Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoassay method for screening for gram negative sepsis in a subject, in which the concentration of extracellular BPI in a plasma sample from the subject is determined and compared with a standard concentration of BPI indicative of gram negative sepsis.

Abstract: Genes are disclosed which are capable of directing the synthesis in a selected host microorganism of two thaumatin I analogues both of which have the amino acid sequence of natural thaumatin I including an aspartate amino acid residue in the 113th position from the amino terminal end of the polypeptide and one of which additionally has a lysine amino acid residue substituted for asparagine in the 46th position from the amino terminal end.

Abstract: Improved therapeutic uses of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) involve use of BPI protein product formulations in the form of physiologically stable dimeric associations of BPI protein product monomers characterized by enhanced in vivo biological activity. Preferred formulations include 50 percent or more by weight dimeric product.

Abstract: Disclosed are improvements in methods for the isolation of endotoxin-binding proteins which are secreted by transfected host cells in appropriate cell culture media. In its preferred embodiment, the invention comprises addition of a cation exchange material to the media as the means of increasing the yield of recombinant endotoxin-binding proteins, such as bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel bactericidal/permeability-increasing (BPI) protein products wherein cysteine residue number 132 or 135 is replaced by another amino acid residue, preferably an alanine or serine residue and/or wherein the leucine residue at position 193 is the carboxy terminal residue. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding methods for the production of the same in appropriate host cells, and stable homogeneous pharmaceutical compositions containing the analogs suitable for use treatment of gram negative bacterial infection and its sequelae.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotides encoding Type I ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) such as gelonin and analogs of the RIPs having a cysteine available for disulfide bonding to targeting molecules. Vectors comprising the polynucleotides and host cells transformed with the vectors are also provided. The RIPs and RIP analogs are particularly suited for use as components of cytotoxic therapeutic agents of the invention which include gene fusion products and immunoconjugates. Cytotoxic therapeutic agents or immunotoxins according to the present invention may be used to selectively eliminate any cell type to which the RIP component is targeted by the specific binding capacity of the second component of the agent, and are suited for treatment of diseases where the elimination of a particular cell type is a goal, such as autoimmune disease, cancer and graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides osteogenically active protein preparations comprising a heterodimer of P3 OF 31-34 subunit B and P3 OF 31-34 subunit D, which subunits are linked with at least one disulfide bond and methods for their preparation. The invention further provides cell lines transformed with nucleotide sequences encoding P3 OF 31-34 subunit B and P3 OF 31-34 subunit D and vectors comprising those sequences in operative association with an expression control sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotides encoding Type I ribosome-inactivating proteins and analogs thereof having a cysteine available for disulfide bonding to targeting molecules. Vectors comprising the polynucleotides and host cells transformed with the vectors are also provided. Preferred analogs according to the present invention are analogs of Type I ribosome-inactivating proteins (1) having a cysteine available for intermolecular disulfide bonding located at an amino acid position corresponding to a position not naturally available for intermolecular disulfide bonding in the Type I ribosome-inactivating protein and corresponding to a position on the surface of ricin A-chain in its natural conformation and (2) retaining ribosome-inactivating activity of the Type I ribosome-inactivating protein. The RIP analogs are particularly suited for use as components of cytotoxic therapeutic agents and, more specifically, as components of immunotoxins.

Abstract: Cecropin fusion proteins with suppressed bactericidal activity are provided. The fusion proteins of the invention provide the sequence of a cecropin and can be expressed in a cecropin-sensitive bacterium.

Abstract: The present invention provides therapeutic methods for treatment of conditions including the neutralization of the anti-coagulant activity of heparin, inhibition of angiogenesis, tumor and endothelial cell proliferation, and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases by administration of bactericidal/permeability-increasing (BPI) protein products.

Abstract: The invention relates to cecropin-like polypeptides with a variety of C-terminus modifications. Conversion of the terminal carboxy group to a homoserine extended neutral, negatively charged or positively charged form results in the polypeptides of the invention that have significant bactericidal effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Abstract: Macromolecular species such as enzymes, proteins, drugs, and solid supports which contain reactive carbonyl groups or groups which are readily converted to reactive carbonyl groups are modified by reaction with a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl)-substituted phenyl, or phenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl; R.sup.2 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy)-substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene; R.sup.3 is ##STR2## R.sup.4 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; n is at least 5; and m is zero or 1.

Abstract: Compounds containing carbohydrate moieties or carboxyl groups are linked to either compounds containing thiol moieties or electron-deficient moieties by the use of linking agents of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is NH.sub.2 -- or NH.sub.2 --NH--; R.sup.2 is --NH--C(O)--, --C(O)--NH--, or --C(O)--; R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cyclic alkylene, arylene, phenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene, benzyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene, or amino-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene; R.sup.4 is H, acetyl, ##STR2## where R.sup.5 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl; m is zero or 1; and n ia zero or 1.

Abstract: A polynucleotide molecule expressible in a given host comprising the sequence of the araB promoter operably linked to a gene which is heterologous to said host. The heterologous gene codes for a peptide that is biologically active. The invention also relates to a genetic construct which comprises a first genetic sequence coding for cecropin operably linked to a second genetic sequence coding for a polypeptide which is capable of suppressing the bactericidal effect of the resulting fusion protein towards an otherwise cecropin sensitive bacterium.

Abstract: Novel compounds and methods for the formation of disulfide linkages are presented. The novel compounds employed are substituted 2-iminothiolane hydrohalide linking agents of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein, X is halogen;R.sub.1 is COOR.sub.5 ; halogen; nitro; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkyl; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkoxy; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.2-8 alkenyl; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.2-8 alkynyl; unsubstituted C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl; unsubstituted aryl; aryl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from halogen, amino, unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkyl, or unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkoxy; unsubstituted heterocycle; or heterocycle substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from amino, halogen, unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkyl, or unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkoxy;each of R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is independently hydrogen or selected from the values of R.sub.1 ; orR.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: Macromolecular species such as enzymes, proteins, drugs, and solid supports which contain reactive carbonyl, groups or groups which are readily converted to reactive carbonyl groups are modified by reaction with a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl)-substituted phenyl, or phenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl; R.sup.2 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy)-substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene; R.sup.3 is ##STR2## R.sup.4 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; n is at least 5; and m is zero or 1.

Abstract: Macromolecular species such as enzymes, proteins, drugs, and solid supports which contain reactive carbonyl groups or groups which are readily converted to reactive carbonyl groups are modified by reaction with a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl)-substituted phenyl, or phenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl; R.sup.2 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy)-substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene; R.sup.3 is ##STR2## R.sup.4 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; n is at least 5; and m is zero or 1.

Abstract: Novel compounds and methods for the formation of disulfide linkages are presented. The novel compounds employed are substituted 2-iminothiolane hydrohalide linking agents of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein, X is halogen;R.sub.1 is COOR.sub.5 ; halogen; nitro; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkyl; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkoxy; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.2-8 alkenyl; unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.2-8 alkynyl; unsubstituted C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl; unsubstituted aryl; aryl substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from halogen, amino, unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkyl, or unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkoxy; unsubstituted heterocycle; or heterocycle substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from amino, halogen, unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkyl, or unsubstituted or halogenated C.sub.1-8 alkoxy;each of R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is independently hydrogen or selected from the values of R.sub.1 ; orR.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: Macromolecular species such as enzymes, proteins, drugs, and solid supports which contain reactive carbonyl groups or groups which are readily converted to reactive carbonyl groups are modified by reaction with a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl)-substituted phenyl, or phenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl; R.sup.2 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy)-substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene; R.sup.3 is ##STR2## R.sup.4 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; n is at least 5; and m is zero or 1.

Abstract: Macromolecular species such as enzymes, proteins, drugs, and solid supports which contain reactive carbonyl groups or groups which are readily converted to reactive carbonyl groups are modified by reaction with a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl)-substituted phenyl, or phenyl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl; R.sup.2 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy)-substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylene; R.sup.3 is ##STR2## R.sup.4 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; n is at least 5; and m is zero or 1.