Abstract: DNA sequences, recombinant DNA molecules and hosts transformed with them which produce polypeptides displaying a biological or immunological activity of human interferon, the genes coding for these polypeptides and methods of making and using these molecules, hosts, genes and polypeptides. The DNA sequences are characterized in that they code for a polypeptide displaying a biological or immunological activity of human interferon. In appropriate hosts these DNA sequences and recombinant DNA molecules permit the production and identification of genes and polypeptides displaying a biological or immunological activity of human interferon and their use in antiviral and antitumor or anticancer agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to hepatitis B virus (“HBV”) core antigen particles that are characterized by multiple immunogen specificities. More particularly, the invention relates to HBV core antigen particles comprising immunogens, epitopes, or other related structures, crosslinked thereto by ligands which are HBV capsid-binding peptides that selectively bind to HBV core protein. Such particles may be used as delivery systems for a diverse range of immunogenic epitopes, including the HBV capsid-binding peptides, which advantageously also inhibit and interfere with HBV viral assembly by blocking the interaction between HBV core protein and HBV surface proteins. Mixtures of different immunogens and/or capsid-binding peptide ligands may be crosslinked to the same HBV core particle. Such resulting multicomponent or multivalent HBV core particles may be advantageously used in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and compositions, as well as in diagnostic compositions and methods using them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds, methods of preparing these compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. These compounds are carbamate prodrugs that convert to active inhibitors of the IMPDH enzyme in vivo. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for activation and subsequent inhibition of the IMPDH enzyme activity. Consequently, these prodrugs may be advantageously used as therapeutic agents for IMPDH mediated processes. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the activity of IMPDH using the compounds and compositions of this invention.

Abstract: DNA sequences coding for the DR-&bgr;-chain locus of human lymphocyte antigen complex and diagnostic typing processes and products related thereto. DNA sequences that code for the &bgr;-chain DR locus are useful in simple and efficient typing processes and products and for expression of polypeptides displaying an immunological or biological activity of the antigens of the HLA-DR &bgr;-chains for use in diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to DNA sequences coding for proteins having the enzymatic activity of an amylosucrase which allows the synthesis of linear &agr;-1,4 glucans from the substrate sucrose by bacteria, fungi and plants or in cell-free systems. The invention furthermore describes plasmids and bacteria containing these DNA sequences as well as processes for the production of plants and microorganisms capable of intracellularly or extracellularly expressing a polypeptide having amylosucrase activity. The invention furthermore relates to the production of pure fructose using proteins exhibiting the enzymatic activity of amylosucrase.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules are described encoding a starch granule-bound protein as well as methods and recombinant DNA molecules for the production of transgenic plant cells and plants synthesizing a modified starch with modified viscosity properties and a modified phosphate content. Moreover, the plant cells and plants resulting from those methods as well as the starch obtainable therefrom are described.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that nitric oxide (NO) is an important growth regulator in an intact developing organism. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of increasing in a mammal a population of hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow which are capable of undergoing normal hematopoiesis and differentiation, wherein the bone marrow is contacted with an inhibitor of NO, such as an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), thereby producing bone marrow having an increased population of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of undergoing normal hematopoiesis and differentiation. The present invention also relates to a method of increasing a population of cells in S phase in a tissue of a mammal, comprising contacting the tissue with an inhibitor of NO, such as an inhibitor of NOS. The invention also pertains to a method of regenerating tissue in an adult mammal comprising contacting a selected tissue (e.g.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules are described which contain a DNA sequence encoding a protein with the biological activity of a 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (2-DOG-6-P) phosphatase and being under the control of regulatory sequences of a promoter active in plants and transcription-termination and/or poyladenylation signals. Also, vectors and hosts are described which contain the recombinant DNA molecules according to the invention. Furthermore, processes for producing transformed plant cells and plants using the described recombinant DNA molecules and vectors are provided. The invention also describes transgenic plants, their harvest products and propagation material as well as plant cells and tissues containing the recombinant DNA molecules or vectors according to the invention or having been produced by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of p38, a mammalian protein kinase involved in cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention relates to compounds having the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R, R1, Q1, Q2, X, Y, Z, A, and n are as described in the specification. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a plurality of yeast cells, wherein said plurality of yeast cells are characterized by their ability to enhance the immune system (e.g., increase the activity of T and B lymphocytes and natural killer cells) in a mammal, said ability resulting from their having been cultured in the presence of an alternating electric field having a specific frequency and a specific field strength. Also included are methods of making and using these compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to cosmetic compositions for topical application for counteracting UV radiation induced skin damage comprising as active substances a first component which comprises inactivated bacteria selected from the group consisting of the genus Bifidobacterium, Actinomycetaceae, Propionimycetaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Coryneform bacteria and a second component which comprises an extract of plant extracellular matrix. Preferably, the plant extracellular matrix is selected from the group consisting of glycoproteins, carbohydrate polymers and arabinogalactan proteins. Processes for using the cosmetic compositions are also described.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules are described, which encode debranching enzymes from maize, as well as transgenic plant cells and plants in which an amylopectin with modified properties is synthesized due to the expression of a debranching enzyme from maize or due to the inhibition of such an endogeneous debranching enzyme activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of p38, a mammalian protein kinase involved cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a plurality of yeast cells, wherein said plurality of yeast cells are characterized by their ability to improve kidney functions (e.g., restoring urine secretion and/or lowering blood urea nitrogen, serum proteinuria, and/or serum creatinine levels) in a subject as a result of having been cultured in the presence of an alternating electric field having a specific frequency and a specific field strength. Also included are methods of making such compositions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a plurality of yeast cells, wherein said plurality of yeast cells have been cultured in the presence of an alternating electric field having a specific frequency and a specific field strength for a period of time sufficient to increase the capability of said plurality of yeast cells to improve the memory of a mammal. Also included are methods of making such compositions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a plurality of yeast cells, wherein said plurality of yeast cells are characterized by their ability to normalize the serum level of GPT, AP and/or LDH-5 in a mammal, said ability resulting from their having been cultured in the presence of an alternating electric field having a specific frequency and a specific field strength. Also included are methods of making and using these compositions.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds that are useful as protein kinase inhibitors having the formula: wherein B, R1, n, R3, Q and R4 are described in the specification. The compounds are useful for treating disease states in mammals that are alleviated by a protein kinase inhibitor, particularly diseases such as cancer, inflammatory disorders, restenosis, and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding enzymes which are involved in the starch synthesis in plants. These enzymes are starch synthases from wheat. The invention further relates to vectors and host cells containing said nucleic acid molecules, in particular transformed plant cells and plants regenerated from these cells, which exhibit an increased or a reduced activity of the described starch synthases.

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: The invention describes DNA molecules which code for plant proteins having the biological activity of a debranching enzyme. Furthermore described are transgenic plant cells and plants having reduced or increased debranching enzyme activity, as well as modified starch isolatable from the cells and plants.