Abstract: A fission yeast having non-functional dga1 and plh1 genes, which is incapable of synthesizing triacylglycerols, is disclosed. The fission yeast is susceptible to lipotoxicity including lipoapoptosis, and is useful for screening of compounds that inhibit or prevent lipotoxicity or lipoapoptosis. The fission yeast strain may be transformed to express a mammalian enzyme involved in triacylglycerol synthesis, and therefore is also useful for screening of compounds that inhibit or prevent triacylglycerol synthesis, which activity is conferred by the mammalian enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flea GABA receptor subunit nucleic acid molecules; to flea GABA receptor subunit proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit the activity of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and inhibitory compounds, particularly those that specifically inhibit flea GABA receptor subunit activity, as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to treat animals.

Abstract: To provide DNA comprising mutant FRT sequence which causes recombination reaction between two mutant FRT sequences having an identical sequence to each other but does not cause recombination reaction with a wild-type FRT sequence, in the presence of FLP recombinase; and a method for performing high-efficiency, gene insertion or gene replacement. A DNA comprising a mutant FRT sequence (any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 5); a DNA comprising a mutant FRT sequence possessing (A) causing no specific DNA recombination reaction with wild type FRT, even if FLP recombinase is present, and (B) causing specific DNA recombination reaction with another mutant FRT sequence having an identical sequence thereto in the presence of recombinase FLP, wherein the mutant FRT sequence has substitutions of at least one nucleotide in a region other than the spacer region in the sequence and a cell which is transformed with the DNA.

Abstract: Methods for treating neoplasia, by administering reovirus to a Ras-mediated neoplasm, are disclosed. The reovirus is administered so that it ultimately directly contacts cells of the neoplasm. Human reovirus, non-human mammalian reovirus, and/or avian reovirus can be used. If the reovirus is human reovirus, type 1 (e.g., strain Lang), type 2 (e.g., strain Jones), type 3 (e.g., strain Dearing or strain Abney), as well as other serotypes or strains of reovirus can be used. Combinations of more than one type and/or strain of reovirus can be used, as can reovirus from different species of animal. Either solid neoplasms or hematopoietic neoplasms can be treated.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence encoding a malic enzyme and a method for preparing succinic acid using the same, more particularly, a maeB nucleotide sequence encoding a malic enzyme B having the activity of converting pyruvic acid or pyruvate to malic acid or malate, or vice versa, a recombinant vector containing the gene, a microorganism transformed with the recombinant vector, and a method for preparing succinic acid using the transformed microorganism.

Abstract: Synthetic and isolated translational regulatory elements, including oligonucleotides that have translational enhancing activity, internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity, or translational inhibitory activity, and multimers of such translational regulatory elements are provided. In addition, compositions that include such translational regulatory elements are provided, as are methods of using the translational regulatory elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetic method for tethering polypeptides to the yeast cell wall in a form accessible for binding to macromolecules. Combining this method with fluorescence-activated cell sorting provides a means of selecting proteins with increased or decreased affinity for another molecule, altered specificity, or conditional binding. Also provided is a method for genetic fusion of the N terminus of a polypeptide of interest to the C-terminus of the yeast Aga2p cell wall protein. The outer wall of each yeast cell can display approximately 10 protein agglutinins. The native agglutinins serve as specific adhesion contacts to fuse yeast cells of opposite mating type during mating. In effect, yeast has evolved a platform for protein-protein binding without steric hindrance from cell wall components.

Abstract: Retrotransposons and methods related thereto. The retrotransposon comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from a group consisting of a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, and a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

Abstract: A 44-bp region that confers vitamin D3-responsiveness to the human p27Kip1 promoter in the human p27Kip1 transcriptional regulatory mechanism was revealed. This region also conferred vitamin D3-responsiveness to a heterogenous promoter. Moreover, it was found that vitamin D3 enhances the binding between the CCAAT box existing in the region and the NF-Y protein and also the binding between the Sp1 sequence (also existing in the region) and the Sp1 protein, thus inducing human p27Kip1 transcription. Also revealed were methods of screening for pharmaceutical agents that regulate the expression of the p27Kip1 gene using these molecular mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chemically synthesized artificial promoter comprising a DNA sequence designed for the target level and pattern of gene expression, by strategically putting together several signature sequences identified by sequence alignment and statistical analysis of a large database constructed for this purpose.

Abstract: Adenovirus types 11p and 4p show a higher binding affinity and infectivity than type 5 for endothelial and carcinoma cell lines. Adenovirus type 11p shows a stronger binding to cells for neural origin, such as glioblastoma, neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. The fact that adenovirus type 11 has a comparatively low prevalence in society, together with its high affinity and infectivity, makes it very suitable for use in gene therapy.

Abstract: Many proteins, when produced recombinantly, suffer from improper processing, folding and lack normal solubility. Modified proteins, including those indicative of disease states, also can have such defects. The present invention is directed to methods of identifying proper and improper protein folding, aberrant processing and/or insolubility. The method relies on the use of two components: a specialized fusion protein and structural complementation. The fusion protein contains sequences from the protein of interest and one portion of a marker protein that, by itself, is not active. A host cell then provides the remainder of the marker protein that serves to “complement” the function of the fused marker protein such that their association restores activity, permitting detection.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses isolated gene regulatory elements and gene transcription terminators that are differentially expressed in a native fungus exhibiting a first morphology relative to the native fungus exhibiting a second morphology. The invention also encompasses a method of utilizing a fungus for protein or chemical production. A transformed fungus is produced by transforming a fungus with a recombinant polynucleotide molecule. The recombinant polynucleotide molecule contains an isolated polynucleotide sequence linked operably to another molecule comprising a coding region of a gene of interest. The gene regulatory element and gene transcription terminator may temporally and spatially regulate expression of particular genes for optimum production of compounds of interest in a transgenic fungus.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel lentiviral packaging constructs that are useful for the establishment of stable packaging cell lines and producer cell lines. In particular, the present invention provides novel packaging cell lines that are capable of constitutively expressing high levels of lentiviral proteins.

Abstract: A method for the production of adeno-associated virus stocks and recombinant adeno-associated virus stocks that are substantially free of contaminating helper virus is described. The method utilizes transfection with helper virus vectors to replace the infection with helper virus used in the conventional method.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel pseudotyped retroviral vectors that can transduce human and other cells. Vectors are provided that are packaged efficiently in packaging cells and cell lines to generate high titer recombinant virus stocks expressing novel envelope glycoproteins. The present invention further relates to compositions for gene therapy.

Abstract: Provided are novel vectors and viral vectors capable of expressing exogenous gene or exogenous nucleic acid sequences in a target cell of interest, such as T cells, bone marrow cells, epithelial cells, liver cells and the like. The nucleic acid components of the vectors may include one or more native promoter/enhancer regions having modified sequence segments, one or more non-native promoter/enhancer or non-native promoter's gene or gene segment, and a native viral vector terminator or processing signal or segment thereof. The viral vectors comprise a virus or viral portion having on the surfaces or envelopes adsorption components, one for a packaging cell line and the other for delivery to a target cell. Packaging cell lines for propagating the vectors and viral vectors are also provided, as are novel processes for propagating any of the disclosed vectors or viral vectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for screening to identify/detect polypeptides capable of translocating into or out of the nucleus of a cell in response to induction by an external stimulus or stimuli. Kits for practicing the method of the invention are also encompassed by the present invention.

Abstract: Method for screening for an antiviral agent, by determining whether a potential agent interacts with a virus or cellular component which allows or prevents preferential translation of a virus RNA compared to a host RNA under virus infection conditions; and determining whether any interaction of the agent with the component reduces the level of translation of an RNA of the virus.