral vector particle having a modified viral surface protein wherein the viral surface protein is modified to include a targeting polypeptide including a binding region which binds to an extracellular matrix component. Such vector particles are useful in delivering genes encoding therapeutic agents to cells located at the site of an exposed extracellular matrix component.

Abstract: The structure, formation and use of blocked antibodies, especially those blocked with Protein A, or active fragments of Protein A, are disclosed as well as processes of producing such antibodies. The uses of such blocked antibodies to achieve significant reduction in both specific cross-reaction and non-specific interaction thereby increasing specificity and reactivity with targeted antigenic sites is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a LO-CD2a antibody and methods of using such antibodies or molecules that bind to the same epitope (or a portion thereof) to prevent and inhibit an immune response in human patients, preferably, where the immune response is mediated by the activation and proliferation of T cells or natural killer cells. The administration of an effective amount of the LO-CD2a antibody to a human patient will prevent or inhibit graft rejection, graft versus host disease or autoimmune disease.

Abstract: For repair of cartilage damaged as part of the degenerative effects of osteoarthritis, the inventors have found that the human mesenchymal stem cell approach makes it possible to: (1) regenerate both shallow cartilage chondral defects and full thickness cartilage defects (osteochondral lesions); (2) broaden the suitable clinical population to routinely include middle-aged patients; (3) eliminate the use of autologous tissue grafts (mature cartilage and the periosteal covering) to repair an articular cartilage injury; (4) regenerate other types of injured cartilage such as patellar and spinal disk cartilage; (5) regenerate articular joint cartilage in older patients with osteoarthritis; and (6) form new cartilage and subchondral bone which fully integrate into the adjacent normal tissue.

Abstract: Methods of treating tumors, preventing restenosis, and treating hyperplasias, corneal haze, and cataracts by administering to an animal a mutated cyclin G1 protein. The mutated cyclin G1 protein may be administered to an animal by administering to an animal an expression vehicle, such as a retroviral vector comprising a gene construct encoding a mutated cyclin G1 protein.

Abstract: A purified or highly pure recombinant monoclonal antibody with 4G10-hybridoma type specificity is disclosed along with polynucleotides, including cDNA sequences, encoding the antibody chains and the amino acid sequences corresponding to said cDNA polynucleotides and uses for said sequences. Also disclosed are corresponding tagged sequences useful in molecular biological techniques and uses for said sequences.

Abstract: Bimodal inorganic material that in a pore size distribution plot has distinct mesopore and micropore peaks. A process for producing a bimodal material or a material that contains essentially only mesopores involves heating an inorganic oxide in the presence of material that bonds to the inorganic oxide by hydrogen bonding. The micropores may or may not include a crystalline structure.

Abstract: The following constitution provides a vertically oriented liquid crystal display element of higher quality having almost uniform visibility in any direction attained by improving obliquely viewed visibility. The liquid crystal display element comprises a pair of substrates, transparent electrodes having predetermined patterns formed on the respective substrates, vertical orienting membranes respectively formed on the transparent electrodes and rubbed in a predetermined direction and a liquid crystal layer consisting of the liquid crystal molecules sandwiched by the substrates. The substrates are arranged such that respective transparent electrodes face each other. Series of nearly rectangular slits are formed on the respective transparent electrodes by removing portions of the electrodes in a display area formed by the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for ligation of oligonucleotides containing 5′-phosphorothioates on complementary templates by the action of DNA ligases. This reaction is readily applied to the synthesis of a single stranded circular DNA containing a phosphorothioate linkage at the site of ligation junction. The efficiency of 5′-phosphorothioate directed ligation reaction by ATP dependent DNA ligase reaction is similar to conventional 5′-phosphate ligation. The utility of enzymatic ligation in probing specific sequences of DNA is also described. The present invention also provides a novel non-enzymatic ligation of 5′-phosphorothioates that has been applied to the synthesis of single strand phosphorothioate and phosphate circular DNA.

Abstract: An improved zeolite having a high number of strong acid sites wherein said zeolite has an AAI of at least 1.0. In a preferred embodiment, such zeolite is produced by controlling conditions after production of the crystalline structure such that loss of tetrahedral aluminum is minimized to thereby provide a zeolite with the above defined AAI.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manhole cover/frame exchange method capable of minimizing the size of a portion to be mended, of eliminating a pressing step by a roller machine, of eliminating/reducing steps and a required mending time and of suppressing vibrations, noises and the like during the exchanging process. The manhole cover/frame exchange method comprises steps of: cutting a portion of a paved road around the manhole cover/frame spherically; removing the spherically cut portion; filling a self-curing highly fluid non-shrink filler into a spherical hollow space formed by the removing step, and filling a surface layer material over the self-curing highly fluid non-shrink filler. Thus, the pressing step by the roller machine is eliminated by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to modulate immune responses using antigen presenting human mesenchymal stem cells to induce specific T cell anergy. The present invention also provides a method to modulate immune responses using human mesenchymal stem cells as a platform to express molecules which will induce T cell anergy.

Abstract: An electrode head including at least one bio-compatible electrode. The electrode head includes at least one printed circuit board (PCB) having a face area and a thickness and at least one bio-compatible electrode extending from the thickness of the at least one printed circuit board.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for allele discrimination involving the use of rolling circle amplification (RCA) coupled with primer extension and utilizing exonuclease deficient polymerases to distinguish matched and unmated single nucleotide sites, such as in the case of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

Abstract: A vector, in particular a retroviral vector, which includes a heterologous or foreign gene and a gene encoding a negative selective marker. The negative selective marker enables one to kill cells which contain the gene encoding the negative selective marker, when a particular agent is administered to such cells.