Abstract: A treatment method for degenerative brain disorders using a pharmaceutically effective dose of the inhibitor of SUMO1 (small ubiquitin-like modifier 1) and BACE1 (?-secretase) interaction, or the inhibitor of SUMO1 expression or activation is provided. More specifically, it was confirmed that SUMO1 increased BACE1 accumulation and A? generation, that is SUMO1 regulated BACE1 accumulation by interacting with BACE1, and BACE1 dileucine motif was involved in SUMO1-mediated BACE1 accumulation. In addition, SUMO1 protein induced autophagy in H4 cells, while SUMO1 depletion reduced LC3-II level. It was further confirmed that SUMO1 and LC3 were co-localized in the cortex of APP transgenic mice. As shown herein, a pharmaceutically effective dose of the inhibitor of SUMO1 and BACE1 interaction or the inhibitor of SUMO1 expression can be effectively used for the treatment of degenerative brain disorders.

Abstract: A process for detecting Neisseria meningitidis nucleic acid in a sample is provided including producing an amplification product by amplifying Neisseria meningitidis nucleotide sequence of the sodC gene or mRNA using a forward primer of SEQ ID NO: 1, and a reverse primer of SEQ ID NO: 2, and detecting the amplification product to detect Neisseria meningitidis in the sample. Also provided are reagents and methods for detecting and distinguishing Neisseria meningitidis from other infectious agents. A kit is provided for detecting and quantifying Neisseria meningitidis in a sample.

Abstract: The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules containing transcription units which encode the flavivirus M and E protein antigens. The flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue, yellow fever virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The nucleic acids function to provide the M and E protein antigens when the nucleic acid resides in an appropriate host cell, especially when the host cell is the cell of a subject. The invention also encompasses a vaccine whose active agent is the nucleic acid. The invention further encompasses the cultured host cells when they contain within them nucleic acid molecules containing the transcription units. The invention in addition encompasses a method of immunizing a subject against flavivirus infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a vaccine containing a nucleic acid molecule containing the transcription unit of the invention.

Abstract: The disclosure provides chimeric West Nile/Dengue viruses comprising non-coding regions, non-structural proteins, and a C protein from a West Nile virus and prM and E proteins from a Dengue virus. Also disclosed are methods of using the chimeric viruses in diagnosis of Dengue viral infection, assessment of candidate Dengue virus vaccine efficacy, and production of Dengue prM and E proteins.

Abstract: Family health history information can be used to assess familial risk for common diseases and determine early detection and prevention medical strategies. Assessed familial risk of disease can then be used to determine recommendations for disease prevention and screening that are targeted to familial risk. Other factors can be included to generate personalized disease prevention recommendations. For example, personal health history information, personal health behavior information, or both can be collected and assessed to generate personalized disease prevention recommendations based on the information collected. Recommendations for disease prevention and screening based at least on familial risk can be used to provide a personalized disease prevention plan that encourages a person to make behavior changes that will reduce the risk of disease and utilize preventive health services.

Abstract: An enclosure is provided having openings for entry of rodents within the enclosure. There is arranged one or more applicators in the form of a suspended flexible web configured to contact rodents entering the chamber and having a chemical on the web for application to the rodents.

Abstract: The present inventors screened peptides having a specific sequence specifically binding to amyloid-beta antibody and accordingly confirmed that A?22(pE)-42 peptide showed higher reactivity to amyloid-beta antibody in serum of Alzheimer's disease patients. Therefore, the said A?22(pE)-42 peptide can be used as an active ingredient for the kit for diagnosing dementia and thus it can be said that the peptide can be effectively used for the diagnosis of dementia whose early diagnosis is hardly possible.

Abstract: Described herein are recombinant RVF viruses comprising deletions in one or more viral virulence genes, such as NSs and NSm. The recombinant RVF viruses, generated using a plasmid-based reverse genetics system, can be used as vaccines to prevent infection of RVF virus in livestock and humans. As described herein, the recombinant RVF viruses grow to high titers, provide protective immunity following a single injection and allow for the differentiation between vaccinated animals and animals infected with wild-type RVF virus.

Abstract: Chimeric flaviviruses that are avirulent and immunogenic are provided. The chimeric viruses are constructed to contain amino acid mutations in the nonstructural viral proteins of a flavivirus. Chimeric viruses containing the attenuation-mutated nonstructural genes of the virus are used as a backbone into which the structural genes of a second flavivirus strain are inserted. These chimeric viruses elicit pronounced immunogenicity yet lack the accompanying clinical symptoms of viral disease. The attenuated chimeric viruses are effective as immunogens or vaccines and may be combined in a pharmaceutical composition to confer simultaneous immunity against several strains of pathogenic flaviviruses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that can sample a wide variety of mosquitoes attempting to rest. Because all mosquitoes rest daily, biases of typical mosquito traps are avoided, such as targeted collections of host-seeking mosquitoes or gravid female mosquitoes. A particular advantage is the inclusion of blood-engorged mosquitoes in the resting collections. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an open-sided pot designed to attract mosquitoes seeking a daytime resting location. The mosquitoes that enter a dark space of the pot are aspirated into a screened collection receptacle by means of a battery-powered fan.

Abstract: Disclosed are the simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type 3 subtype D (STLV-3 subtype D), isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding STLV-3 subtype D polypeptides, such as STLV-3 subtype D envelope, protease, polymerase, tax, rex, and capsid polypeptides, isolated polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids. Methods are also disclosed for detecting STLV-3 subtype D, for example by detecting a STLV-3 subtype D nucleic acid or polypeptide in the sample. Accordingly, probes, primers, and antibodies for use in detecting STLV-3 subtype D nucleic acids or polypeptides are disclosed. Therapeutic compositions which included isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a STLV-3 subtype D polypeptides or isolated polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acid molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: One major problem in diagnosis methods presently available for anthrax is that these methods require several days to produce a result. The only existing treatment for anthrax requires administration soon after infection at a time when patients are exhibiting only mild flu-like symptoms. Thus, a patient may be days beyond the time when treatment would be effective by the time a diagnosis is made. The present invention reduces diagnosis time to as little as four hours providing same day identification of anthrax radically increasing the odds of delivering proper treatment and patient recovery. The rapid identification of anthrax lethal factor activity exhibited by the instant invention is also amenable to in vivo screening protocols for the discovery and development of anthrax vaccines and lethal factor inhibitors. The instant invention isolates and concentrates lethal factor and lethal toxin from nearly any biological sample.

Abstract: Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions including primers and probes, which are capable of interacting with the disclosed nucleic acids, such as the nucleic acids encoding the reverse transcriptase or protease of HIV as disclosed herein. Thus, provided is an oligonucleotide comprising any one of the nucleotide sequences set for in SEQ ID NOS:1-89, and 96-104. Also provided are the oligonucleotides consisting of the nucleotides as set forth in SEQ ID NOS:1-89, and 96-104. Each of the disclosed oligonucleotides is a probe or a primer. Also provided are mixtures of primers and probes and for use in RT-PCR and primary PCR reactions disclosed herein. Provided are methods for the specific detection of several mutations in HIV. Mutations in both the reverse transcriptase and the protease of HIV can be detected using the methods described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleic acid encoding the 37-kDa pneumococcal surface adhesion A protein (PsaA) from Streptococcus pneumoniae. The invention also provides purified polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid encoding the 37-kDa protein from and the nucleic acids comprising unique fragment of at least 10 nucleotides of the 37-kDa protein. Additionally, multiple antigenic peptides that provide protection against S. pneumoniae challenge are provided. These multiple antigen peptides comprise the peptides that immunospecifically bind to the monoclonal antibodies. Also provided are vaccines comprising such immunogenic peptides, and methods of conferring protective immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection by administering therapeutic composition comprising the immunogenic peptides of the invention.

Abstract: This invention, in one aspect, relates to synthetic immunoreactive peptides. These peptides are approximately 20-25 amino acids in length which are portions of the N termini of the M proteins of the most prevalent United States (U.S.) Group A Streptococcus (GAS) serotypes. At least some of the synthetic peptides can be recognized by M type-specific antibodies and are capable of eliciting functional opsonic antibodies and/or anti-attachment antibodies without eliciting tissue cross-reactive antibodies. In another aspect, it relates to compositions or vaccines comprising these synthetic serotype-specific peptides, including polypeptides and proteins. The invention may also be isolated antibodies which are raised in response to the peptides, compositions or vaccines. The invention further relates to kits for using the peptides, compositions, or antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pol I promoter derived from Vero cells and a recombinant vector containing the same. When the pol I promoter derived from Vero cells according to the present invention is utilized, viruses can be manufactured efficiently, and consequently, the manufacture of both seasonal influenza vaccine and pandemic vaccine can be prepared more quickly to usefully address either situation.

Abstract: Regions of B. anthracis protective antigen are provided representing sequences recognized by antibodies in subjects that have vaccine induced lethal toxin neutralizing anti-PA IgG responses. The recognition of these PA regions enhances the utility of anti-PA IgG reactivity as an immune correlate of protection against anthrax in a subject and increases predictive probability of survival. Also provided are vaccines that include at least one of these PA regions that when administered to a subject improve the predictive value of vaccine induced anti-PA IgG and TNA responses as immune correlates of protection against inhalation anthrax.

Abstract: A bipolar charger includes a housing with a main chamber and positive and negative electrode chambers facing each other. The electrode chambers each have a ground electrode and a high voltage electrode that cooperate to create a cloud of ions. An aerosol flowing from an inlet passage through the main chamber and out an outlet passage mixes with the clouds of ions, thereby providing an aerosol with a steady-state electric charge distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions including primers and probes, which are capable of interacting with the disclosed nucleic acids, such as the nucleic acids encoding the reverse transcriptase, protease, or integrase of HIV as disclosed herein. Thus, provided is an oligonucleotide comprising any one of the nucleotide sequences set for in SEQ ID NOS: 1-89, 96-122, and 124-141. Also provided are the oligonucleotides consisting of the nucleotides as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1-89, 96-122, and 124-141. Each of the disclosed oligonucleotides is a probe or a primer. Also provided are mixtures of primers and probes and for use in RT-PCR and primary PCR reactions disclosed herein. Provided are methods for the specific detection of several mutations in HIV simultaneously or sequentially. Mutations in the reverse transcriptase, protease, or integrase of HIV can be detected using the methods described herein.