Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies or antibody fragments that bind, neutralize, and/or inhibit Hendra or Nipah virus. The invention provides antibodies or antibody fragments that selectively bind to the F glycoprotein of Hendra or Nipah virus, and pharmaceutical compositions including such antibodies and/or fragments. The invention further provides polynucleotides encoding the antibodies and fragments of the invention and host cells transformed therewith. Additionally, the invention discloses prophylactic, therapeutic, and diagnostic methods employing the antibodies, fragments, polynucleotides, and/or compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides fusion proteins that incorporate unique mechanisms for multimerizmg antigens to enhance their immunogenicity. The fusion proteins comprise at least two antigens, or other vaccine related proteins, separated by a linker sequence and an oligomerization domain. When expressed, the fusion protein forms a muKimeric protein complex, This approach can be used to muHimeri?.e a single antigen/protein or to create multimers comprising two or more different antigens/proteins. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins, Yet another aspect is directed to methods of inducing or suppressing an immune response in a subject by administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a fusion protein or nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein, optionally without using an adjuvant.

Abstract: A manually operable pump for the effective removal of fluids to include blood, blood clots, fluid, and air from a body cavity of a subject is provided. The manually operable pump is adapted to be connect to a range of fluid conduits and is equipped with one-way valves that effectively permit flow of fluid through the pump in only one direction. The sensitivity of the one-way valves is such that when properly positioned, fluid can flow through the valves and out of the pump without manual compression of the pump and with the aid of gravity power alone.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides modified human herpesvirus glycoprotein B (gB) proteins that incorporate unique mechanisms for generating proteins that mimic their native conformation to enhance their immunogenicity. The modified herpesvirus gB proteins insert a peptide linker at the furin cleavage site in the extracellular domain of herpesvirus gB. When expressed, the gB subunit associates in triplicate to produce a homotrimeric complex, mimicking the native conformation of the gB protein. Also provided are protein complexes comprising a homotrimeric complex of a modified herpesvirus gB protein and herpesvirus gH and gL proteins. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the modified herpesvirus gB proteins, methods of inducing or suppressing an immune response in a subject by administering a vaccine comprising the modified herpesvirus gB protein, or nucleic acid encoding the same, or a protein complex comprising a homotrimeric complex of the modified herpesvirus gB protein and herpesvirus gH and gL proteins.

Abstract: The invention is directed to MtrE peptides and their use in gonorrhea vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention, referred to as Oasis is Automated Statistical Inference for Segmentation (OASIS), is a fully automated and robust statistical method for cross-sectional MS lesion segmentation. Using intensity information from multiple modalities of MRI, a logistic regression model assigns voxel-level probabilities of lesion presence. The OASIS model produces interpretable results in the form of regression coefficients that can be applied to imaging studies quickly and easily. OASIS uses intensity-normalized brain MRI volumes, enabling the model to be robust to changes in scanner and acquisition sequence. OASIS also adjusts for intensity inhomogeneities that preprocessing bias field correction procedures do not remove, using BLUR volumes. This allows for more accurate segmentation of brain areas that are highly distorted by inhomogeneities, such as the cerebellum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, as well as other genes, involved in prostate cancer and their expression products, as well as derivatives and analogs thereof. Provided are therapeutic compositions and methods of detecting and treating cancer, including prostate and other related cancers. Also provided are methods of diagnosing and/or prognosing prostate cancer by determining the expression level of at least one prostate cancer-cell-specific gene, including, for example, the ERG gene or the LTF gene alone, or in combination with at least one of the AMACR gene and the DD3 gene.

Abstract: Disclosed are endovascular stents in which a portion of the stents have a bioactive coating for promoting repair of damaged vessels, systems comprising the stents, and methods of using the stents to promote occlusion of aneurysms and/or repair damaged vessels.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery of the epitope in the Stx2 protein for the 11 E1O antibody. The invention features compositions containing non-full length Stx2 polypeptides that include the 11 E1O monoclonal antibody epitope. The invention also features methods of producing anti-Stx2 antibodies specific for the 11 E1O epitope of the Stx2 protein. Additionally, the invention features methods for treating a subject having, or at risk of developing, a Shiga toxin associated disease (e.g., hemolytic uremia syndrome and diseases associated with E. coli and S. dysenteriae infection) with a polypeptide that includes the 11 E1O epitope or with an anti-Stx2 antibody developed using the methods of the invention. Furthermore, the invention features the detection of Stx2 in a sample using the antibodies developed using the methods of the invention.

Abstract: Alterations to the ERG gene are some of the most prominent genomic changes associated with many cancers including prostate cancer. Such cancer specific alterations result in the overexpression of wild type ERG protein or an altered ERG protein. The present invention provides selective inhibitors of wild type or an altered ERG protein expression. The ERG inhibitors of the invention, therefore, are therapeutic agents for treating ERG positive cancers.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of producing vaccines directed against microorganisms, with the methods comprising culturing, harvesting and/or suspending the microorganism in the presence of a radiation-protective composition and irradiating the bacteria or viruses with a dose of radiation sufficient to render the microorganism replication-deficient and/or non-infective. The radiation-protective compositions used in the methods of the present invention comprise at least one nucleoside, at least one antioxidant and at least one small peptide. The invention also provides methods of rendering bacteria in culture resistant to ionizing radiation (IR), with these methods comprising culturing the bacteria in the presence of a radiation-protective composition.

Abstract: Provided are methods to induce and maintain a protective cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response to a peptide of the HER2/neu oncogene, GP2, with the effect of inducing and maintaining protective or therapeutic immunity against breast cancer in a patient in clinical remission, including patients having low to intermediate levels of HER2/neu expression. The methods comprise administering to the patient an effective amount of a vaccine composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an adjuvant such as GM-CSF, and the GP2 peptide. The methods may further comprise administering a periodic booster vaccine dose as needed due to declining GP2-specific T cell immunity. Also provided are vaccine compositions for use in the methods.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to identifying peptide sequences involved in antibody binding to any protein for synthesis of vaccine treatments. This novel method allows for a more manageable vaccine peptide discovery and specific generation of unique immunogenic peptides from self-tumor associated proteins and/or foreign proteins from infectious organisms for specific and/or enhanced expression only in the presence of the antibody.

Abstract: Disclosed are endovascular stents in which a portion of the stents have a bioactive coating for promoting repair of damaged vessels, systems comprising the stents, and methods of using the stents to promote occlusion of aneurysms and/or repair damaged vessels.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to antigen-specific tolerogenic protein therapy and the use thereof for treating adverse immune responses, including those associated with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and hemophilia. In particular, the invention involves the application of a B cell-targeting IgG fusion protein as the antigen-specific tolerogenic protein therapy, either alone or in combination with inhibitory antibodies. The fusion protein comprises a B-cell specific targeting module, the constant region of the human IgG4 heavy chain or a fragment thereof; and an antigen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to variants of antigens comprising folate binding protein epitopes as a composition associated with providing immunity against a tumor in an individual. The variant is effective in inducing cytotoxic T-lymphocytes but preferably not to the extent that they become sensitive to silencing by elimination, such as by apoptosis, or by anergy, as in unresponsiveness.

Abstract: This invention relates to soluble forms of G glycoprotein from Hendra and Nipah virus. In particular, this invention relates to compositions comprising soluble forms of G glycoprotein from Hendra and Nipah virus and also to diagnostic and therapeutic methods using the soluble forms of G glycoprotein from Hendra and Nipah virus. Further, the invention relates to therapeutic antibodies including neutralizing antibodies, and vaccines for the prevention and treatment of infection by Hendra and Nipah viruses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, as well as other genes, involved in prostate cancer and their expression products, as well as derivatives and analogs thereof. Provided are therapeutic compositions and methods of detecting and treating cancer, including prostate and other related cancers. Also provided are methods of diagnosing and/or prognosing prostate cancer by determining the expression level of at least one prostate cancer-cell-specific gene, including, for example, the ERG gene or the LTF gene alone, or in combination with at least one of the AMACR gene and the DD3 gene.

Abstract: Recombinant vectors comprising the cell entry region of the Shigella ox EIEC invasion plasmid are provided, as well as, Shigella or EIEC strains comprising the recombinant vectors. The vectors provide an improved platform for developing attenuated vaccine strains of Shigella or EiEC and for delivering other foreign proteins of interest. The recombinant vectors and bacterial strains comprising the same may be used in methods of inducing an immune response.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to dextran fibers which are preferably electrospun and devices formed from such fibers. In particular, such devices may include substances of interest (such as therapeutic substances) associated with the electrospun fibers. Upon exposure to a liquid the electrospun fibers dissolve immediately and the substances of interest are released into the liquid. Exemplary devices include bandages formed from electrospun dextran fibers and associated agents that promote hemostasis, such as thrombin and fibrinogen.