Abstract: A simple method for modifying genes in a recombination deficient host cell is disclosed. Such modifications include generating insertions, deletions, substitutions, and/or point mutations at any chosen site in the independent origin based cloning vector. The modified gene is contained in an independent origin based cloning vector that is used to introduce a modified heterologous gene into a cell. Such a modified vector may be used in the production of a germline transmitted transgenic animal, or in gene targeting protocols in eukaryotic cells. In particular, high throughput methodology is provided for generating the modified the independent origin based cloning vectors of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.

Abstract: A plant gene, Esr 1, has been found which when overexpressed in plant cells results in cells which have cytokinin-independent cell growth. This feature allows the encoded protein ESR1 to be used as a selectable marker of transformed cells by growing the transformed cells on cytokinin-free media. It has also been found that overexpression of ESR1 in cells grown in the presence of cytokinins results in a higher regeneration of plants. This feature allows the gene to be used to obtain greater regeneration of plant cells.

Abstract: A system for determining the ratio of mass to charge of an ion including a pulsed ionizer, a high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator, and a mass analyzer. The pulsed ionizer generates intact analyte ions from a sample of matter to be analyzed. The high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator is interfaced with the ion source for receipt of the intact ions of the sample. The ion guide/accelerator simultaneously dampens and linearly accelerates the intact ions in the substantial absence of fragmentation of the ions to provide a substantially continuous beam of the intact ions for mass analysis. The mass analyzer is connected to the ion guide/accelerator for receipt of the beam of ions and determines the mass to charge ratio of the intact ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for re-sensitizing vancomycin resistant Gram-positive bacteria in which resistance results from the conversion of an amide bond to an ester bond in the cell wall peptide precursors of the bacteria which comprises using an antibacterial amount of vancomycin or a homolog of vancomycin and an amount of an agent effective to selectively cleave the ester bond so as to thereby re-sensitize vancomycin resistant bacteria.

Abstract: A unique clone of a Polistinae venom enzyme, recombinantly produced Polistinae venom enzymes, and methods of using the recombinant enzymes are provided. In a specific example, both phospholipase and hyaluronidase cDNA from Polistes annulares contain apparent “intronic” sequences. In still a further enbodiment, genetic engineering permits the construction of the “intronic” sequences to yield a useful coding sequence for expression of mature Polistinae venom enzyme proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to bacterial choline binding proteins (CBPs) which bind choline. Such proteins are particularly desirable for vaccines against appropriate strains of Gram positive bacteria, particularly streptococcus, and more particularly pneumococcus. Also provided are DNA sequences encoding the bacterial choline binding proteins or fragment thereof, antibodies to the bacterial choline binding proteins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the bacterial choline binding proteins, antibodies to the bacterial choline binding proteins suitable for use in passive immunization, and small molecule inhibitors of choline binding protein mediated adhesion. Methods for diagnosing the presence of the bacterial choline binding protein, or of the bacteria, are also provided. In a specific embodiment, a streptococcal choline binding protein is an enolase, which demonstrates strong affinity for fibronectin.

Abstract: A chemically inducible promoter is described that may be used to transform plants, including tobacco and lettuce, with genes which are easily regulatable by adding the plants or plant cells to a medium containing an inducer of the promoter or by removing the plants or plant cells from such medium. The promoter described is one that is inducible by a glucocorticoid which is not endogenous to plants. Such promoters may be used with a variety of genes such as ipt or knotted1 to induce shoot formation in the presence of a glucocorticoid. The promoter may also be used with antibiotic or herbicide resistance genes which are then regulatable by the presence or absence of inducer rather than being constitutive. Other examples of genes which may be placed under the control of the inducible promoter are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &bgr;1→4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &bgr;1→3 to Gal; and adding Gal &agr;1→4 to Gal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inducible promoter system in conjunction with a site-specific recombination system which allows (i) specific activation of transgenes at specific times or (ii) excision and removal of transgenes (e.g., antibiotic resistance markers) from transgenic plants. These “suicide” gene cassettes, including the recombination system itself, can be evicted from the plant genome once their function has been exerted. The system is based on the ability to temporally and spatially induce the expression of CRE recombinase which then binds to directly repeated lox sites flanking the transgene in question leading to the precise excision of the gene cassette. Also disclosed is a method to activate an inverted, and therefore silent, transgene by placing two lox sites in opposite orientations flanking the transgene. This results in inversion of the intervening DNA fragment in the presence of CRE recombinase.

Abstract: Recognition of the role of a cellular immune response to immune-privileged antigens in the etiology of paraneoplastic syndromes and tumor immunity has provided diagnostic and therapeutic methods for the detection of paraneoplastic antigen-specific cells, enhancing tumor immunity by increasing the population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and suppressing cellular immunity to treat the paraneoplastic syndrome. Methods for the detection of memory and cytotoxic T lymphocytes are provided which utilize immune-privileged antigens or their peptides. Enhanced CTL production is provided by stimulating antigen presenting cells in vitro with immune-privileged antigen, with and without further exposure to T lymphocytes, prior to reintroduction of either the antigen-presenting cells and/or the T lymphocytes into the patient.

Abstract: Method is described for sequencing polypeptides by forming peptide ladders comprising a series of polypeptides in which adjacent members of the series vary by one amino acid residue and determining the identity and position of each amino acid in the polypeptide by mass spectroscopy.

Abstract: The invention identifies polypeptide biomarkers of disease progression or nonprogression by comparative protein profiling of samples from progressors and nonprogressors subpopulations of a population exposed to the pathogen or sharing a risk facto causing the disease. The polypeptides, their ligands, and modulators find use as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Process is described for the delivery and expression of hybrid surface proteins to the surface of bacteria. The transformed bacteria are useful as vaccines, for the delivery of other active peptides to animal hosts, as diagnostic reagents and for other purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibition of viruses, e.g., HIV, using defensins. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents, including small molecule chemical compositions, antibodies, peptides, nucleic acids, antisense nucleic acids, and ribozymes, that increase naturally occurring defensin expression or activity, thereby inhibiting HIV in a cell; as well as to the use of expression profiles and compositions in diagnosis and prophylaxis, and therapy related to HIV infection and related disease states such as AIDS.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for re-sensitizing vancomycin resistant Gram-positive bacteria in which resistance results from the conversion of an amide bond to an ester bond in the cell wall peptide precursors of the bacteria which comprises using an antibacterial amount of vancomycin or a homolog of vancomycin and an amount of an agent effective to selectively cleave the ester bond so as to thereby re-sensitize vancomycin resistant bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of weight, and to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses to which such modulators may be put. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inducible promoter system in conjunction with a site-specific recombination system which allows (i) specific activation of transgenes at specific times or (ii) excision and removal of transgenes (e.g., antibiotic resistance markers) from transgenic plants. These “suicide” gene cassettes, including the recombination system itself, can be evicted from the plant genome once their function has been exerted. The system is based on the ability to temporally and spatially induce the expression of CRE recombinase which then binds to directly repeated lox sites flanking the transgene in question leading to the precise excision of the gene cassette. Also disclosed is a method to activate an inverted, and therefore silent, transgene by placing two lox sites in opposite orientations flanking the transgene. This results in inversion of the intervening DNA fragment in the presence of CRE recombinase.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods of producing milligram quantities of three forms of purified Stat1 protein from recombinant DNA constructs. In addition, the Stat proteins may be isolated in their phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated forms (Tyr 701). The proteins can be produced in baculovirus infected insect cells, or E. coli. A compact domain in the amino terminus of Stat1&agr; was isolated and found to enhance DNA binding due to its ability to interact with a neighboring Stat protein. A relatively protease-resistant recombinant truncated form of the Stat protein was isolated in 40-50 mg quantities. Purification of the Stat proteins were performed after modifying specific cysteine residues of the Stat proteins to prevent aggregation. Activated EGF-receptor partially purified from membranes by immunoprecipitation was shown to be capable of in vitro catalysis of the phosphorylation of the tyrosine residue of Stat 1 known to be phosphorylated in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of weight, and to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses to which such modulators may be put. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the elucidation and discovery of nucleotide sequences, and proteins putatively expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleotide sequences in object represent the genes corresponding to the murine and human ob gene, that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. Preliminary data, presented herein, suggests that the polypeptide product of the gene in question functions as a hormone.