Abstract: Compositions and methods of using thereof for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases resulting from infection with one or more of viral pathogens have been developed. The compositions contain one or more porphyrins, tetrapyrrole macrocycle compounds with bridges of one carbon joining the pyrroles. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions are administered in a formulation suitable for administration to a mucosal surface.

Abstract: Described are methods for inactivating adenine nucleotide transporter proteins in specific tissues of a transgenic nonhuman animal using a conditional knockin/knockout technology such as the Cre-LoxP, Flip-FLP recombinase, or Tet-on/off technologies. Specifically, the Ant2 gene is functionally inactivated in a mouse in liver, with or without the concurrent inactivation of the Ant1 gene. The result is an animal in which the Ant2 gene and accompanying ANT2 protein is absent in one or more tissues, either in the presence or absence of the Ant1 gene and accompanying ANT1 protein. The resulting animals, cells, mitochondria, and subcelluar fractions such as the mitochondrial permeability transition pore can then be used to identify agents that affect animal and/or subcellular function via a direct or indirect interaction with the ANT2 protein and/or its Ant2 gene.

Abstract: A process is provided for expanding the population of endothelial cells obtained from peripheral blood which can be transformed with a vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding a preselected bioactive polypeptide. The resulting transgenic endothelial cells are useful to biocompatibilize implantable medical devices or can be used directly, as for gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new genes encoding for the production of novel nox enzyme proteins involved in generation of reactive oxygen intermediates that affect cell division. The present invention also provides vectors containing these genes, cells transfected with these vectors, antibodies raised against these novel proteins, kits for detection, localization and measurement of these genes and proteins, and methods to determine the activity of drugs to affect the activity of the proteins of the present invention.

Abstract: A series of compounds in the 4-fluoroalkyl-3-halophenyl nortropanes and 4-haloethenylphenyl tropane families are described as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for diseases associated with serotonin transporter dysfunction. These compounds bind to serotonin transporter protein with high affinity and selectivity. The invention provides methods of synthesis which incorporate radioisotopic halogens at a last step which permit high radiochemical yield and maximum usable product life. The radiolabeled compounds of the invention are useful as imaging agents for visualizing the location and density of serotonin transporter by PET and SPECT imaging.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing capped mRNAs from an RNA mixture, e.g. whole RNA isolated from a cell or tissue extract, that includes combining in a reaction mixture RNA comprising capped mRNA with a separable affinity matrix having high-affinity eIF4E bound thereto, under conditions sufficient for binding to occur between the high-affinity eIF4E and the capped mRNA, whereby capped mRNA is bound to the affinity matrix, separating the affinity matrix from the reaction mixture, then separating the capped mRNA from the affinity matrix. High affinity eIF4E mutants previously described are employed in the process as well as a novel mutant disclosed and claimed herein. The mRNA preparation process is based on isolation of 5?-capped mRNA. The mRNA molecules thus isolated have intact sequences encoding the NH2-terminal ends of the proteins they encode, unlike those isolated by prior methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for inducing an immune response to an antigen, especially in an immunogenic composition comprising sialic acid where the antigen comprises sialic acid and wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises a sialic acid binding component, e.g., an inactivated or attenuated paramyxovirus or orthomyxovirus such as an influenza virus comprising a sialic acid binding component, e.g., a neuraminidase. The compositions comprising sialic acid and a sialic acid binding component effectively induce a humoral immune response even in a human or animal which is deficient in CD4+ T cells, due to a disease such as ARC or AIDS, and there is also an immunoglobulin class switching even in the absence of CD4+ T cells.

Abstract: The use of a 1,3-oxathiolane nucleoside analogue and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infections is disclosed. Pharmaceutical formulations are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer and/or the prediction of the metastatic ability of prostate cancer in prostate biopsy tissue. Metastatic ability of prostate cancer is positively correlated with the level of transcriptional and translational expression of the MUC18 coding sequence in the neoplastic tissue. Methods for the determination of MUC18 protein synthesis include Western blots, ELISA, radioimmunoassay, immunofluorescence, and other immunoassays using MUC18-specific antibody and suitable detection means. Methods for measurement of transcriptional expression of the MUC18 coding sequence include Northern hybridizations and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses. Absence of or very low MUC18 expression in the prostate tumor tissue is associated with nonmetastatic cancer, while relatively high levels of MUC18 expression are predictive of prostate cancer which is likely to metastasize or which has already metastasized.

Abstract: The use of a 1,3-oxathiolane nucleoside analogue and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infections is disclosed. Pharmaceutical formulations are also provided.

Abstract: Aromatic vinyl ether compounds represented by Formula (1) or by Formula (2) 1

Abstract: The present invention is directed to curcumin analogs exhibiting anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic properties, pharmaceutical formulations including such compounds and methods of using such compounds.

Abstract: Synthetic protein copolymers with plastic and elastic properties, and methods producing the copolymers, are provided. For example, a BAB triblock copolymer comprises a hydrophilic block and one or more hydrophobic blocks. The mechanical properties of a gel, fiber, fiber network, or film form of the copolymer are varied by one or more conditions before or after copolymer production. For example, a copolymer sequence can be varied before production, and one or more processing conditions such as solvent, pH, or temperature can be varied after production.

Abstract: A process for the resolution of a racemic mixture of nucleoside enantiomers that includes the step of exposing the racemic mixture to an enzyme that preferentially catalyzes a reaction in one of the enantiomers. The nucleoside enantiomer (−)-2-hydroxymethyl-5-(5-fluorocytosin-1-yl)-1,3-oxathiolane is an effective antiviral agent against HIV, HBV, and other viruses replicating in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method of measuring the individual response to antidepressant drug therapy on the transport inhibition of monoamine neurotransmitters involves in vitro monitoring of radiolabeled monoamine neurotransmitter transport into cells transfected with transport proteins similar to those on neural cells of the individual being studied. The transport occurs in unbuffered serum of the individual who is undergoing or will later undergo pharmaceutical treatment for depression or other neuropsychiatric disorders. The use of buffers is avoided so that the sensitive balance of bound/free drug within the individuals serum is not disrupted prior to or during testing.

Abstract: A method and composition for the treatment of HIV and HBV infections in humans and other host animals is disclosed that includes the administration of an effective amount of a [5-carboxamido or 5-fluoro]-2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydro-pyrimidine nucleoside or a [5-carboxamido or 5-fluoro]-3′-modified-pyrimidine nucleoside, or a mixture or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, including a 5′ or N4 alkylated or acylated derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic methods and compositions for treatment of autoimmune and anti-inflammatory disorders comprising administering an effective amount of a derivative of triptolide alone or in combination or alternation with other anti-autoimmune or anti-inflammatory compounds.

Abstract: Specific amino acid loci of human factor VIII interact with inhibitory antibodies of hemophilia patients after being treated with factor VIII. Modified factor VIII is disclosed in which the amino acid sequence is changed by a substitution at one or more of the specific loci. The modified factor VIII is useful for hemophiliacs, either to avoid or prevent the action of inhibitory antibodies.

Abstract: The development of inhibitory antibodies to blood coagulation factor VIII (fVIII) results in a severe bleeding tendency. These antibodies arise in patients with hemophilia A (hereditary fVIII deficiency) who have been transfused with fVIII. They also occur in non-hemophiliacs, which produces the condition acquired hemophilia. We describe a method to construct and express novel recombinant fVIII molecules which escape detection by existing inhibitory antibodies (low antigenicity fVIII) and which decrease the likelihood of developing inhibitory antibodies (low immunogenicity fVIII). In this method, fVIII is glycosylated at sites that are known to be antibody recognition sequences (epitopes). This produces the desired properties of low antigenicity fVIII and low (immunogenicity fVIII. The mechanism is similar to one used by viruses such as the AIDS virus, which glycosylates its surface proteins to escape detection by the immune system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antithrombotic variants of thrombin or fragments thereof that are capable of proteolytically activating protein C, but which are substantially free of fibrinogen cleavage activity. The present invention further relates to variant polypeptidess that may be cleaved to yield active thrombin variants. The present invention also relates to methods of inhibiting thrombus formation in an animal or human subject by delivering an antithrombotic variant thrombin of the present invention to the blood of the subject. The present invention relates also to methods that use the novel variant thrombins for determining the level of protein C activation in a blood sample, or the thrombogenic potential of a patient.