Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to cancer therapy, and, in particular, to a method of preventing or treating cancer using low molecular weight antioxidants (e.g., mimetics of superoxide dismutase (SOD)) as the active agent or as a chemo- and/or radio-protectant. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such a method.

Abstract: Methods for therapy of cystic fibrosis and other conditions are provided. The methods comprise one or more agents capable of increasing thiol-containing compound transport via a transporter system (i.e. ABC transporters such as MDR-1 or MRP-2) in cells. Other embodiments include the use of agents to modulate transport of thiol-containing compounds within the cell. Therapeutic methods involve the administration of such agents to a patient afflicted with cystic fibrosis and/or another condition responsive to stimulation of thiol-containing compound transport.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cell. In particular, diseases or disorders including contact dermatitis, drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, bullous pemphigoid, alopecia aereata, vitiligo, acne rosacea, prurigo nodularis, and herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof will benefit from the administration of an IL-31 antagonist. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cell. In particular, diseases or disorders including contact dermatitis, drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, bullous pemphigoid, alopecia aereata, vitiligo, acne rosacea, prurigo nodularis, and herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof will benefit from the administration of an IL-31 antagonist. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for decreasing or inhibiting herpesviridae (HV) infection or pathogenesis of a cell in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, a symptom or pathology associated with a herpesviridae (HV) infection or pathogenesis in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, or an adverse side effect of herpesviridae (HV) infection or pathogenesis in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. In one embodiment, a method of the invention includes treating a subject with an invention compound (e.g., cationic steroid antimicrobial or CSA).

Abstract: Disclosed are novel inhibitors of the alternative complement pathway and particularly, novel anti-factor B antibodies. Also disclosed is the use of such inhibitors to reduce or prevent airway hyperresponsiveness and/or airway inflammation by selectively inhibiting the alternative complement pathway, thereby treating diseases in which such conditions play a role. Also disclosed is the use of such inhibitors to reduce or prevent other diseases and conditions, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, by inhibition of the alternative complement pathway.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one embodiment, to a method of preventing or treating diabetes using low molecular weight antioxidants. In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a method of protecting and/or enhancing viability of cells/tissues/organs during isolation (harvesting), preservation, expansion and/or transplantation. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of inducing immune tolerance. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vaccine and a method for immune activation which is effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in a mammal. The method is particularly effective for protecting a mammal from a disease including cancer, a disease associated with allergic inflammation, an infectious disease, or a condition associated with a deleterious activity of a self-antigen. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions useful in such a method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid, non-invasive and highly specific and sensitive diagnostic assay for the identification of individuals with autoimmune chronic urticaria, which makes use of CD203c, and in some embodiments, additional proteins, as a marker for the disease. Test kits for diagnosis of an individual suspected of having autoimmune chronic urticaria are also disclosed. Also disclosed are a method of identifying compounds useful for treating autoimmune chronic urticaria and a method of treating autoimmune chronic urticaria.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods for the production of antibody producing cells and antibodies in protooncogene expressing animals. The invention also relates to methods for the efficient production of antibodies specific for antigens that are normally subject to immunological constraints such as self tolerance. The invention further relates to the production of antibody producing cells and antibodies without the need for the conventional fusing of antibody producing B cells with a myeloma fusion partner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for regulation of airway hyperresponsiveness by modulating the action of ?? T cells in a patient. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compounds that regulate airway hyperresponsiveness by modulating ?? T cell action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to predicting therapeutic response of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cells in atopic dermatitis. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for decreasing or inhibiting poxvirus infection or pathogenesis of a cell in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, a symptom or pathology associated with poxvirus infection or pathogenesis in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo, or an adverse side effect of poxvirus infection or pathogenesis in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. In one embodiment, a method of the invention includes treating a subject with an invention compound (e.g., cationic steroid antimicrobial or CSA).

Abstract: This invention relates to a vaccine and a method for immune activation which is effective for eliciting both a systemic, non-antigen specific immune response and a strong antigen-specific immune response in a mammal. The method is particularly effective for protecting a mammal from a disease including cancer, a disease associated with allergic inflammation, an infectious disease, or a condition associated with a deleterious activity of a self-antigen. Also disclosed are therapeutic compositions useful in such a method.

Abstract: Provided are peptide and peptide consensus sequences, which inhibit bacterial growth and/or viral growth and mimic the activity of LL-37, CRAMP, and/or FALL-39. The peptides are useful as antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories and anti-viral agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are Cystatin C (CysC) homologues, including CystC homologues that act as antagonists or inhibitors of transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?). Also disclosed are methods to identify CystC homologues that are antagonists or inhibitors of TGF-? and compositions and therapeutic methods using CystC and homologues thereof to regulate the activity of TGF-?, and TGF-?-mediated tumor malignancy and invasion and other TGF-?-mediated fibrotic or proliferative conditions and diseases.

Abstract: Methods for therapy of cystic fibrosis and other conditions are provided. The methods comprise one or more agents capable of increasing thiol-containing compound transport via a transporter system (i.e. ABC transporters such as MDR-1 or MRP-2) in cells. Other embodiments include the use of agents to modulate transport of thiol-containing compounds within the cell. Therapeutic methods involve the administration of such agents to a patient afflicted with cystic fibrosis and/or another condition responsive to stimulation of thiol-containing compound transport.

Abstract: Disclosed are TALL-1 and TALL-1 receptor protein homologues (agonists and antagonists) designed based on the three-dimensional structure of sTALL-1, eBCMA and eBAFF-R; agonist homologues of APRIL; methods of using wild-type APRIL to inhibit the activity of TALL-1; compositions comprising such homologues, nucleic acid molecules encoding such homologues, and therapeutic methods of using such compounds and compositions. Also disclosed are crystalline complexes of sTALL-1 and sTALL-1 in complex with either BCMA or BAFF-R; models of three-dimensional structures of such crystalline complexes and related structures, methods of drug design using any portion of such structures; methods of design and/or identification of regulatory peptides derived from the such structures; compounds identified by drug design using such structures; and the use of such compounds in therapeutic compositions and methods.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods to treat conditions and diseases associated with interleukin-17 (IL-17) production. The invention also relates to methods of inhibiting ?? T cells, and particularly, a subset of ?? T cells that produce IL-17.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods to inhibit inflammation or pathogen infection by administering at least one anionic lipid or compositions comprising at least one anionic lipid to an individual. The invention also relates to methods to prevent or inhibit respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection by administering at least one anionic lipid or compositions comprising at least one anionic lipid to an individual. The invention further relates to compositions comprising randomly mixed surfactant lipids and methods to produce the compositions.