Abstract: The invention relates to the prevention or treatment of a systemic injury which is secondary to a burn, such as dysfunction or failure of an organ secondary to a burn, with an antagonist of a C5a receptor. In one embodiment the invention relates to the prevention or treatment of dysfunction or failure of the lung, kidney, bowel and/or liver which is secondary to a burn.

Abstract: A vaccine composition and method of administering same is provided that utilizes an isolated nucleic acid corresponding to substantially an entire Kunjin virus which upon administration to an animal is capable of eliciting a protective immune response to another, more pathogenic flavivirus such as West Nile virus NY 99 strain. The isolated nucleic acid may further encode at least one attenuating mutation in a Kunjin virus structural and/or non-structural protein. The isolated nucleic acid may be in the form of DNA linked to a promoter in a plasmid construct for expression in vivo or may be in the form of naked RNA or RNA packaged into VLPs. The composition and method may provide protective immunization of animals such as humans, equines and avians.

Abstract: This invention relates to treatment of papillomavirus infections. Primarily there is provided a method of treatment of an existing papillomavirus (PV) infection which includes the step of administration of PV VLPs selected from the group consisting of PV L1 VLPs and PV L1/L2 VLPs to a patient suffering from the PV infection. Suitably the PV infection is characterised by the presence of epithelial lesions. The major infection which is treated are gential warts caused by HPV 6 and HPV 11.

Abstract: A nondeterministic quantum CNOT gate (10) for photon qubits, with success probability 1/9, uses beamsplitters (B1–B5) with selected reflectivities to mix control and target input modes. It may be combined with an atomic quantum memory to construct a deterministic CNOT gate, with applications in quantum computing and as a Bell-state analyser.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treatment of hypersensitivity conditions such as asthma and other allergic conditions, and especially to treatment of these conditions with cyclic peptidic and peptidomimetic compounds which have the ability to modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors. The compounds preferably act as antagonists of the C5a receptor, and are active against C5a receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. Particularly preferred compounds for use in the methods of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (10) and method (24) for determining vascular characteristics for early detection of cardiovascular disease comprising: an ultrasonic signal source (32) directing ultrasound signals (30) at an artery (27); an ultrasonic signal receiver (34) receiving ultrasound signals (36) reflected from or transmitted through the artery (27); means for analysing signals (40) received by ultrasonic signal receiver (34) to extract arterial displacement data (42); means for acquiring blood pressure data (48); signal processing means (44) for adjusting said arterial displacement data (46) using the blood pressure data (48); and means for analysing the adjusted arterial displacement data (51) to characterise vascular function (28).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for modulating the quality of a selected phenotype that is displayed by an organism or part thereof and that results from the expression of a polypeptide-encoding polynucleotide by replacing at least one codon of that polynucleotide with a synonymous codon that has a higher or lower preference of usage by the organism or part thereof to produce the selected phenotype than the codon it replaces. The present invention is also directed to the use of a codon-modified polynucleotide so constructed for modulating the quality of a selected phenotype displayed by an organism or part thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treatment of osteoarthritis, and especially to treatment of this condition with cyclic peptidic and peptidomimetic compounds which have the ability to modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors. The compounds preferably act as antagonists of the C5a receptor, and are active against C5a receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. Particularly preferred compounds for use in the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and agents that are useful in the prevention and amelioration of signs and symptoms associated with neuropathic conditions. More particularly, the present invention discloses the use of angiotensin II receptor 2 (AT2 receptor) antagonists for the treatment, prophylaxis, reversal and/or symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain, including mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal or mechanical allodynia, diabetic pain and entrapment pain, in vertebrate animals and particularly in human subjects. The AT2 receptor antagonists may be provided alone or in combination with other compounds such as those that are useful in the control of neuropathic conditions.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of a mood disorder or predisposition therefor in a test subject is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining binocular rivalry rate in the test subject and comparing the binocular rivalry rate with a corresponding reference rivalry rate to diagnose presence or absence of the mood disorder or predisposition therefor. Also disclosed is use of the diagnostic method in genetic linkage studies for the identification of the molecular defect(s) underlying these disorders, and for the identification of compounds which may alleviate such disorders.

Abstract: An isolated, synthetic, or recombinant ?-conotoxin peptide in which the fourth loop between cysteine residues 5 and 6 comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or such a sequence which has undergone one or more amino acid substitutions or side chain modifications, and uses therefor. SEQ ID NO: 1 comprises the amino acid sequence SGTVGR.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions and methods for antigen-specific suppression of immune responses, including primed immune responses. In particular, the invention discloses antigen-presenting cells, especially dendritic cells, whose level and or functional activity of CD40, or its equivalent, is impaired, abrogated or otherwise reduced, and their use for treating and/or preventing unwanted or deleterious immune responses including those that manifest in autoimmune disease, allergy and transplant rejection.

Abstract: A method of protein engineering is provided wherein a searchable computer database is created comprising entries in the form of descriptions of a location and orientation in 3D space of side chains of the constituent amino acid residues of a framework protein. A query is created which corresponds to a description of a location and orientation in 3D space of respective side chains of amino acid residues of a sample protein. The location and orientation in 3D space of constituent side-chains is preferably described as a C?–C? vector. The query is used to search the database and thereby identify a hit which corresponds to a framework protein having structural similarity with said sample protein. Framework protein “hits” so identified may be suitable candidates for further modification. A particular advantage of the present invention is that a modified framework protein may display one or more desired characteristics, such as a function similar to or inhibitory of the sample protein.

Abstract: Spatial encoding in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques is achieved by sampling the signal as a function of time in the presence of magnetic field gradients, e.g., X, Y, and Z gradients. The gradient magnets have in the past been assumed to generate a linear gradient, and typical image reconstruction techniques have relied upon this assumption. However, to achieve high speed performance, gradient magnets often sacrifice linearity for speed. This non-linearity, in turn, results in distorted images, the distortion often being sufficiently large to compromise the usefulness of MRI images for stereotaxy or longitudinal studies, where precise volumetric information is required. The disclosure provides practical methods for correcting distorted images resulting from such non-linearity in the gradient fields, as well as distortions resulting from translational, rotational, and/or winding/design errors in the field generating devices.

Abstract: The invention provides novel single stage competitive inhibitors of plasmin from the Australian brown snake Pseudonaja textilis textilis. The invention also features polynucleotides and polynucleotide homologues encoding these inhibitors. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the plasmin inhibitors of the invention are also disclosed as well as methods useful for treatment of blood loss.

Abstract: A new family of antimicrobial proteins is described. Prototype proteins can be isolated from Macadamia integrifolia as well as other plant species. DNA encoding the protein is also described as well as DNA constructs which can be used to express the antimicrobial protein or to introduce the antimicrobial protein into a plant. Compositions comprising the antimicrobial protein or the antimicrobial protein per se can be administered to plants or mammalian animals to combat microbial infestation.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and especially to treatment of this condition with cyclic peptidic and peptidomimetic compounds which have the ability to modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors. The compounds preferably act as antagonists of the C5a receptor, and are active against C5a receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. Particularly preferred compounds for use in the methods of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil array is used in resonance imaging and/or analysis of a subject located within a cylindrical space in which a magnetic field is operatively applied in an axial direction (z). The coil array comprises a plurality of coil elements (10, 11, 12, 13) angled relative to each other about the axis of the cylindrical space, each coil element having a pair of main conductors extending generally parallel to the direction of the magnetic field and located on diametrically opposite sides of the cylindrical space, and a pair of connection conductors connected between respective ends of the main conductors. Each coil element has its maximum sensitivity near the centre of the cylindrical space, so that the subject under study is located in a region of maximum sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to peptides, polypeptides or proteins having one or more amino acids or one or more amino acid sequences which exhibit color-facilitating properties, either on their own or following interaction with one or more other amino acids and to nucleic acid molecules encoding same. Such peptides, polypeptides and proteins are referred to herein as “color-facilitating molecules” or “CFMs”. The present invention further provides genetic constructs for use in genetically modifying eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells and more particularly eukaryotic tissue so as to alter their visual characteristics or capacity for exhibiting same to a human eye in the absence of excitation by an extraneous non-white light or particle emission.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modulating expression of a genetic sequence by introducing, creating or deleting one or more pseudo-translation initiation sites in the nucleotide sequence of an mRNA, upstream of the authentic translation initiation site of an open reading frame. Expression of the genetic sequence can be further modulated by introducing, creating or removing Kozac or Kozac-like sequences proximal to the pseudo-translation initiation site(s). Moreover, expression can be manipulated by the introduction, creation or removal of a termination signal prior to the authentic translation initiation site or after this site but in a different reading frame relative to the reading frame determined by the authentic translation initiation site. Nucleic acid molecules useful for practicing the present methods are also provided. The present invention further provides a method for detecting a disease condition associated with a particular level of expression of a gene or other genetic sequence.