Abstract: The present invention provides compositions which are engineered to induce killing of tumor cells and concomitantly mobilize differentiate, activate and attract dendritic cells through the expression of cytokines and dendritic cell chemoattractants. The present invention invention is induces multiple stages of dendritic cell differentiation, activation and migration in vivo using gene therapy delivery systems. Moreover, this invention describes the rational design of utilizing viral vectors (preferred vector is rAd) for multiple administrations of targeted delivery to dendritic cells which can promote differentiation and activation of the transduced dendritic cells (thus augmenting in vivo stimulation of T cells, NK cells and B cells. The present invention provides a method to induce an antitumor immune response through the use of such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method to diminish the pre-existing immune response to the administration of a therapeutic virus by the selective elimination of antiviral antibodies from the serum. The present invention provides a chromatographic material for the elimination of such antibodies. The invention further provides plasmapheresis apparatus comprising this material. The invention further provides methods for the employment of such apparatus as part of therapeutic treatment regiments.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing recombinant viral vectors at high titers incorporating a variety of important advancements over the art. The method of the present invention incorporates multiple features which provide enhanced production of viruses, particularly those viruses encoding exogenous transgenes. The specifically illustrated method describes a method for the high titer serum-free media production of recombinant replication defective adenoviruses containing an exogenous transgene. The invention provides methods of preparing microcarriers, methods for seeding bioreactors at high cell density, increasing the infectivity of the producer cells to the virus, methods to increase product yield through synchronization of the cell cycle of the producer cells, and methods to minimize the deleterious effects of exogenous transgenes. The invention further provides producer cells prepared by the process of the invention. The invention further provides viruses produced by the process.

Abstract: The instant invention provides the porcine pVIP receptor protein. The invention also provides DNA compounds encoding the pVIP receptor, recombinant DNA cloning and expression vectors comprising that DNA, and recombinant host cells comprising those vectors. The invention also provides methods of making the pVIP receptor in recombinant and solid phase systems. The invention also provides methods of using the pVIP receptor in assay systems. The invention also provides methods of using the disclosed DNA sequences as probes to isolate and characterize pVIP receptors and corresponding DNA sequences from other species.

Abstract: A chelating agent is covalently bonded to a biologically active molecule such as an enzyme or antibody, the biologically active molecule is contacted with a support containing a bound transition metal ion whereby the metal ion is chelated by the chelating agent and the oxidation state of the metal ion is changed by treatment with an oxidizing or a reducing agent to provide a kinetically inert: oxidation state to immobilize the biologically active molecule on the support. The transition metal ion is preferably Co(II), Cr(II) or Ru(III) and the oxidation state of the metal ion is changed to Co(III), Cr(III) or Ru(II), respectively. The chelating agent can be iminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, terpyridine, bipyridine, triethylenetetraamine, biethylenetriamine, 1,4,7-triazacyclonane or a chelating peptide. Certain chelating agents can immobilize more than one biologically active molecule at a metal ion site on the support.

Abstract: Novel vectors and methods for a single-stranded DNA mediated gene transfer system via transformation, fusion or transduction of Streptomyces, other actinomycetes, and E. coli using a variety of vectors. Phasmid shuttle vectors of the invention are particularly useful as single-stranded vectors that appear to bypass one or more host cell restriction systems, and thus increase the efficiency of gene transfer into highly restrictive host cell systems. New and useful vectors are provided that allow for the cloning of genes both for increasing the yields of known antibiotics and also for producing new antibiotics, antibiotic derivatives, or any other useful gene product, including a variety of mammalian protein products.

Abstract: The instant invention provides novel molecules derived from the components of proinsulin using recombinant DNA technology. The invention provides molecules of the formula A--C--B wherein A is the A-chain of an insulin species, B is the B-chain of an insulin species and C is a connecting peptide. These molecules possess insulin-like activity and are useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, particularly non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. These molecules are also useful for the production of insulin and constitute a novel pathway for the recombinant production of insulin species. The invention provides a method of making insulin proceeding through the compounds of the invention as intermediates. The instant invention further provides recombinant DNA compounds which encode the compounds of the invention.

Abstract: A novel method of selecting Streptomyces recombinant DNA-containing host cells and vectors useful in the method are described. The vectors confer tylosin resistance to sensitive Streptomyces host cells and thus provide a convenient method of selecting Streptomyces transformants. The novel tylosin resistance-conferring gene described can be isolated on an .about.2.6 kb KpnI restriction fragment from plasmid pSVB2. Plasmid pSVB2 can be isolated from Streptomyces lividans TK23/pSVB2 (NRRL 15880).