Abstract: A method and composition to restore and/or increase immune responsiveness in CD4+ T lymphocytes that display a loss of immune function (i.e., immune unresponsiveness) after CD4 is ligated by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 are disclosed. Such a method and composition are useful for restoring immune surveillance and host defense capabilities to an HIV-infected patient, for causing HIV-infected T lymphocytes to become targets of the immune system, and for increasing the survival and development of CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients so the immune system can be reconstituted. Also disclosed are a method to identify putative regulatory compounds useful in a composition of the invention and a method to identify suitable candidate patients for treatment by a method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid-based therapeutic composition to treat an animal with disease by controlling the activity of effector cells, including T cells, macrophages, monocytes and/or natural killer cells, in the animal. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention include superantigen-encoding nucleic acid molecules, either in the presence or absence of a cytokine-encoding nucleic acid molecule and/or chemokine-encoding nucleic acid molecules, depending upon the disease being treated. The present invention also relates to an adjuvant for use with nucleic acid-based vaccines. Adjuvant compositions of the present invention include an immunogen combined with superantigen-encoding nucleic acid molecules, either in the presence or absence of a cytokine-encoding nucleic acid molecule and/or chemokine-encoding nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed are phosphatidylserine (PS) receptors, including PS receptors from human, mouse, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Also disclosed are homologues of such receptors, nucleic acids encoding such receptors and homologues thereof, as well as agonist and antagonist compounds that specifically associate with and affect the activation state of such receptors. Preferred agonists and antagonists of PS receptors according to the invention include antibodies, antibody fragments and binding partners that selectively bind to such a receptor. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the PS receptors, homologues thereof, and agonist and antagonist compounds of such receptors. In particular, methods for reducing inflammation, for treating an autoimmune disease, for enhancing transplantation of tissue grafts, methods of increasing anti-tumor immunity, and methods for inhibiting viral and parasitic infections are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immortalized precursor cell populations derived from embryonic stem cell populations and methods to produce such cell populations. Also disclosed is an assay to identify regulatory compounds capable of controlling cell growth for therapeutic and experimental use.

Abstract: The amino acid and nucleic acid sequence of a protein expressed by monocytes and macrophages, called TALL-1, are disclosed. Homologues, mimetics and antibodies that bind to TALL-1 are disclosed. Also disclosed is the TALL-1 receptor, and homologues of such receptor. The invention includes methods for regulating the interaction between TALL-1 and its receptor and for identifying compounds capable of such regulation. The invention also includes methods for regulating B lymphocyte proliferation, activation, and/or survival.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to regulate actin polymerization in T lymphocytes involved in tumorigenesis, inflammatory responses, immune responses, allergic responses and graft rejection responses, kits to perform such assays and methods to identify regulatory reagents that specifically control actin polymerization in T lymphocytes.

Abstract: A novel agar medium for the isolation, sub-cultivation, and indirect or direct drug-susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of isolating and growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis and methods of drug-resistance screening using the agar medium of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immortalized precursor cell populations derived from embryonic stem cell populations and methods to produce such cell populations. Also disclosed is an assay to identify regulatory compounds capable of controlling cell growth for therapeutic and experimental use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the growth of a microorganism by high efficiency transfection of a human host cell with a nucleic acid encoding an antimicrobial agent, such that the host cell expresses the antimicrobial agent effective to inhibit growth of the microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immortalized precursor cell populations derived from embryonic stem cell populations and methods to produce such cell populations. Also disclosed is an assay to identify regulatory compounds capable of controlling cell growth for therapeutic and experimental use.

Abstract: Particular members of the multisubunit immune recognition receptor (MIRR) family of receptors, specifically, the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), the pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR), the pro-B cell receptor (pro-BCR), Ig Fc receptors (FcR), and NK receptors, can be physically uncoupled from their associated transducers. The invention describes regulatory compounds and methods for mimicking such dissociation/destabilization for the purposes of receptor desensitization and for treatment of conditions in which receptor desensitization or alternatively, enhanced or prolonged receptor sensitization, is desirable. Compounds and methods for enhancing or prolonging receptor sensitization are also disclosed, as are methods for identifying regulatory compounds suitable for use in the present methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a method of modulating physiological and pathological processes and, in particular, to a method of modulating cellular levels of oxidants and thereby processes in which such oxidants are a participant. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for assessing tumor cell growth in a patient for the diagnosis, monitoring and/or staging of tumor development. The method include the identification of reduced cdk6 expression or biological activity as an indicator of increased cell growth in a cell sample. The methods further include the identification of compounds which regulate cdk6 and the use of such compounds in a method for the regulation of inappropriate cell growth.

Abstract: Particular members of the multisubunit immune recognition receptor (MIRR) family of receptors, specifically, the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), the pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR), the pro-B cell receptor (pro-BCR), Ig Fc receptors (FcR), and NK receptors, can be physically uncoupled from their associated transducers. The invention describes regulatory compounds and methods for mimicking such dissociation/destabilization for the purposes of receptor desensitization and for treatment of conditions in which receptor desensitization or alternatively, enhanced or prolonged receptor sensitization, is desirable. Compounds and methods for enhancing or prolonging receptor sensitization are also disclosed, as are methods for identifying regulatory compounds suitable for use in the present methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to regulate actin polymerization in T lymphocytes involved in tumorigenesis, inflammatory responses, immune responses, allergic responses and graft rejection responses, kits to perform such assays and methods to identify regulatory reagents that specifically control actin polymerization in T lymphocytes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immortalized precursor cell populations derived from embryonic stem cell populations and methods to produce such cell populations. Also disclosed is an assay to identify regulatory compounds capable of controlling cell growth for therapeutic and experimental use.

Abstract: The amino acid and nucleic acid sequence of a protein expressed by monocytes and macrophages, called TALL-1, are disclosed. Homologues, mimetics and antibodies that bind to TALL-1 are disclosed. Also disclosed is the TALL-1 receptor, and homologues of such receptor. The invention includes methods for regulating the interaction between TALL-1 and its receptor and for identifying compounds capable of such regulation. The invention also includes methods for regulating B lymphocyte proliferation, activation, and/or survival.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to limit infection by an immunodeficiency virus. The method includes inhibiting an immunodeficiency virus protein which regulates apoptosis in cells. Also disclosed are methods to identify compounds that regulate cellular inhibitors of apoptosis in cells infected with an immunodeficiency virus and compounds identified thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods useful for identifying compounds capable of specifically controlling CD40 regulation of JNK or p38 activity useful for inhibiting immunoglobulin heavy chain class switching, cytokine production and activation of cells involved in an inflammatory response. The present invention also includes kits to perform such assays and methods to control disease related to such responses.

Abstract: A method of facilitating vascular growth in a subject in need of such treatment comprises inhibiting EMAP II activity in the subject by an amount effective to stimulate vascular growth in the subject (e.g., in the lungs or heart of the subject). Pharmaceutical formulations useful for carrying out such methods (e.g., an antibody that specifically binds to EMAP II in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier) and screening techniques useful for identifying additional compounds that can be used for carrying out such methods are also disclosed.