Abstract: The present invention provides a purified and isolated nucleic acid encoding human prostaglandin transporter (hPGT). The present invention also provides a vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding human prostaglandin transporter (hPGT), a cell stably transformed with this vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant, human prostaglandin transporter (hPGT). The present invention also provides a purified and isolated human prostaglandin transporter (hPGT), and an antibody immunoreactive with this protein. The present invention further provides a method for evaluating the uptake of a selected prostaglandin by cells expressing nucleic acid encoding human prostaglandin transporter (hPGT).

Abstract: Polynucleotides associated with virulence in mycobacteria, and particularly a fragment of DNA isolated from M. bovis that contains a region encoding a putative sigma factor. Also provided are methods for a DNA sequence or sequences associated with virulence determinants in mycobacteria, and particularly in M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. The invention also provides corresponding polynucleotides associated with avirulence in mycobacteria. In addition, the invention provides a method for producing strains with altered virulence or other properties which can themselves be used to identify and manipulate individual genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conditional shuttle phasmid constructed by inserting a cosmid into a non-essential region of the D29 mycobacteriophage which is capable of introducing DNA of interest into the chromosome of mycobacteria, especially M. tuberculosis complex organisms and other slow growing mycobacteria. The present invention provides a recombinant mycobacterium which expresses a DNA of interest incorporated into its chromosome by a conditional shuttle plasmid containing the DNA of interest. The present invention further provides a mycobacterial auxotrophic mutant and method of generating auxotrophic mutants. Finally, the present invention provides a method of inactivating a mycobacterial virulence gene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for selectively enhancing the analgesic potency of a bimodally-acting opioid agonist such as morphine and simultaneously attenuating anti-analgesia, hyperalgesia, hyperexcitability, physical dependence and/or tolerance effects associated with the administration of the bimodally-acting opioid agonist. The method of the present invention comprises administering to a subject an analgesic or sub-analgesic amount of a bimodally-acting opioid agonist such as morphine and an amount of an excitatory opioid receptor antagonist such as naltrexone or nalmefene effective to enhance the analgesic potency of the bimodally-acting opioid agonist and attenuate the anti-analgesia, hyperalgesia, hyperexcitability, physical dependence and/or tolerance effects of the bimodally-acting opioid agonist.

Abstract: The present invention provides a class of compounds having the formula:Y--R--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --?O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 !.sub.n --R'--Y'wherein n is an integer from about 5 to about 200; R is carbamate, urea, or amide; R' is carbamate, urea, amide, or oxygen; Y is 4-phenylmalemimido or 3-phenylmaleimido; and Y' is 4-phenylmalemimido, 3-phenylmaleimido, methyl or hydrogen. The present invention also provides various hemoglobin compositions modified with the class of compounds of the present invention, processes for preparing these compositions, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compositions.

Abstract: This invention is directed to L5 shuttle phasmids capable of delivering foreign DNA into mycobacteria and to methods of producing L5 shuttle phasmids. In addition, this invention is directed to a method of generating mycobacterial mutations and to a method of producing mycobacterial vaccines.

Abstract: This invention relates to synthetic chromogranin A peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these peptides, and uses of the peptides for treating hyperparathyroidism, and treating or preventing conditions associated with hyperparathyroidism such as parathyroid hyperplasia-associated renal failure, osteoporosis, and the like.

Abstract: Inha enzyme crystals and methods of growing said crystals are presented. Three crystal forms of the Inha enzyme with discrete unit cell parameters were obtained. The crystals of the Inha enzyme are of sufficient size and quality for x-ray crystallographic determination of the three dimensional structure of the Inha enzyme in concert with heavy atom derivatives of said crystals. With the three dimensional structure of the Inha enzyme, compounds which inhibit the biochemical activity of the Inha enzyme may be developed.

Abstract: Methods for using reporter mycobacteriophage (RM) and p-nitro-.alpha.-acetylamino-.beta.-hydroxy-propiophenone (NAP) to identify TB complex mycobacteria and distinguish these species from MOTT. RM-infected MOTT show little or no reduction in signal when treated with NAP. In contrast, TB complex mycobacteria infected with RM are distinguishable from RM-infected MOTT by a reduction in signal with NAP treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R is a branched or unbranched C1-C30 alkyl or alkenyl; or a branched or unbranched C1-C30 alkyl or alkenyl substituted with S, O, N, P, SO.sub.2, F, C1, Br, or I, wherein S, O, N, P, or SO.sub.2 replaces at least one --CH.sub.2 --, and F, Cl, Br, or I replaces at least one H. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound above, as well as a method for treating a mycobacterial disease or infection in a subject in need of such treatment by administering to the subject an effective amount of the compound above.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for stimulating the proliferation of V.gamma.2V.delta.2 T cells comprising contacting V.gamma.2V.delta.2 T cells with a V.gamma.2V.delta.2 T cell proliferation stimulating amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of a monoalkyl phosphate and an alkenyl pyrophosphate.

Abstract: The invention features a method of using insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or insulin-like growth factor-III (IGF-III) to prevent or treat peripheral neuropathy in a mammal.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of neuronotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary derived neuronotrophic factor (CNTF), brain derived neuronotrophic factor (BDNF), neuronotrophin-3 (NT-3), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor .varies. (TFG-.varies.), transforming growth factor .beta. (TGF-.beta.) and others to prevent drug-induced neuropathy.

Abstract: A method for on-line assay in column chromatography of a property that requires appreciable time for sensitive measurement has the steps of separating the effluent into discrete fractions at equal time intervals, sequentially passing each fraction through each of a series of detectors, while preventing each fraction from mixing with another; and, for each fraction, calculating the assay from the information provided by each detector during the time interval the fraction passed through it.

Abstract: Based on the discovery that the human bilirubin/phenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase ugt1 gene complex contains an electrophile responsive element and the knowledge that the rat NADP(H):quinone reductase gene contains an electrophile responsive element, agents which at a concentration of less than 50 .mu.M double the quinone reductase specific activity of Hepa 1clc7 cells, e.g., BHT and sulforaphane, are used for the prophylaxis or treatment of newborn jaundice.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preventing hyperalgesia and other undesirable side-effects associated with the administration of growth factor, including nerve growth factor, utilizing an antagonist capable of inactivating excitatory opioid receptor-mediated functions on neurons in the nociceptive pathway. In addition, this invention relates to a composition comprising a growth factor and an antagonist capable of inactivating excitatory opioid receptor-mediated functions on neurons in the nociceptive pathway.

Abstract: The present invention provides a class of compounds having the formula:Y--R--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --[O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 ].sub.n --R'--y'wherein n is an integer from about 5 to about 200; R is carbamate, urea, or amide; R' is carbamate, urea, amide, or oxygen; Y is 4-phenylmalemimido or 3-phenylmaleimido; and Y' is 4-phenylmalemimido, 3-phenylmaleimido, methyl or hydrogen. The present invention also provides various hemoglobin compositions modified with the class of compounds of the present invention, processes for preparing these compositions, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compositions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for selectively enhancing the analgesic potency of a bimodally-acting opioid agonist such as morphine and simultaneously attenuating anti-analgesia, hyperalgesia, hyperexcitability, physical dependence and/or tolerance effects associated with the administration of the bimodally-acting opioid agonist. The method of the present invention comprises administering to a subject an analgesic or sub-analgesic amount of a bimodally-acting opioid agonist such as morphine and an amount of an excitatory opioid receptor antagonist such as naltrexone or nalmefene effective to enhance the analgesic potency of the bimodally-acting opioid agonist and attenuate the anti-analgesia, hyperalgesia, hyperexcitability, physical dependence and/or tolerance effects of the bimodally-acting opioid agonist.

Abstract: A composition which comprises an animal cell population, and which contains immature animal cells. The immature animal cells are characterized by expression of alpha-fetoprotein or lack of essential expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin, and at least a portion of said immature animal cells or at least a portion of the progeny of said immature cells is capable of differentiating into cells which express albumin. The cell population is cultured under conditions which result in expansion of the cells. Expansion of the cells may be achieved by culturing the cells in the presence of an extracellular matrix and liver stromal cells; and preferably in the presence of growth factors. Such cells may be used for liver transplantation, artificial livers, and for toxicology and pharmacology studies. Such cells may also be genetically engineered to express proteins or polypeptides of interest.

Abstract: The invention features a method of using insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) or insulin-like growth factor-III (IGF-III) to prevent or treat peripheral neuropathy in a mammal.