Abstract: The invention is directed to a modified T cell receptor (TCR) comprising an amino acid sequence of a wild-type (WT) TCR with no more than three amino acid substitutions, wherein the modified TCR, as compared to the WT TCR, (i) has an enhanced ability to recognize target cells when expressed by CD4+ T cells and (ii) does not exhibit a decrease in antigen specificity when expressed by CD8+ T cells. Polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, and pharmaceutical compositions related to the modified TCR also are part of the invention. Further, the invention is directed to methods of detecting a diseased cell in a host, methods of treating or preventing a disease in a host, and methods of identifying a candidate adoptive immunotherapy TCR.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dengue virus tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion (?30) in the 3?-untranslated region of the genome of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs containing HIV-1 gag/pol and SIV gag or SIV env genes which have been mutated to remove or reduce inhibitory/instability sequences are disclosed. Viral particles and host cells containing these constructs and/or viral particles are also disclosed. The exemplified constructs and viral particles of the invention may be useful in gene therapy for numerous disorders, including HIV infection, or as a vaccine for HIV-1 immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis.

Abstract: The invention relates to Salmonella typhi Ty21a comprising core-linked Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 O-specific polysaccharide (O-Ps) and DNA encoding O antigen biosynthesis, said DNA selected from the group consisting of: a) the DNA sequence set out in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 and species homologs thereof; b) DNA encoding Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 polypeptides encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, and species homologs thereof; and c) DNA encoding a O antigen biosynthesis gene product that hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to the DNA of (a) or (b); and related sequences, compositions of matter, vaccines, methods of using, and methods of making.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a susceptible host against an infection of Shigella sonnei are disclosed. Such compositions and methods are useful for protecting the host against bacillary dysentery and shigellosis.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a first surface portion and a first sample retaining element, which have differing affinities to a fluid, and a method comprising supplying a sample to such a device. In some embodiments, the differing affinity is a result of plasma, ion embedding, surface charging, chemical, optical, electronic and/or electromagnetic treatment. Also, a microfluidic device comprising at least one microcapillary device having a sample retaining element, at least one surface of which exhibits hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, electromagnetic force exertion and electrostatic force exertion. Also, a microfluidic device comprising a first element having a hydrophilic pattern comprising at least a first sample retaining element. Also, a method comprising supplying a sample to a channel between a first element and a second element, and inducing in the first element at least one hydrophilic pattern by electrets or by internal or external electrodes to provide a charged surface.

Abstract: A scytovirin domain 1 (SD1) polypeptide, a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, and related fusion proteins, conjugates, isolated cells, vectors, and antibodies, as well as a method of inhibiting a viral infection using the 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: Cidofovir or foscarnet based compounds having an amino acid or dipeptide esters are provided as prodrugs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening for a compound that binds to a selected nucleic acid comprising contacting compound fluorescently labeled by a fluorescent protein with a cell having a plurality of copies of the nucleic acid in an array such that the nucleic acid can be directly detected when bound by fluorescently labeled compound; and directly detecting the location of fluorescence within the cell, fluorescence aggregated at the site of the nucleic acid array indicating a compound that binds to the selected nucleic acid. In particular compounds such a transcription factors can be screened. Reagents for such method are provided including a mammalian cell having a plurality of steroid receptor response elements in an array such that the response element can be directly detected when bound by fluorescently labeled steroid receptor and a chimeric protein comprising a fluorescent protein fused to a steroid receptor.

Abstract: Nucleic acids containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and therapeutic utilities based on their ability to stimulate an immune response and to redirect a Th2 response to a Th1 response in a subject are disclosed. Methods for treating atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, are disclosed.

Abstract: It is disclosed herein that suppressive ODNs are of use for preventing or delaying the formation of a tumor, reducing the risk of developing a tumor, treating a tumor, preventing conversion of a benign to a malignant lesion, or preventing metastasis. In some embodiments, methods are disclosed herein for treating, preventing or reducing the risk of developing a tumor, such as esophageal, gastrointestinal, liver, lung, skin and colon tumors or a mesothelioma. Generally, the methods disclosed herein include selecting a subject for treatment and administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of one or more suppressive ODN. In some examples, additional agents can also be administered to the subject of interest.

Abstract: N-Substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations of N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds are described. Also described are processes for preparing N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds. Also described are methods for treating cancer in mammals using the described N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds or pharmaceutical formulations thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved methods of producing and recovering B. anthracis protective antigen (PA), especially modified PA which is protease resistant, and to methods of using of these PAs or nucleic acids encoding these PAs for eliciting an immunogenic response in humans, including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the severity of, B. anthracis bacterial infections and which are useful to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by B. anthracis, such as inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and gastrointestinal anthrax.

Abstract: Unregulated angiogenesis is associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Tumor growth and metastasis is dependent on the development of new blood vessels. The development of new blood vessels in the eye, or ocular neovascularization, has been implicated in a variety of serious ocular diseases. For instance, choroidal neovascularization is linked to age-related macular degeneration, while retinal neovascularization is linked to diabetic retinopathy. The present invention is based on the discovery of a peptide sequence, C16Y, which inhibits ocular neovascularization and tumor growth in vivo. C16Y is a scrambled version of the C16 peptide sequence from the y1 chain of laminin-1. Unlike C16, which is an angiogenic stimulator, C16Y has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis. The present invention discloses methods of treating ocular neovascularization and cancer using both full-length and truncated versions of the C16Y.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially pure or isolated oligodeoxynucleotide of at least about 10 nucleotides comprising a sequence represented by either the formula: 5?N1N2N3T-CpG-WN4N5N63? wherein the central CpG motif is unmethylated, W is A or T, and N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, and N6 are any nucleotides, or the formula: 5?RY-CpG-RY3? wherein the central CpG motif is unmethylated, R is. A or G, and Y is C or T, as well as an oligodeoxynucleotide delivery complex and a pharmacological composition comprising the present inventive oligodeoxynucleotide, and a method of inducing an immune response by administering the present inventive oligodeoxynucleotide to a host.

Abstract: Chimeric flaviviruses that are avirulent and immunogenic are provided. The chimeric viruses are constructed to contain amino acid mutations in the nonstructural viral proteins of a flavivirus. Chimeric viruses containing the attenuation-mutated nonstructural genes of the virus are used as a backbone into which the structural genes of a second flavivirus strain are inserted. These chimeric viruses elicit pronounced immunogenicity yet lack the accompanying clinical symptoms of viral disease. The attenuated chimeric viruses are effective as immunogens or vaccines and may be combined in a pharmaceutical composition to confer simultaneous immunity against several strains of pathogenic flaviviruses.

Abstract: A microarray apparatus is provided which contains at least one chip having source and drain electrodes positioned on an array of carbon nanotube transistors which allows for electronic detection of nucleic acid hybridizations, thereby affording both increased sensitivity and the capability of miniaturization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetic vaccines for stimulating cellular and humoral immune responses in humans and other hosts, and, in particular, relates to recombinant viruses that express heterologous antigens of pathogenic viruses, in single dose form.