Abstract: It is shown that CD25-targeted near-infrared photo-immunotherapy causes a unique, rapid and spatially selective depletion of Tregs leading to regression of the treated tumor and inducing systemic immunologic responses in untreated tumors. Based on these observations, provided are compositions and methods of killing immune suppressor cells, for example to treat cancer. Reducing the number of suppressor cells in a subject can remove suppression of effector T cells, for example, to treat cancer using the subject's own immune system. In particular examples, the method includes contacting suppressor cells having a suppressor cell surface protein with an antibody-IR700 molecule, wherein the antibody specifically binds to the suppressor cell surface protein, and in some examples the antibody does not have a functional Fc region. The cell is subsequently irradiated, such as at a wavelength of 660 to 740 nm, for example at a dose of at least 4 J cm?2.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the viral gene therapy (e.g., AAV-directed gene therapy) of cholesterol storage diseases or disorders, such as Niemann-Pick disease, Type C.

Abstract: Described herein is the identification of primate-specific glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor opposite strand (GDNFOS) transcripts and encoded peptides. In particular embodiments, provided herein are three GDNFOS antisense transcripts, referred to as GDNFOS-1, GDNFOS-2 and GDNFOS-3. The GDNFOS-3 transcript encodes an ORF of 105 amino acids. Compositions comprising the GDNFOS transcripts and peptides are also provided by the present disclosure. Further provided are methods of treating a neurodegenerative or peripheral organ disease in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the disclosed GDNFOS nucleic acid molecules, peptides or compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine for increasing the immunogenicity of a tumor antigen thus allowing treatment of cancer, as well as a vaccine that increases the immunogenicity of a viral antigen, thus allowing treatment of viral infection, including immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In particular, the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a viral chemokine fused to either a tumor antigen or viral antigen which is administered as either a protein or nucleic acid vaccine to elicit an immune response effective in treating cancer or effective in treating or preventing viral infection.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates which elicit an immune response to Plasmodium proteins. In particular examples, the Plasmodium proteins include sexual stage surface proteins, circumsporozoite protein (CSP), or immunogenic portions of CSP. Also provided herein are immunogenic compositions including one or more of the disclosed immunogenic conjugates and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided is a method of eliciting an immune response to Plasmodium in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an immunogenic composition disclosed herein.

Abstract: This invention, in one aspect, relates to synthetic immunoreactive peptides. These peptides are approximately 20-25 amino acids in length which are portions of the N termini of the M proteins of the most prevalent United States (U.S.) Group A Streptococcus (GAS) serotypes. At least some of the synthetic peptides can be recognized by M type-specific antibodies and are capable of eliciting functional opsonic antibodies and/or anti-attachment antibodies without eliciting tissue cross-reactive antibodies. In another aspect, it relates to compositions or vaccines comprising these synthetic serotype-specific peptides, including polypeptides and proteins. The invention may also be isolated antibodies which are raised in response to the peptides, compositions or vaccines. The invention further relates to kits for using the peptides, compositions, or antibodies.

Abstract: Human anti-human folate receptor beta antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof are described, as well as methods of using such antibodies and fragments to treat inflammatory disorders or cancers expressing cell surface FR?.

Abstract: Methods for detecting one or more target bacteria in a test sample are provided. It is shown herein that photosensitizers combined with intense light exposure reduce fluorescing background due to non-bacterial particles. This permits detection of subsequently labeled target bacterial cells (e.g., using a fluorescently labeled antibody) against a largely black background. In particular examples, the methods include incubating the test sample in a growth medium that permits growth of bacteria present in the sample, contacting the sample with a photo-sensitizer; exposing the sample to light under conditions sufficient for the photo-sensitizer to photobleach contaminating non-bacterial particulates present in the sample. The bacteria can then be substantially separated from the sample, thereby generating an isolated bacterial sample. The method can also include contacting the isolated bacterial sample with a binding agent specific for the one or more target bacteria, and detecting the one or more target bacteria.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment or prevention of RSV disease by modulating RSV infection and immunity. In particular, amino acid sequences in the RSV G glycoprotein, containing the chemokine motif defined as C-X-X-X-C (or CX3C), are identified that are essential in causing RSV infection and disease. The chemokine motif is biologically active and participates in virus binding to and infection of susceptible cells. The prevention or treatment of RSV infection is achieved by interfering with the motif, such as by administering a vaccine in which the motif is altered or by administration or induction of blocking molecules that inhibit the biological activity of the motif.

Abstract: Disclosed are A3 adenosine receptor antagonists and/or partial agonists and A1 adenosine receptor agonists and/or partial agonists of formula (I): wherein R1 to R5 are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of use thereof. The A3 AR antagonists or partial agonists find use in treating a number of diseases such as cancer, glaucoma, and inflammatory diseases, as well as in preventing cardiac ischemia. Also disclosed are radiolabeled compounds of formula (I) and the use thereof in diagnostic imaging of tissues and organs. The A1 AR agonists and partial agonists find use in treating diseases such as seizures, convulsion, stroke, diabetes, pain, arrhythmias, depression, and anxiety and in cardioprotection or neuroprotection.

Abstract: A method of detecting a proliferative disease, such as a disease associated with the abnormal expression of BORIS, in a mammal comprising testing for the expression of a BORIS isoform in the tissue of a mammal that does not express BORIS in the absence of disease, as well as a method of treating or preventing such a disease, isolated or purified BORIS isoform polypeptides and nucleic acids, and kits and arrays comprising same.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing, predicting, or prognosticating about a disease that includes obtaining experimental data, wherein the experimental data is high dimensional data, filtering the data, reducing the dimensionality of the data through use of one or more methods, training a supervised pattern recognition method, ranking individual data points from the data, wherein the ranking is dependent on the outcome of the supervised pattern recognition method, choosing multiple data points from the data, wherein the choice is based on the relative ranking of the individual data points, and using the multiple data points to determine if an unknown set of experimental data indicates a diseased condition, a predilection for a diseased condition, or a prognosis about a diseased condition.

Abstract: Methods of using 7?,11?-dimethyl-17?-hydroxy-4-estren-3 -one bucyclate (I) and 7?,11?-dimethyl-17?-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one 17-undecanoate (II) for various hormonal therapies, dosage forms comprising 7?,11?-dimethyl-17?-hydroxy-4-estren-3-one bucyclate and 7?,11?-dimethyl-17?-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one 17-undecanoate, and processes for their preparation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine and method for making same which is effective to elicit a desired antibody against a target antigen comprising a primary immunogen and a secondary immunogen, wherein the primary immunogen is effective to elicit B cell receptors (BCRs) that are on the maturational pathway of the desired antibody and have an intermediate degree of somatic mutational diversity, and the secondary immunogen comprises an epitope of the desired target antibody and is effective to further diversify the BCRs sufficient to form mature BCRs having the identical or substantially identical sequence as the desired antibody.

Abstract: Methods for generating highly enriched Th1/Tc1 and Th2/Tc2 functions are described. In particular, the generation of these functions are attained by the addition of an immune suppression drug, rapamycin or a rapamycin derivative compound. In addition to enhanced purity of T cell function, the T cells generated in rapamycin also express molecules that improve immune T cell function such as CD28 and CD62L. Such rapamycin generated functional T cell subsets may have application in the prevention or treatment of GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the treatment of autoimmunity, or the therapy of infection or cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions employing hybrid molecules of a synthetic molecule and antibody or antibody fragment comprising a selenocysteine residue, wherein the synthetic molecule is covalently linked to the antibody or antibody fragment at the selenocysteine residue. The invention also provides a composition comprising a hybrid molecule as described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further provides for methods of making the hybrid molecules, and methods of using the hybrid molecule described above to inhibit cell surface receptor binding.

Abstract: Candidate anomalies in an anatomical structure are processed for classification. For example, false positives can be reduced by techniques related to the anomaly's neck, wall thickness associated with the anomaly, template matching performed for the anomaly, or some combination thereof. The various techniques can be combined for use in a classifier, which can determine whether the anomaly is of interest. For example, a computed tomography scan of a colon can be analyzed to determine whether a candidate anomaly is a polyp. The technologies can be applied to a variety of other scenarios involving other anatomical structures.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a gene segment from a rhesus rotavirus (RRV) or from one of three rhesus:human reassortant viruses are disclosed, including isolated nucleic acid molecules having a sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 1-14, inclusive, and isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a protein having a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15-28, inclusive, as well as variants of the isolated nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing, predicting, or prognosticating about a disease that includes obtaining experimental data, wherein the experimental data is high dimensional data, filtering the data, reducing the dimensionality of the data through use of one or more methods, training a supervised pattern recognition method, ranking individual data points from the data, wherein the ranking is dependent on the outcome of the supervised pattern recognition method, choosing multiple data points from the data, wherein the choice is based on the relative ranking of the individual data points, and using the multiple data points to determine if an unknown set of experimental data indicates a diseased condition, a predilection for a diseased condition, or a prognosis about a diseased condition.