Abstract: Regression associated antigens (RAAs) are identified in material from neoplastic cells by their immunological reactivity with regression associated antibodies from the serum of patients diagnosed as undergoing regression of a tumor. Regression associated antibodies (RAAbs) are identified by their absence during progression of a neoplastic disease state and by their presence in a diagnosed state of regression. RAAs have been purified and used to monitor the condition of cancer patients. Production of RAAbs and treatments employing those antibodies are described. It is herein disclosed that RAAs are expressed by M. hyorhinis and are also expressed by expression of provided nucleotide sequences in recombinant host cells, particularly nucleotide sequence for 38 kd and 43 kd RAAs as expressed in E. coli. RAAs and nucleic acids encoding RAAs (or portions thereof) and RAAbs may be used in diagnostic assays and immunotherapy.

Abstract: Genes are disclosed which are capable of directing the synthesis in a selected host microorganism of thaumatin I polypeptides having improved taste characteristics characterized by having the amino acid sequence of natural thaumatin I including a lysine amino acid residue substituted for asparagine in the 46th position from the amino terminal end, an aspartate amino acid residue substituted for asparagine in the 113th position from the amino terminal end and an aspartate amino acid residue substituted for lysine at either the 97th or 137th residue from the amino terminal end.

Abstract: The invention relates to cecropin-like polypeptides with a variey of C-terminus modifications. Conversion of the terminal carboxy group to a homoserine extended neutral, negatively charged or positively charged form results in the polypeptides of the invention that have significant bactericidal effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention provides an osteogenically active protein preparation characterized by a molecular weight of from about 31,000 to 34,000 daltons as characterized comprising a subunit identical to or homologous to a subunit in P3 OF 31-34, by non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by the characteristic of eluting from a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography column equilibrated with buffers containing trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile by eluting within the concentrations of 35% to 45% acetonitrile. The invention further provides improved methods for isolating such preparations and genes encoding all or a portion of polypeptide subunits of dimers comprising the osteogenic protein preparation.

Abstract: Peptide fragments of certain apolipoproteins have been found to be both immunogenic and capable of eliciting antibodies with highly apolipoprotein-specific immunoreactivity. These antibodies, in labeled and unlabeled form, as well as the labeled synthetic peptide fragments, are useful in the production of immunodiagnostic procedures and kits for quantitating type-specific apolipoproteins. Both competitive assays and immunometric assays are disclosed.

Abstract: A protein extracted from demineralized bone matrix exhibiting bone-inducing activity is disclosed as well as a method for the rapid isolation and purification of the protein to an essentially homogeneous state. Pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing the bone-inducing protein and suitable pharmaceutical carriers are also described.

Abstract: Regression associated antigens are identified in material from neoplastic cells by their immunological reactivity with regression associated antibodies from the serum of patients diagnosed as undergoing regression of a tumor. Regression associated antibodies are identified by their absence during progression of a neoplastic disease state and by their presence in a diagnosed state of regression. The antigens are purified, used to monitor the condition of cancer patients, and production of antibodies and treatments employing those antibodies are described.