Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a screening method for identifying novel viral proteins with interferon antagonizing function using a transfection-based assay, and the use of such proteins in isolating various types of attenuated viruses for the development of vaccine and pharmaceutical formulations. The invention also relates to the use of viral interferon antagonists in screening assays to identify potential anti-viral agents. The invention further relates to protocols utilizing interferon antagonists, e.g., NS1, to enhance gene therapy or DNA vaccination based on their ability to increase gene expression.

Abstract: The present invention provides herbal compositions that can prevent or reduce the severity, intensity, or duration of allergic and/or asthmatic symptoms and/or can prevent or delay the development of an allergic or asthmatic response to an antigen. The compositions may optionally include one or more adjuvants, cytokines, encapsulating materials, or pharmaceutical carriers or excipients, and may be administered prior to, during, or after the development of allergic or asthmatic symptoms in sensitized individuals. Alternatively or additionally, the compositions may be administered prior to sensitization to a particular antigen; preferably substantially concurrently with exposure to the antigen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the proliferation of a tumor in a mammal. The method involves the steps of (a) isolating a stress protein-peptide complex from tumor cells previously removed from the mammal and (b) administering the isolated stress protein-peptide complex back to the mammal in order to stimulate in the mammal an immune response against the tumor from which the complex was isolated. Stress protein-peptide complexes having particular utility in the practice of the instant invention include the Hsp70-peptide, Hsp90-peptide and gp96-peptide complexes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a family of vaccines that contain stress protein-peptide complexes which when administered to a mammal are operative to initiate in the mammal a cytotoxic T cell response against cells infected with a preselected intracellular pathogen. Also disclosed are methodologies for preparing and administering vaccines containing such stress protein-peptide complexes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a family of vaccines that contain stress protein-peptide complexes which when administered to a mammal are operative to initiate in the mammal a cytotoxic T cell response against cells infected with a preselected intracellular pathogen. Also disclosed are methodologies for preparing and administering vaccines containing such stress protein-peptide complexes.

Abstract: The use of cognate heat shock protein 70-peptide complex to elicit an immune response against cancer and viral, bacterial and other infectious agents.

Abstract: Method fore enhancing in a mammalian cell the activity of an enzyme associated with a lysosomal storage disorder by administering a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme in an amount effective to enhance the activity of the enzyme. Preferred compounds for use in the method are imino sugars and related compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays and kits for carrying out said assays for the rapid, automated detection of infectious pathogenic agents and normal and abnormal genes. The present invention further relates to methods for general amplification of genomic DNA and total mRNAs and for analyzing differential mRNA expression using the amplification methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides for haloacetoamido, benzoic acid derivatives having anti-tumorigenic activity. Examples of the haloacetoamido, benzoic acid derivatives include 3-chloroacetoamido, benzoylurea, 3-bromoacetoamido, benzoylurea, 3-iodoacetoamido, benzoylurea, ethyl-3-chloroacetoamido, benzoate, ethyl-3-bromoacetoamido, benzoate and ethyl-3-iodoacetoamido, benzoate. Intermediates for synthesizing the derivatives, along with methods of making and using the derivatives, are also provided.

Abstract: Method for enhancing in a mammalian cell the activity of an enzyme associated with a lysosomal storage disorder by administering a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme in an amount effective to enhance the activity of the enzyme. Preferred compounds for use in the method are imino sugars and related compounds.

Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic applications for Noonan Syndrome are described. The diagnostic and therapeutic applications are based on certain mutations in the protein tyrosine phosphatase gene PTPN11 and its expression product, PTPN11, as well as mutations in other components in a PTPN11 signal transduction pathway promoting an increased signaling flux. Also described are nucleotide sequences, amino acid sequences, probes, and primers related to PTPN11 and PTPN11 variants, and cells expressing such variants.

Abstract: Method for enhancing in a mammalian cell the activity of an enzyme associated with a lysosomal storage disorder by administering a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme in an amount effective to enhance the activity of the enzyme. Preferred compounds for use in the method are imino sugars and related compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates, to novel methods and substrates for the propagation of viruses. The invention relates to IFN-deficient substrates and methods for propagating viruses in these unconventional substrates. In particular, the invention relates to methods of propagating viruses in immature embryonated eggs, preferably six- to nine-day-old chicken eggs. The methods of the invention are particularly attractive for growing viruses suitable for use in vaccine and pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: An improved method allowing for rapid sensitive and standardized detection of a target nucleic acid from a pathogenic microorganism or virus or normal or abnormal gene in a sample is provided. The method involves hybridizing a target nucleic acid to several non-overlapping oligonucleotide probes that hybridize to adjacent regions in the target nucleic acid, the probes being referred to capture/amplification probes and amplification probes, respectively, in the presence of paramagnetic beads coated with a ligand binding moiety. Through the binding of a ligand attached to one end of the capture/amplification probe and the specific hybridization of portions of the probes to adjacent sequences in the target nucleic acid, a complex comprising the target nucleic acid, the probes and the paramagnetic beads is formed. The probes may then ligated together to form a contiguous ligated amplification sequence bound to the beads, which complex may be denatured to remove the target nucleic acid and unligated probes.

Abstract: A method and device for preventing contrast associated nephropathy are disclosed. When contrast solution is injected into the coronary artery of a patient, blood is prevented from flowing through the coronary sinus into the right atrium. The blood in the coronary sinus is bypassed to a filtration device which filters out the contrast solution from the blood and recirculates the blood back to the patient. Preferably, blood flow from the coronary sinus is blocked by a balloon catheter which includes a port distal of the balloon so that when the sinus is occluded, blood flows from the sinus into the central lumen of the catheter where it can be directed to the filtration device.

Abstract: This invention relates to genetically engineered Newcastle disease viruses and viral vectors which express heterologous genes or mutated Newcastle disease viral genes or a combination of viral genes derived from different strains of Newcastle disease virus. The invention relates to the construction and use of recombinant negative strand NDV viral RNA templates which may be used with viral RNA-directed RNA polymerase to express heterologous gene products in appropriate host cells and/or to rescue the heterologous gene in virus particles. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the heterologous gene product is a peptide or protein derived from the genome of a human immunodeficiency virus. The RNA templates of the present invention may be prepared by transcription of appropriate DNA sequences using any DNA-directed RNA polymerase such as bacteriophage T7, T3, SP6 polymerase, or eukaryotic polymerase I.

Abstract: The present invention relates methods of generating infectious negative-strand virus in host cells by an entirely vector-based system without the aid of a helper virus. In particular, the present invention relates methods of generating infectious recombinant negative-strand RNA viruses intracellularly in the absence of helper virus from expression vectors comprising cDNAs encoding the viral proteins necessary to form ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) and expression vectors comprising cDNA for genomic viral RNA(s) (vRNAs) or the corresponding cRNA(s). The present invention also relates to methods of generating infectious recombinant negative-strand RNA viruses which have mutations in viral genes and/or which express, package and/or present peptides or polypeptides encoded by heterologous nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying inhibitors of the bitter taste response, and by methods of using such inhibitors to either block the perception of bitterness and/or promote the perception of a sweet taste. The inhibitors of the invention may be used as flavor enhancers in foods and pharmaceuticals. The methods of the invention may further be used to characterize the gustatory perception of novel tastants.

Abstract: A new circulating form of soluble human tissue factor was identified. This new form of human tissue factor appears to be the result of alternative splicing and is therefore referred to as “alt-hTF.” Alt-hTF mRNA was detected in a cell line, HL-60. The cDNA region encoding the entire open reading frame of alt-hTF was cloned. The sequence encoding the alt-hTF mature peptide was expressed in bacteria. alt-hTF consists of the first 166 amino acids of membrane bound TF, and a 40 amino acid C-terminal region unique to alt-hTF. Alt-hTF is likely to be a useful target for compounds to inhibit clotting and to treat disorders associated with elevated TF. It may also be useful as a target for antibodies selectively reactive with alt-hTF, to remove it from the circulation for treatment of clotting or other disorders associated with elevated or abnormal levels of TF, including thrombotic conditions, cardiovascular disorders, DVT, DIC, and possibly metastatic cancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of host cell proteins that interact with viral proteins required for virus replication, and high throughput assays to identify compounds that interfere with the specific interaction between the viral and host cell protein. Interfering compounds that inhibit viral replication can be used therapeutically to treat viral infection. The invention is based, in part, on the Applicants' discovery of novel interactions between viral proteins and a human host cell proteins. One of these host cell proteins, referred to herein as NPI-1, interacts with influenza virus protein NP. Also, host cell proteins, referred to herein as NS1I-1 and NS1-BP interact with influenza virus protein NS1. In addition, host cell proteins containing WW domains that interact with viral proteins such as Rhabdoviral M protein are described.