Abstract: Methods of suppressing or preventing an infection of a subject by a pathogen that involve administering to the subject a composition that includes a therapeutically effective amount of an MDA-7 polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding the MDA-7 polypeptide, and a pharmaceutically acceptable preparation suitable for delivery to the subject, wherein the MDA-7 suppresses or prevents the infection, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of suppressing or preventing a viral infection of a cell, including obtaining an MDA-7 polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding the MDA-7 polypeptide, and contacting the cell with the MDA-7 polypeptide or the nucleic acid encoding the MDA-7 polypeptide, wherein the MDA-7 suppresses or prevents infection of the cell.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include E1 expressing cell lines that can be used in a variety of methods for production of an E1 defective adenovirus. In certain aspects a cell of the invention can be adapted to various culture conditions, e.g., suspension culture in serum free medium. In a further aspect, the cell lines allow isolation and subculture of E1-deleted recombinant adenoviruses in an environment free of replication competent adenovirus (RCA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of p53 gene therapy to treat recurrent cancers in combination with a radio- or chemotherapy. Patients with recurring cancers are treated with a p53 expression construct followed by subsequent radio- or chemotherapy treatment. Viral and non-viral delivery systems, as well as various radio- and chemotherapy regimens are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yields of viral vectors when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of low-medium perfusion rates in an attached cell culture system provides for improved yields. In other embodiments, the inventors have shown that there is improved Ad-p53 production witrh cells grown in serum-free conditions, and in particular in serum-free suspension culture. Also important to the increase of yields is the use of detergent lysis. Combination of these aspects of the invention permits purification of virus by a single chromatography step that results in purified virus of the same quality as preparations from double CsCl banding using an ultracentrifuge.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of benzimidazole derivatives for the treatment of tumors and in combination with tumor suppressor gene therapy. In a particular embodiment, treatment of p53-positive tumors with benzimidazole derivatives induces p53 expression and increases its half-life, resulting in apoptotic death of the tumor cells. Similarly, in conjunction with p53 gene therapy, benzimidazole derivatives induce p53 expression and accumulation in tumor cells regardless of their p53 status. The combination treatment subsequently elicits apoptosis of the tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yield of adenovirus when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of infection temperatures lower than 37° C. in a cell culture system results in improved yields of adenovirus. In addition, it has been demonstrated that when host cells are grow in a bioreactor, initiating adenovirus infection by diluting the host cells with fresh media and adenovirus results in improved yield of adenovirus. Methods of adenoviral production and purification using infection temperatures less than 37° C. are disclosed. Methods of adenoviral production and purification wherein the host cells are grown in a bioreactor and adenovirus infection is initiated by diluting the host cells with fresh media and adenovirus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the long-term storage stability (i.e. infectivity) of vector formulations. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of bulking agents, cryoprotectants and lyoprotectants imparts desired properties that allow both lyophilized and liquid adenovirus formulations to be stored at 4° C. for up to 6 months and retain an infectivity between 60-100% of the starting infectivity.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the long-term storage stability (i.e. infectivity) of vector formulations. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of bulking agents, cryoprotectants and lyoprotectants imparts desired properties that allow both lyophilized and liquid adenovirus formulations to be stored at 4° C. for up to 6 months and retain an infectivity between 60-100% of the starting infectivity.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yields of viral vectors when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of low-medium perfusion rates in an attached cell culture system provides for improved yields. In other embodiments, the inventors have shown that there is improved Ad-p53 production with cells grown in serum-free conditions, and in particular in serum-free suspension culture. Also important to the increase of yields is the use of detergent lysis. Combination of these aspects of the invention permits purification of virus by a single chromatography step that results in purified virus of the same quality as preparations from double CsCl banding using an ultracentrifuge.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for recombinant protein production through replication-defective adenoviral vector infection of non-trans-complementation cell lines. Thus, this invention describes methods of heterologous protein production without an accompanied production of adenoviral vectors.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions involving MDA-7 protein or an MDA-7-encoding nucleic acid and an EGFR inhibitor for the treatment of cancer. In certain embodiments, the invention specifically concerns a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for example, erlotinib, as the EGFR inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising and methods for producing adenovirus compositions wherein host cells are grown in a bioreactor and purified by size partitioning purification to provide purified adenovirus compositions.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yields of viral vectors when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of low-medium perfusion rates in an attached cell culture system provides for improved yields. In other embodiments, the inventors have shown that there is improved Ad-p53 production with cells grown in serum-free conditions, and in particular in serum-free suspension culture. Also important to the increase of yields is the use of detergent lysis. Combination of these aspects of the invention permits purification of virus by a single chromatography step that results in purified virus of the same quality as preparations from double CsCl banding using an ultracentrifuge.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the long-term storage stability (i.e. infectivity) of vector formulations. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of bulking agents, cryoprotectants and lyoprotectants imparts desired properties that allow both lyophilized and liquid adenovirus formulations to be stored at 4° C. for up to 6 months and retain an infectivity between 60–100% of the starting infectivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunotherapy methods for treating hyperproliferative disease in humans, particularly to hyperproliferative disease that is refractory to therapy. More specifically, the invention is directed, in one embodiment, to methods for treating a subject with a hyperproliferative disease in which the expression of a self gene is upregulated in therapy-resistant hyperproliferative cells. In another embodiment, an adenoviral expression construct comprising a self gene under the control of a promoter operable in eukaryotic cells is administered to the therapy-resistant hyperproliferative cells. The present invention thus provides immunotherapies for treating therapy-resistant hyperproliferative disease by attenuating the natural immune system's CTL response against hyperproliferative cells or overexpressing mutant p53 antigens, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for producing adenovirus compositions wherein host cells are grown in a bioreactor and purified by size partitioning purification to provide purified adenovirus compositions.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yields of viral vectors when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of low-medium perfusion rates in an attached cell culture system provides for improved yields. In other embodiments, the inventors have shown that there is improved Ad-p53 production cells grown in serum-free conditions, and in particular in serum-free suspension culture. Also important to the increase of yields is the use of detergent lysis. Combination of these aspects of the invention permits purification of virus by a single chromatography step that results in purified virus of the same quality as preparations from double CsCl banding using an ultracentrifuge.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yields of viral vectors when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of low-medium perfusion rates in an attached cell culture system provides for improved yields. In other embodiments, the inventors have shown that there is improved Ad-p53 production witrh cells grown in serum-free conditions, and in particular in serum-free suspension culture. Also important to the increase of yields is the use of detergent lysis. Combination of these aspects of the invention permits purification of virus by a single chromatography step that results in purified virus of the same quality as preparations from double CsCl banding using an ultracentrifuge.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the yield of adenovirus when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of infection temperatures lower than 37° C. in a cell culture system results in improved yields of adenovirus. In addition, it has been demonstrated that when host cells are grow in a bioreactor, initiating adenovirus infection by diluting the host cells with fresh media and adenovirus results in improved yield of adenovirus. Methods of adenoviral production and purification using infection temperatures less than 37° C. are disclosed. Methods of adenoviral production and purification wherein the host cells are grown in a bioreactor and adenovirus infection is initiated by diluting the host cells with fresh media and adenovirus are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for passing adenovirus particle preparations through chromatographic media to provide purified adenovirus particles.