Abstract: PAD4 compositions from Arabidopsis, including genomic and cDNA nucleic acid sequences, and methods for using said compositions in plants are provided. PAD4 from Arabidopsis is demonstrated to be regulatory and is required upstream from salicylic acid in the signal transduction pathway leading from infection to activation of defense responses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides of one or more portions of the human chorionic gonadotropin &bgr;-chain as well as methods for treatment and prevention of diseases, including HIV infection, using human chorionic gonadotropin, employing the &bgr;-chain of human chorionic gonadotropin, peptides containing a sequence of one or more portions of the &bgr;-chain of human chorionic gonadotropin and derivatives and analogues thereof. The invention further relates to fractions of sources and or preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin, such as fractions of human early pregnancy urine, which fractions have anti-HIV activity. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions for treating and/or preventing HIV infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides of one or more portions of the human chorionic gonadotropin &bgr;-chain as well as methods of promoting hematopoiesis, using human chorionic gonadotropin, employing the &bgr;-chain of human chorionic gonadotropin, peptides containing a sequence of one or more portions of the &bgr;-chain of human chorionic gonadotropin and derivatives and analogues thereof. The invention further relates to fractions of sources and or perparations of human chorionic gonadotropin, such as fractions of humna early pregnancy urine, which fractions have pro-hematopoietic activity. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions for promoting hematopoiesis.

Abstract: The present inventors have found that certain preparations containing LPS and/or lipid A variants, derivatives, and/or analogs demonstrate non-pyrogenic properties and exhibit anti-viral activities. In particular, non-pyrogenic preparations of LPS, lipid A, LPS antagonists and lipid A antagonists, and derivatives thereof induce &bgr; chemokine secretion, such as MIP-1&bgr;, but not proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF&agr;, IL-1&bgr; and IL-6. Non-pyrogenic preparations of the invention have been demonstrated by the Applicant to suppress HIV replication in human peripheral blood monocytes, as described by way of example herein. The present invention provides preparations of LPS or lipid A variants, analogs and derivatives of decreased or absent pyrogenicity which can be used as therapeutics for the treatment or prevention of immunodeficiency virus infection and its consequences.

Abstract: A system for the generation of live Bimavirus such as infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a segmented double-stranded (ds) RNA virus of the Bimaviridae family, using synthetic transcripts derived from cloned DNA has been developed. Independent full-length cDNA clones were constructed which contained the entire coding and non-coding regions of RNA segments A and B of IBDV, respectively. Synthetic RNAs of both segments were produced by in vitro transcriptions of linearized plasmids with T7 RNA polymerase. Transfection of Vero cells with combined plus-sense transcripts of both segments generated infectious virus as early as 36 hours post-transfection. The development of a reverse genetics system for dsRNA viruses will greatly facilitate studies of the regulation of viral gene expression pathogenesis, and design of a new generation of live and inactivated vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recirculating marine aquaculture process for production of a crab species, including (i) a broodstock conditioning, (ii) spawning, (iii) egg incubation, (iv) larval growth, (v) nursery post-larval growth, and (vi) grow-out of the crab to a final product weight, in which each stage (i)-(vi) of the process involves operation in an aqueous medium that is coupled in liquid recirculation relationship with waste component removal from the aqueous medium and returning purified aqueous medium to the external environment. The process involves operation in a closed, recirculating aquaculture system in which photoperiod, water temperature, water chemistry, and diet are optimized and then continuously monitored and controlled to obtain optimal production at each of the six phases (i)-(vi) of the life cycle.

Abstract: Small heat shock proteins, e.g., Pyrococcus fuiosus (Pfu-sHSP), confer thermotolerance on cellular cultures and on proteins in cellular extracts during prolonged incubation at elevated temperature, demonstrating the ability to protect cellular proteins and maintain cellular viability under heat stress conditions. Such heat shock proteins are effective to combat enzymatic aggregation and intracellular precipitation during heat stress, and thereby enable enhancement of the utility and stability of enzymes in various applications, e.g., Taq polymerase in PCR applications, digestive enzymes in microbial degradative applications, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and method for enhancing the efficacy of a vaccine in a subject treated with the vaccine by administering to the subject an antigen in conjunction with a chemokine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of various analytes in a sample using native fluorescence is described. A first light source for producing a first light having a first wavelength is directed at the sample to produce a first emission from the sample, a second light source for producing a second light having a second wavelength is directed at the sample to produce a second emission from the sample. A detecting device for detecting the first and second emissions emitted from the sample, and a controlling device responsive to the detecting device for alternately switching between the first and second light source so that only one light source is directing light at the sample at any one time are employed to excite emissions from the sample to be analyzed. An analyzing device that is responsive to the controlling device for producing a duty ratio is used to determine the analytic concentration of the specific analyte present in the sample.

Abstract: Novel calcium free subtilisin mutants are taught, in particular subtilisins which have been mutated to eliminate amino acids 75-83 and part or all of amino acids 1-22 (the N-terminal region) and which retain enzymatic activity and stability. Recombinant methods for producing the same and recombinant DNA encoding for such subtilisin mutants are also provided.

Abstract: The HIV-1 transactivator protein Tat significantly increases astrocytic expression and release of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is expressed in the brains of patients with HIV-1-associated dementia, and is present in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with this condition. This present invention employs compounds, such as MCP-1 antagonists and partial agonists, as well as HIV-1 Tat-inhibitors in methods for treating and/or preventing HIV-1 associated dementia.

Abstract: Novel calcium free subtilisin mutants are taught, in particular subtilisins which have been mutated to eliminate amino acids 75-83 and which retain enzymatic activity and stability. Recombinant methods for producing same and recombinant DNA encoding for such subtilisin mutants are also provided.

Abstract: Synergistic combinations of guanosine nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as abacavir with inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitors such as mycophenolates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such combinations, and therapeutic methods comprising administering the synergistic combinations to subjects in need thereof, for treating a viral infection, such as an HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for introducing RNA molecules into eukaryotic cells, wherein the RNA molecules are capable of being translated in the eukaryotic cells or is an antisense RNA or a catalytic RNA, as well as to such bacteria, compositions comprising such bacteria, and nucleic acids which can be introduced into bacteria for practicing the method of the invention. Examples of products the RNA molecule may encode include vaccine antigens, therapeutic agents, immunoregulatory agents or anti-sense RNA molecules or catalytic RNA molecules.

Abstract: Methods and combinations of an agent that promotes DNA synthesis in a virally-targeted cell and a nucleoside analogue having antiviral activity are provided for treating a viral infection in a subject in need thereof. Such compositions are particularly effective where the subject has resistance to a nucleoside analogue, where the subject has resting cellular reservoirs of such a virus, or to induce a post-treatment period of replication incompetence of such a virus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to oligonucleotides used as amplification primers and assay probes for species-specific detection and identification of the protozoan Perkinsus in shellfish. The oligonucleotides are designed to preferentially hybridize to what has been found to be a species-unique sequence in the target organism's genome. Preferential hybridization means, for example, that the inventive primers amplify the target sequence in P. marinus with little or no detectable amplification of target sequences of other species of protozoa such as P. atlanticus thereby making the assay species specific.

Abstract: A high efficiency recirculating marine aquaculture process for producing fish at variable yield densities of up to 60 kg/meter3 of the aquaculture tank, including fish that spawn under short photoperiods such as gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) as well as fish that spawn under long photoperiods such as striped bass (Morone saxatilis). The process involves broodstock conditioning, spawning/reproduction, larval growth, nursery, and adult grow-out operations. The process is characterized by high-rate growth at optimal process conditions requiring less than 10% daily water exchange, thereby enabling effluent waste from the system to be discharged to a municipal sewer after disinfection treatment, which in turn permits siting of the aquaculture process facility in urban/suburban locations where aquaculture processes have been previously infeasible.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapeutic compositions and methods for treating and preventing infection by an immunodeficiency virus, particularly HIV infection, using chemokine proteins, nucleic acids and/or derivatives or analogs thereof.

Abstract: A low cost apparatus and method for measuring nanosecond luminescence lifetimes with a modulated LED light source that is driven by a lock-in amplifier. The lock-in amplifier provides both a DC bias and an AC signal used to modulate the intensity of an LED source light at a wavelength capable of exciting a photoluminescent species. Excitation of the photoluminescent species produces a corresponding emission. The emission, which can be detected in a variety of ways, was measured by a photomultiplier tube with the resulting signal being sent through a DC block back to the lock-in amplifier with no external signal processing or heterodyning required. The measuring process can be controlled by a computer through a GPIB, USB, serial or similar connection. The computer can also be used to correct for the most common sources of error, namely coherent pickup and stray ambient light. The apparatus without the computer has a component cost of less than US $10,000.

Abstract: Small heat shock proteins, e.g., Pyrococcus fuiosus (Pfu-sHSP), confer thermotolerance on cellular cultures and on proteins in cellular extracts during prolonged incubation at elevated temperature, demonstrating the ability to protect cellular proteins and maintain cellular viability under heat stress conditions. Such heat shock proteins are effective to combat enzymatic aggregation and intracellular precipitation during heat stress, and thereby enable enhancement of the utility and stability of enzymes in various applications, e.g., Taq polymerase in PCR applications, digestive enzymes in microbial degradative applications, etc.