Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions for wound closure. More specifically, the present invention provides human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides (e.g., antimicrobial polypeptides and keratinocyte growth factor 2) and compositions and methods for making human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides. In addition, the present invention provides methods for treatment of wounds with human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for making phenotypically female fertile animals from XY donor cells and suitable host embryos. Culture media and methods are provided for maintaining XY donor cells in culture that after introduction into a host embryo and gestation in a suitable host will result in fertile XY female animals. Methods and compositions are described for making fertile female animals in an F0 generation from a donor XY cell and a host embryo, as are methods for making F1 progeny that are homozygous for a modification from a heterozygous F0 fertile male and a heterozygous F0 fertile female sibling.

Abstract: An application of 2,3-dihydro-3 hydroxymethyl-6-amino-[1,4]-benzoxazine in the preparation of drugs inducing embryonic stem cells to differentiate to vascular endothelial cells, wherein the concentration of the 2,3-dihydro-3 hydroxymethyl-6-amino-[1,4]-benzoxazine in the preparation of drugs effectively inducing mouse embryonic stem cells to differentiate to vascular endothelial cells is 1˜20 ?M. The 2,3-dihydro-3 hydroxymethyl-6-amino-[1,4]-benzoxazine provided by the invention lays foundation for preparing and developing drugs inducing embryonic stem cells to differentiate to vascular endothelial cells, can be used as an effective research tool of embryonic stem cells, and can be used for researching on embryonic stem cell differentiation and new molecular mechanisms of blood vessel formation.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding a mutant human carboxylesterase enzyme and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides which are capable of metabolizing a prodrug and inactive metabolites thereof to active drug are provided. Compositions and methods for sensitizing cells to a prodrug agent, inhibiting cell growth, treating drug addiction, and facilitating the metabolism of an organophosphate with this enzyme are also provided. In addition, a screening assay for identification of drugs activated by this enzyme is described.

Abstract: The N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity is enhanced in a cell carrying retrovirus-origin gag-pol gene and env gene. By constructing a retrovirus vector with the use of the above cell, a retrovirus vector having a modified sugar chain structure can be obtained. The retrovirus vector constructed by this method shows a high infection efficiency particularly in the presence of a functional substance.

Abstract: A lentiviral vector was used to produce non-human animals that express human sFLT1 specifically in the murine placenta, to provide model animals of diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome that are close to the clinical conditions, methods for producing the model animals, methods of screening for candidate compounds as therapeutic agents for diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome by using the model animals, and therapeutic agents for diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome. As a result, the model animals were found to exhibit symptoms that are very close to the clinical conditions in human, which are presentation of hypertension as well as placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth retardation, glomerulosclerosis, and proteinuria during pregnancy, and improvement of those symptoms postpartum.

Abstract: Hairless, immunodeficient mice on a non-obese diabetic (NOD) background and methods for their production are disclosed herein. The mice are hairless and have multiple immunodeficiencies, including B-cell and T-cell deficiencies, as well as impaired macrophage and complement function. The mice also have a further deficit in natural killer and dendritic cells of the immune system. The mice are useful for biomedical research, for example, in studies involving xenograft transplantation, spontaneous tumors, cancer cell tumorigenesis, tumor angiogenesis, tumor metastatic potential, tumor suppression therapy, carcinogenesis regulation, and tumor imaging.

Abstract: The use of interferon induced transmembrane protein 1, 2, or 3 (IFITM1, 2, or 3) as a viral restriction factor, and methods of using the same to produce virus, transgenic animals expressing exogenous IFITM1, 2, or 3, and methods of treating or inhibiting viral infections by targeting a gene identified herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decreasing the level of methylation of Oct4 promoter in a target cell, comprising transfecting the target cell with the combination of Oct4 cDNA and SirT1 cDNA. The invention also provides a method for inducing cytoprotective responses of a target cell, comprising transfecting the target cell with the combination of Oct4 cDNA and SirT1 cDNA. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising Oct4 cDNA and SirT1 cDNA, or a polynucleotide comprising Oct4 cDNA and SirT1 cDNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes, which spontaneously develops a pathological condition similar to human type 2 diabetes of a non-obese type seen in some Japanese people. The non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes according to the present invention is deficient in a Cdkal1 gene function on the chromosome of the ? cell of the pancreas.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolation of novel ?-actin and ribosomal protein S21 (rpS21) promoters and uses thereof. In particular, this invention features nucleotide sequences for rodent ?-actin promoters including, hamster, rat, and mouse, and hamster rpS21 promoter.

Abstract: An HCV/GBV-B chimeric virus which maintains the replication function of HCV and is capable of infecting tamarin is disclosed in order to construct an HCV animal model which can be used as a development or evaluation system for therapeutic agents for HCV. The HCV/GBV-B chimeric RNA comprises an RNA of hepatitis C virus and an RNA of GB virus-B, wherein the RNA of hepatitis C virus comprises an RNA encoding leucine at the 1804th position and lysine at the 1966th position in the amino acid sequence of the polyprotein of hepatitis C virus.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production, identification and use of embryonic progenitor cell lines that are capable of undergoing chondrogenesis. A number of exemplary chondrogenic cell lines derived from primordial stem cells are disclosed. The chondrogenic cell lines described herein are robust, can expand for >40 passages, and have site-specific purity, thus providing for compositions and methods of producing diverse cartilage types with unique molecular compositions for use in research and therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a skin permeating compound such as phloretin for controlling transgene expression under control of the Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E-derived bacterial repressor TtgR, to a vector comprising the genetic code for the repressor TtgR fused to a transactivation or a transrepressor domain, to a vector comprising a TtgR-specific operator sequence (OTtgR), a promoter and a polynucleotide coding for an endogenous or exogenous protein, and to a mammalian cell transiently or constitutively transfected with the mentioned vectors, and to mammals comprising such cells in nano- or microcontainers.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding the amino acid shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5, or encoding an amino acid sequence having not less than 98% identity thereto; preferably a polynucleotide comprising replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1202 of SEQ ID NO:2 (position 177 of SEQ ID NO:5) with glycine, replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1056 (position 31 of SEQ ID NO:5) with valine, and replacement of the amino acid corresponding to alanine at position 2199 (position 1174 of SEQ ID NO:5) with threonine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of transgenic animal models and more particularly the animal models of Alzheimer's disease. The invention relates to a transgenic animal expressing a multimutated form of presenilin 1 and allowing an apoptotic phenomenon to be detected in a renewable peripheral tissue.

Abstract: A recombinant vector comprises simian adenovirus 36, simian adenovirus 42.1, simian adenovirus 42.2 and/or simian adenovirus 44 sequences and a heterologous gene under the control of regulatory sequences. A cell line which expresses one or more simian adenovirus-36, -42.1, -42.2 or -44 gene(s) is also described. Methods of using the vectors and cell lines are provided.