Abstract: Disclosed are ligands that bind to regions of the prion peptide and methods of using same.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively inactivating viruses in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an organic solvent and an ethyleneimine oligomer inactivating agent, are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for removal of positively charged microbicidal compounds from biological compositions are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel method of detecting the prion protein and variants thereof which utilizes specific amino acid binding sequences. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of detecting prion proteins, as well as isolating prion proteins, using an agent that binds to the amino acid sequence Gln-Pro-His of prion proteins. Further provided by the present invention is a method of diagnosing prion diseases in a subject using an agent that binds to the amino acid sequence Gln-Pro-His of prion proteins. Also provided are methods of treating and preventing prion diseases in a subject by administering an agent that binds to the amino acid sequence Gln-Pro-His of prion proteins. Finally, a method of inhibiting the dissemination of prion diseases through ingestion or exposure to liquid or solid substances by treating of the liquid or solid substance with biotin is provided herein.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively modifying nucleic acid molecules in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an inactivating agent having the formula: 1

Abstract: This invention provides means and methods of inactivating viruses and other organisms in cell-containing or biopolymer-containing compositions without significant alteration of proteins or other biopolymers by contacting such compositions with selective ethyleneimine oligomer inactivating agents, such as the trimer or tetramer.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acids that can be used as probes for detecting parvovirus in a sample of nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acids hybridize to regions encoding a non- structural protein or structural proteins of human parvovirus strain 19 or porcine parvovirus. Also disclosed are methods for detecting and amplifying parvovirus in a sample using the nucleic acids of the invention.

Abstract: The invention features a method of inactivating a contaminant, such as a virus, of a biological composition. The method includes the steps of: (a) contacting the biological composition with an inactivating agent including an aziridino moiety or a haloderivative salt thereof, where a portion of the agent reacts with and inactivates the contaminant, and a portion of the agent remains unreacted; (b) contacting the product of step (a) with a composition which includes one quenching moiety under conditions and for a time sufficient to allow the inactivating agent to bond covalently to the quenching moiety; and (c) separating the quenching moiety and the quenched inactivating agent from the biological composition.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively modifying nucleic acid molecules in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an inactivating agent having the formula: where each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 is, independently, H or a monovalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 1 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, provided that R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 cannot all be H; R5 is a divalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 2 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; X is a pharmaceutically acceptable counter-ion; and n is an integer between 2 and 10, inclusive are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively inactivating viruses in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an organic solvent and an ethyleneimine oligomer inactivating agent, are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively modifying nucleic acid molecules in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an inactivating agent having the formula: where each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 is, independently, H or a monovalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 1 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, provided that R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 cannot all be H; R5 is a divalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 2 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; X is a pharmaceutically acceptable counter-ion; and n is an integer between 2 and 10, inclusive are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for synthesizing ethyleneimine dimer which includes reacting 2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol with an aqueous HX solution to produce N-(2-haloethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine dihydrohalide; reacting this product with a base in a solvent to convert the N-(2-haloethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine dihydrohalide into ethyleneimine dimer; and purifying the dimer from the solvent. This method of synthesis provides several advantages over previous methods: (1) The starting compounds are all relatively inexpensive; (2) the yield of the product is greater than 20% of the theoretical yield; and (3) the steps of the synthesis are easy, inexpensive and amenable to large-scale production. All of these advantages allow for less expensive production of ethyleneimine dimer.

Abstract: The means and methods of inactivating viruses and other organisms in cell-containing or biopolymer-containing compositions comprising contacting such compositions with selective ethyleneimine oligomer inactivating agents are disclosed. The means and methods of this invention selectively modify functional nucleic acids in a cell-containing or biopolymer-containing composition using selective ethyleneimine oligomer inactivating agents, such as the trimer or tetramer without significant alteration of proteins or other biopolymers.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively modifying nucleic acid molecules in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an inactivating agent having the formula: ##STR1## where each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 is, independently, H or a monovalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 1 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, provided that R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 cannot all be H; R.sub.5 is a divalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 2 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; X is a pharmaceutically acceptable counter-ion; and n is an integer between 1 and 10, inclusive are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for tissue welding using solders incorporating biologically active agents, such as growth factors or hemostatic agents, have been developed. Improved solder compositions have also been defined, yielding greater bursting strength as a function of protein concentration, and through the use of protein unfolding prior to laser-mediated denaturation and coupling. A method for repair of fistulas has been discovered, using water as a chromophore, in combination with solder concentration, to form columns to fill defects where tissue apposition is not possible. Methods have also been adapted for use with other forms of directed energy, including bipolar electrosurgery and light. Examples demonstrate increased strength of repairs by incorporation of growth factors into solders, alone and as a function of solder concentration. Increased adhesion is obtained through prevention of bleeding by incorporation of hemostatic agents such as thrombin or epinephrine, a vasoconstrictor.