Abstract: The invention features a G protein-coupled receptor that has an enlarged extracellular loop between the fourth and fifth transmembrane domains. A nucleic acid encoding the receptor was isolated from a human granulocytic cell library and antibodies generated against the polypeptide revealed expression in a variety of tissues including heart, placenta, and lung. This antibody, or others that specifically bind the G protein-coupled receptor of the invention, can be used in the diagnosis of diseases or conditions that are associated with upregulation of the receptor, as occurs, for example, when hematopoietic cells differentiate. These diseases include inflammatory and neurological diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease. The nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies described herein can also be used as therapeutic agents to treat these diseases by inhibiting the expression or activity of the receptor. They can also be used in the treatment of obesity.

Abstract: The present invention describes human monoclonal antibodies which immunoreact with and neutralize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Also disclosed are immunotherapeutic and diagnostic methods of using the monoclonal antibodies, as well as cell line for producing the monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: The invention describes the display of exogenous polypeptides on filamentous phage using a fusion between the exogenous polypeptide and phage pVII or pIX proteins. In particular, phage particles and phagemid vectors are described for expression and display of heterodimeric proteins such a antibody Fv heterodimers in combinatorial libraries, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibody targeting compounds in which the specificity of the antibody has been reprogrammed by covalently or noncovalently linking a targeting agent to the combining site of an antibody. By this approach, the covalently modified antibody takes on the binding specificity of the targeting agent. The compound may have biological activity provided by the targeting agent or by a separate biological agent. Various uses of the invention compounds are provided.

Abstract: Peptides and polypeptides found in the hypothalamus region of the mammalian brain are described, particularly hypocretin polypeptides and their uses. Hypocretin polypeptides are biologically active and produce electrical changes in neurons, lower body temperature, and reduce food intake.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for inhibition of angiogenesis in tissues using vitronectin &agr;v&bgr;3 antagonists, and particularly for inhibiting angiogenesis in inflamed tissues and in tumor tissues and metastases using therapeutic compositions containing &agr;v&bgr;3 antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expression and assembly of foreign multimeric proteins—e.g., antibodies—in plants, as well as to transgenic plants that express such proteins. In one of several preferred embodiments, the generation and assembly of functional secretory antibodies in plants is disclosed. The invention also discloses compositions produced by the transgenic plants of the present invention and methods of using same.

Abstract: Peptides are used to define epitopes that stimulate HLA-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against hepatitis B virus antigens. The peptides are derived from regions of HBV polymerase, and are particularly useful in treating or preventing HBV infection, including methods for stimulating the immune response of chronically infected individuals to respond to HBV antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expression and assembly of foreign multimeric proteins—e.g., antibodies—in plants, as well as to transgenic plants that express such proteins. In one of several preferred embodiments, the generation and assembly of functional secretory antibodies in plants is disclosed. The invention also discloses compositions produced by the transgenic plants of the present invention and methods of using same.

Abstract: A humanized murine antibody is provided. The amino acid sequences of a light chain complementarity determining region from a mouse antibody are grafted onto a human light chain, and a heavy chain complementarity determining region from a mouse antibody are grafted onto a human antibody heavy chain to produce libraries from which a humanized murine antibody having the desired specificity is selected.

Abstract: A simple, nondestructive, and high throughput method for establishing DNA binding affinity and sequence selectivity is based on the loss of fluorescence derived from the displacement of ethidium bromide or thiazole orange from the DNA of interest or, in selected instances, the change in intrinsic fluorescence of a DNA binding agent itself. The method is applicable for assessing relative or absolute DNA binding affinities. Enlisting a library of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides containing all 5 base pair (512 hairpins) or 4 base pair (136 hairpins) sequences displayed in a 96-well format, a compound's rank order binding to all possible sequences is generated resulting in a high resolution definition of its sequence selectivity using this fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID) assay. As such, the technique complements the use of footprinting or affinity cleavage for the establishment of DNA binding selectivity and provides the information at a higher resolution.

Abstract: The present invention discloses useful surfactant molecules including polypeptides, proteins, and a variety of other organic molecules, as well as methods of making and using same. Surfactant compositions, including liposomal surfactant compositions, are also disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, a pulmonary surfactant composition comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable phospholipids admixed with a polypeptide comprising about 10 to 60 amino acid residues, wherein the polypeptide includes a sequence constituted by alternating groupings of charged amino acid residues and uncharged amino acid residues.

Abstract: Cyclic homodetic peptides having a repeating D-L-chirality motif are shown to have a stable disk conformation with the amino acid side chains extending radially outward and the carbonyl and amino groups extending axially upward or downward. Such cyclic peptides can be employed as subunits in the assembly of molecular tubes. Cyclic peptides having a repeating D-L-chirality motif and lacking mutually repulsive side-chains are shown to stack atop one another in an anti-parallel fashion and are shown to be held together by the formation of &bgr;-sheet hydrogen bonding. The stacked cyclic peptides form a molecular tube having a central channel. The diameter of the channel is determined by the size cyclic peptide. If the cyclic peptide includes ionizable amino acid residues, e.g. glutamic acid or lysine, assembly and disassembly of the molecular tubes can be controlled by varying the pH. If the cyclic peptide includes hydrophobic amino acid residues, the molecular tube will insert into a lipid membrane.

Abstract: Zinc finger-nucleotide binding polypeptides having binding specificity for target nucleotides containing one or GNN triplets are provided. Compositions containing such polypeptides and the use of such polypeptides and compositions for regulating gene expression are also provided.

Abstract: Peptides are used to define epitopes that stimulate HLA-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against hepatitis B virus antigens. The peptides are derived from regions of HBV polymerase, and are particularly useful in treating or preventing HBV infection, including methods for stimulating the immune response of chronically infected individuals to respond to HBV antigens.

Abstract: This invention provides novel genes and polypeptides of the sweet receptor family, methods for production of the polypeptides, methods for screening compounds that specifically bind to and/or modulate the activity of these polypeptides; and antibodies specific for the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions including polypeptides useful for regulating the cell cycle, proliferation, tumorigenesis, and genomic stability, mutants of such polypeptides useful in identifying abnormal cells and diagnosing disease, antibodies useful for identifying the polypeptides, and polynucleotides that encode the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting tissue factor (TF) mediated reperfusion tissue damage in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic antigen-presenting matrices, their methods of making and their methods of use. One such matrix is cells that have been transfected to produce MHC antigen-presenting molecules and assisting molecules such as co-stimulatory molecules. The matrices can be used to activate CD8+ T-cells to produce cytokines and become cytotoxic.

Abstract: An improved method for the simultaneous sequence-specific identification of mRNAs in a mRNA population allows the visualization of nearly every mRNA expressed by a tissue as a distinct band on a gel whose intensity corresponds roughly to the concentration of the mRNA. In general, the method comprises the formation of cDNA using anchor primers to fix a 3′-endpoint, producing cloned inserts from the cDNA in a vector containing a bacteriophage-specific promoter for subsequent RNA synthesis, generating linearized fragments of the cloned inserts, preparing cRNA, transcribing cDNA from the cRNA using a set of primers, and performing PCR using a 3′-primer whose sequence is derived from the vector and a set of 5′-primers that is derived from the primers used for transcription of cDNA from cRNA. The method can identify changes in expression of mRNA associated with the administration of drugs or with physiological or pathological conditions.