Abstract: T cell activation in response to antigen is increased by the administration of binding agents that block CTLA-4 signaling. When CTLA-4 signaling is thus blocked, the T cell response to antigen is released from inhibition. Such an enhanced response is useful for the treatment of tumors, chronic viral infections, and as an adjuvant during immunization.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided relating to novel IgE isoforms and their use in immune hypersensitivity diagnosis and treatment. The compositions include transcription and translation products of the immunoglobulin epsilon locus, specific probes for epsilon transcription products, and compounds that specifically bind epitopes of epsilon translation products. Novel products of the epsilon locus include the following transcription products and translation products thereof: CH4-M2", CH4'-CH5-M1'-M2, CH4'-CH5-M2', CH4'-CH5-M2.increment. and CH4-M2'. Such epsilon products, specific probes and binding compounds find use in methods and kits for immune hypersensitivity diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical formulation of hyaluronic acid is administered to a patient suffering from undesirable T cellactivity. The hyaluronic acid inhibits T cell activity at doses that are well-tolerated by the recipient. Conditions suitable for treatment include graft vs. host disease, graft rejection and certain autoimmune diseases having a T cell component.

Abstract: Novel vectors are disclosed for expressing and secreting heterologous polypeptides from filamentous fungi. Such vectors are used in novel processes to express and secrete such heterologous polypeptides. The vectors used for transforming a filamentous fungus to express and secrete a heterologous polypeptide include a DNA sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide and a DNA sequence encoding a signal sequence which is functional in a secretory system in a given filamentous fungus and which is operably linked to the sequence encoding the heterologous polypeptide. Such signal sequences may be the signal sequence normally associated with the heterologous polypeptides or may be derived from other sources. The vector may also contain DNA sequences encoding a promoter sequence which is functionally recognized by the filamentous fungus and which is operably linked to the DNA sequence encoding the signal sequence.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the nephron mass of a mammalian recipient are disclosed. A metanephros from an allogenic or xenogeneic mammalian donor is implanted next to a recipient's omentum or under the renal capsule of the recipient's kidney. The metanephros becomes vascularized by the recipient's blood vessels, forming a chimeric kidney that produces urine and develops a ureter that facilitates externalization of the urine. A ureter to ureter anastomosis can be subsequently performed to provide fluid communication between the chimeric kidney ureter and a ureter of the recipient.

Abstract: Cellular components are quantitated using stained cell samples, computerized image analysis, and cellular standards, where the computerized image analysis value can be translated into the amount of the component per cell. The methodology is demonstrated with breast cancer cells and quantitation of the HER-2/neu gene. The quantitation is shown to have prognostic capability as to the future course of the disease.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptides useful in ameliorating GAD-associated autoimmune disease as well as diagnostic and therapeutic methods of using the peptides are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of large polypeptides containing repeating sequences of amino acids utilizing biochemical techniques, specifically DNA sequences coding for the expression of the large polypeptides. Systems utilizing exogenous transcriptional and translational regions to control the production of the large polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Cyclosporin A formulations are provided as amorphous nanoparticle dispersions for physiologic absorption. The compositions have high bioavailability and patient acceptability. By providing for concentrates comprising lower alkanols and a polyoxyalkylene surfactant as a stable dispersion of cyclosporin A, upon introducing the stable dispersion into an aqueous medium, the subject formulation is produced comprising amorphous bioavailable cyclosporin nanoparticles.

Abstract: Proteinaceous polymers having repetitive units from naturally occurring structural proteins are employed as backbones for functionalities for crosslinking to provide strongly adherent tissue adhesives and sealants. Particularly, block copolymers having repeating units of elastin and fibroin are employed having lysine substitutions in spaced apart units, where the amino group can be crosslinked using difunctional crosslinking agents. The protein polymer contains at least 40 weight percent of repetitive units of 3 to 15 amino acids of at least one naturally occurring protein and in at least two units an amino acid is substituted by an amino acid containing a functional group capable of reacting with a crosslinking agent to form a strongly adherent adhesive composition for bonding together separated tissue or for sealing tissue defects.

Abstract: Thermoplastics interdispersed with a variety of functional thermostable proteins and methods for their production are provided. To prepare the subject thermoplastics, a plastic material is contacted with a thermostable polypeptide and then subjected to the heating and molding/extrusion/casting process. The resultant thermoplastics comprise the thermostable polypeptide on the formed plastic surface and at a depth below the plastic surface. The thermostable polypeptides contained in the disclosed compositions retain functional properties or binding specificities through the heating and molding/extrusion/casting processes. Preferred thermostable polypeptides used in the disclosed compositions include silk-like protein polymers, particularly ProNectin.RTM.F. The disclosed methods and compositions find use in many applications where plastics containing finctional thermostable proteins are desired, in particular, cell cultureware.

Abstract: Novel taxoids are provided having enhanced water solubility and/or improved pharmacological properties as compared to paclitaxel. The subject taxoids comprise a functional group attached to a paclitaxel at the C-2' and/or C-7 position by a linking group. Functional groups present in the subject taxoids may be hydrophilic chains, groups capable of in vivo conversion to hydrophilic chains, targeting moieties capable of specifically binding with cellular receptors and water soluble polymers of at least 5 kD. The subject taxoids find use in the treatment of hosts suffering from a cellular proliferative disease.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides comprising repetitive units of amino acids, as well as synthetic genes encoding the subject polypeptides are provided. The subject polypeptides are characterized by comprising repetitive units of amino acids, where the repetitive units are present in naturally occurring proteins, particularly naturally occurring structural proteins. The subject polypeptides find use in a variety of applications, such as structural components of prosthetic devices, synthetic fibers, and the like.

Abstract: Highly repetitive proteins which are relatively insoluble in water are chemically modified to increase solubility. The protein is reacted with a functionalizing agent to introduce additional polar functionalities and disrupt the order of the protein. The solubility of the protein in water is increased by the chemical modification, while adhesive and surfactant properties are retained.

Abstract: Metalloporphyrins are administered in conjunction with transplantation to enhance the survival of the organ.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for forming ligation product hybridized to a nucleic acid template. The ligation product is formed by contacting a nucleic acid template with a primer capable of hybridizing to the template to form a primed template. The primed template is then contacted with a pool of random extension oligonucleotides of length N and an enzyme system. The enzyme system is capable of covalently linking the primer to an extension oligonucleotide adjacently hybridized to it and one or more other extension oligonucleotides adjacently hybridized to the ligation product defined by covalently linked ligation primer and one or more extension oligonucleotides. When covalently linked, the ligation product is hybridized to the nucleic acid template. Modifications permit the determination of the nucleotide sequence of one or more members of a first set of target nucleotide residues in the nucleic acid template that are spaced at intervals of N nucleotides.

Abstract: The invention relates to serine protease variants derived from precursor serine proteases via recombinant and/or chemical methods to form protease variants having improved peptide ligase activity. The invention also includes novel ligation substrates which in combination with the serine protease variants and a second ligation substrate are capable of forming a ligation product. The invention also relates to methods for forming such ligation products and the products formed thereby.

Abstract: Transgenic mice having a phenotype characterized by the substantial absence of mature T lymphocytes otherwise naturally occurring in said mice. The phenotype is conferred in the transgenic mouse by a transgene contained in at least the precursor stem cell of the T lymphocyte which is depleted. The transgene comprises a DNA sequence encoding a T cell receptor polypeptide variant which inhibits maturation of the T lymphocyte.

Abstract: A cherry tree, Prunus avium, having the variety name `Early King`, is described. `Early King` is large, vigorous, upright, dense, vase-formed, and hardy. It is foliated with large, ovate, medium-thick, smooth, abruptly pointed, dark green leaves having a crenate to coarsely serrate margin, a petiole of medium length and thickness, and medium sized, alternate, reniform, red glands. `Early King` blooms from hardy, free buds of medium size and length about two days before `Bing` and two days after `King` varieties of cherry tree. The flowers are white and of medium size. `Early King` is a regular and very productive bearer of early and evenly ripening, semi-freestone, uniform, medium-sized fruit that is broadly compressed towards the slight to non-existent suture. `Early King` requires approximately 600 chill hours for setting fruit compared to approximately 1,000 chill hours required for `Bing`.