Abstract: The present disclosure relates to oligodeoxynucleotides that suppress an immune response. Methods are disclosed for preventing or treating inflammatory arthropathies by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding recombinant genomes or antigenomes of Human Parainfluenza Viruses that are useful as vaccines. The recombinant genomes or antigenomes can be incorporated into expression vectors for production of recombinant viruses in vitro. The invention also provides recombinant Human Parainfluenza viruses having one or more mutations that attenuate replication of the virus in a host.

Abstract: Compounds represented by the formula: wherein R is C1-6 alkyl; C4-6 cycloalkylalkyl; or C3-6 alkenyl; R? is H or C1-6 alkyl; X is H or OH; Y is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl or aroyl; and Z is CH or N; provided that X is H, when Z is CH and R is C4 cycloalkylalkyl or C4 alkenyl; prodrugs thereof; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided. Compounds of the above formula are useful as analgesics for treating pain; as immunomodulators, to modulate the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse and to modulate the development of tolerance and dependence to ? agonists.

Abstract: The invention stems from the discovery that sFRP and fragments thereof can bind to members of the Wnt family of proteins and cause an increase in Wnt biological activity. Furthermore, fragments of sFRP that do not contain the CRD domain are shown to bind to Wnt proteins and modulate Wnt biological activity. Accordingly, the invention provides these sFRP fragments and variants of these fragments, as well as vectors and host cells containing nucleic acid sequences encoding the sFRP fragments and variants.

Abstract: A dust monitor is disclosed that is suitably deployed in dusty environments and capable of providing near real-time indications of exposure to airborne particulates. The monitor includes a filter and filter assembly made of materials that do not interfere with subsequent instrumental (such as spectrometric) analysis for detecting and/or quantitating an analyte. In some disclosed embodiments, the filter is made of nylon or other material that is readily subjected to thermal destruction prior to spectrometric analysis. The dust monitor also includes a humidity correction feature that permits the filter to be made of ashable organic materials even if those materials are not highly hydrophobic. Transport devices are provided for shipment of the filter and/or filter assembly to an analytical laboratory which prevent loss of particulate matter and which facilitate an accurate analysis procedure.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and six plasmids, each of which encodes an HIV Env, Gag, Pol, or Nef protein. The invention also provides a method of inducing an immune response in an animal using the composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to autotaxin. In particular, the present invention relates to a DNA segment encoding autotaxin; recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA segment; cells containing the recombinant DNA molecule; a method of producing autotaxin; antibodies to autotaxin; and identification of functional domains in autotaxin.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of inducing production of vascular endothelial growth factor by a cell. The method includes contacting the cell with a CpG oligonucleotide, thereby inducing the production of vascular endothelial growth factor by the cell. The disclosure further provides a method inducing neovascularization in a tissue. This method includes comprising introducing a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide into an area of the tissue wherein the formation of new blood vessels is desired, thereby inducing neovascularization in the area of the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging includes: a radio frequency (RF) coil array having a first RF coil and at least one additional RF coil, where the RF coil array is adapted to generate an image signal; a preamplifier having an input impedance, where the preamplifier is adapted to receive the image signal from the first RF coil; and a transformer to couple the first RF coil to the preamplifier, where impedance of the transformer is adapted to match the input impedance of the preamplifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides vaccine compositions for protection against human rotaviral disease without significant reactogenicity. Human×bovine reassortant rotavirus comprising each of the four clinically most important VP7 serotypes of human rotavirus are combined in a multivalent formulation which provides a high degree of infectivity and immunogenicity without producing a transient febrile condition. Methods for producing an immunogenic response without producing a transient febrile condition are also provided.

Abstract: Clinical samples can be analyzed using microparticles to determine the serodiagnosis of a viral infection from two candidate viral infections of the same viral group. Serodiagnosis can be determined via a pooled population of subsets of microparticles, with the particles in the pooled population having a bound viral group-reactive antibody and the particles in each subset having at least one characteristic classification parameter that distinguishes between subsets. Viral antigens of antibodies of interest in the same viral-class as the viral group-reactive antibody can be bound to the viral group-reactive antibody on the microparticles, and subsequently exposed to a clinical sample. Binding and labeling can be used. Automated analysis of data from multiplexed flow analysis can determine the presence or absence of antibodies of interest in the sample, thereby diagnosing for two candidate viral infections in a single assay.

Abstract: Host nucleic acids and host proteins that participate in viral infection, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A, and Ebola virus, have been identified. Interfering with or disrupting the interaction between a host nucleic acid or host protein and a virus or viral protein confers an inhibition of or resistance to infection. Thus, interfering with such an interaction in a host subject can confer a therapeutic or prophylactic effect against a virus. The sequences identified can be used to identify agents that reduce or inhibit viral infection.

Abstract: A system for spatially selective, fixed-optics fluorescence detection in a multichannel polymeric microfluidic device, and a method for performing spatially selective, fixed-optics fluorescence detection.

Abstract: Provided is a P4 peptide, which contains functional epitopes of the PsaA protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and related methods and compositions. P4 peptide mimetics having a conformational structure identical or similar to the conformation of P4 (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:2) are provided. An antibody that specifically binds to the epitope defined by the disclosed peptides is provided. A P4-specific antibody is PsaA-specific since P4 defines an epitope specific for PsaA. Immunogenic compositions comprising the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a pharmaceutical carrier or the peptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and a pharmaceutical carrier are also provided. Methods of using the peptides and antibodies of the invention are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides humanized CC49 monoclonal antibodies that bind TAG-72 with high binding affinity and that are minimally immunogenic. In one embodiment, a humanized CC49 antibody includes a non-conservative amino acid substitution in a light chain complementarity determining region 3 of the CC49 antibody. In a further embodiment, the humanized CC49 antibody includes a non-conservative substitution of a first residue in a light chain complementarity determining region 3 and a substitution of a second residue in a complementarity determining region of the humanized CC49 antibody. In several of the embodiments, methods are disclosed for the use of a humanized CC49 antibody in the detection or treatment of a tumor in a subject. Also disclosed is a kit including the humanized CC49 antibody described herein.

Abstract: Compositions including multiple oligodeoxynucleotides with a CpG motif are disclosed herein. The compositions can include either D or K type oligodeoxynucleotides. These compositions are of use in inducing an immune response in a large percentage of the individuals in a population.

Abstract: The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies that bind or neutralize Orthopoxviruses. The invention provides such antibodies, fragments of such antibodies retaining B5 or A33 binding ability, fully human antibodies retaining B5 or A33 binding ability, and pharmaceutical compositions including such antibodies. The invention further provides for isolated nucleic acids encoding the antibodies of the invention and host cells transformed therewith. Additionally, the invention provides for prophylactic, therapeutic, and diagnostic methods employing the antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of screening for compositions useful for treating, ameliorating, or preventing fibrosis and/or fibrosis-associated conditions by measuring changes in the level(s) of IL-21 and/or IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) (e.g., the level of expression of IL-21 and/or IL-21R protein and/or mRNA, the level of activity of IL-21 and/or IL-21R, the level of interaction of IL-21 with IL-21R). The invention further provides antagonists of IL-21 or IL-21R for the treatment of fibrosis and/or fibrosis-associated conditions. Further provided herein are methods of diagnosing, prognosing, and monitoring the progress (e.g., the course of treatment) of fibrosis and/or fibrosis-associated conditions by measuring the level of IL-21 and/or IL-21R (i.e., the level of activity of IL-21 and/or IL-21R, the level of expression of IL-21 and/or IL-21R (e.g., the level of IL-21 and/or IL-21R gene products), and/or the level of interaction of IL-21 with IL-21R).

Abstract: The PAGE4 gene is expressed in reproductive tissues, and is expressed in reproductive cancers, such as prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and testicular cancer. Immunogenic PAGE4 polypeptides are disclosed herein, as are nucleic acids encoding the immunogenic PAGE4 polypeptides, vectors including these polynucleotides, and host cells transformed with these vectors. These polypeptides, polynucleotides, vectors, and host cells can be used to induce an immune response to PAGE4. Diagnostic methods to detect PAGE4 are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of screening patients to identify those patients more likely to exhibit an increased risk of treatment-emergent suicidal ideation comprising: (a) obtaining a sample of genetic material from the patients, and (b) assaying the sample for the presence of a genotype in the patients which is associated with an increased risk of treatment-emergent suicidal ideation, wherein the genotype is characterized by a polymorphism in a gene selected from the group consisting of glutamine receptor, ionotropic, kainate 2 (GRIK2); glutamate receptor ionotropic AMPA 3 (GRIA3); and combinations thereof.