Abstract: The invention provides molecules containing nucleic acid sequences for fragments of LPS-induced TNF-? factor (LITAF) and vectors containing these sequences. Also provided are molecules that contain the peptide sequence SQTWREPGAAGSPFHL, or homologs thereof. Such molecules may be useful in the treatment of diseases that relate to the expression of TNF-?, where treatment involves the modulation of this expression. The invention also provides methods for identifying compounds that inhibit or enhance the transcription of TNF-?.

Abstract: Genomic actions and/or proteomic interactions for pathophysiological processes and for physiological processes are determined at associated redox state conditions. Protein interactions are correlated with oxygen tensions. Identification of markers for disease including epitopes is effected in the presence of simulated redox state perturbations. Screening for previously unknown receptors and activating ligands is carried out in the presence of alteration of redox state.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules encoding the C140 cell surface receptor have been cloned and sequenced. The availability of C140 receptor DNA permits the recombinant production of the C140 receptor which can be produced on the surface of a cell, including an oocyte. The nucleic acid molecules are useful in an assay for detecting a substance which affects C140 receptor activity, either receptor agonists or antagonists. Further, the elucidation of the structure of the C140 receptor permits the design of agonist and antagonist compounds which are useful in such assays. The availability of the C140 receptor also permits production of antibodies specifically immunoreactive with one or more antigenic epitopes of the C140 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture and purification of recombinant trypsinogen and trypsin in E. coli and yeast, using high yield expression vectors with and without secretion leader sequences. The invention further relates to an improved method and apparatus for carrying out protein refolding specifically useful for processing trypsinogen that has accumulated intracellularly in the form of inclusion bodies.

Abstract: Provided herein is a retroviral vector comprising, and capable of expressing, a nucleotide of interest (NOI), wherein the NOI encodes an RNA or protein which is harmful to a cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel Ad based packaging system that can be used for incorporation of heterologous DNA into infectious but replication defective viral particles. The components of the invention include an “artificial genome”, i.e., a recombinant vector which contains elements that function as adenovirus replication and packaging signals flanking an intervening DNA sequence. The elements may comprise the minimum genomic Ad sequences required to direct replication of heterologous DNA and packaging into viral particles. The system also includes a means for expressing complementing helper functions to provide in trans viral proteins required for replication and packaging of recombinant viral vectors, but without contaminating the stock of recombinant, trans-packaged viral particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasmid pUPI126 encoding indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) production, Acinetobacter strains having plasmid pUPI126, a bioinoculum for promoting growth of wheat plant, and a method of promoting wheat plant growth, the method comprising treating wheat seeds with the bioinoculum.

Abstract: The SOST gene gives rise to sclerostin, a protein that leads to apoptosis of bone progenitor cells. The invention provides antagonists to the sclerostin protein, and methods for identifying new sclerostin antagonists. The invention also provides molecules that can depress expression of the SOST gene, as well as methods for identifying such molecules. Such molecules and antagonists are useful for increasing bone mineralization in mammals, for example, in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods of modifying the glycosylation structures of recombinant proteins expressed in fungi or other lower eukaryotes, to more closely resemble the glycosylation of proteins from higher mammals, in particular humans. The present invention also relates to novel enzymes and, nucleic acids encoding them and, hosts engineered to express the enzymes, methods for producing modified glycoproteins in hosts and modified glycoproteins so produced.

Abstract: A method of increasing cellular NADPH levels by expressing one or more genes that encode a enzyme that causes the production of NADPH. The system can be combined with other enzymes that require NADPH, thus improving the overall production of the desired protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a plurality of pairs of interacting proteins and plasmids for use in the method. The pair of plasmids is adapted for use in a modified two hybrid system wherein wherein each plasmid comprises a recombinase recognition site. The method comprises the steps of providing cDNAs encoding test polypeptides, inserting the cDNAs into the first and second plasmids, recombining the first and second plasmids to obtain recombined plasmids, isolating and digesting the recombined plasmids, ligating the restriction fragments to a universal adapter to provide a pool of digested fragments flanked by a universal adapter, selecting and amplifying desired sequences, forming concatamers from the amplified sequences, and sequencing the concatamers to determine the nucleotide sequences encoding a plurality of pairs of interacting proteins.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the efficient in vivo diversification of gene-products in filamentous fungi, starting from (but not limited to) two or more copies of a single gene constituent. The diversification involve use of the Repeat-Induced Point mutation (RIP) process in N. crassa, and other fungi that have analogous mutational processes. The invention takes advantage of the induction of G:C to A:T transition mutations specific to duplicated DNA sequences during the premeiotic dikaryon phase of the life cycle of the fungus. The methods and compositions of the invention can be utilized to generate diversity in target genes, and are proposed for the purpose of altering and generating novel forms and activities of gene-products thus encoded. Duplicated genes may be introduced into the organism and are present either in tandem, or at separate ectopic locations within the genome of the fungus.

Abstract: Disclosed are the methods for producing recombinant viruses using site-specific recombination in vitro. In the present invention, circular viral genomic DNAs are digested with restriction enzymes to generate a linear form viral genomic DNAs flanked by site-specific recombination sites, and then are subjected to site-specific recombination with the desired genomic materials flanked by site-specific recombination sites in vitro. According to the present invention, since the site-specific recombination mixture can be applied to host cells without further procedures of selecting the desired recombinant viral genomic DNAs, it is possible to obtain numerous recombinant viruses rapidly at the same time. Thus, the present invention can be used as a high throughput system for generating and screening hundreds or thousands of recombinant viruses.

Abstract: Replication-competent adenovirus vectors specific for cells which allow a probasin transcriptional response element (PB-TRE) to function, such as cells which express the androgen receptor (AR), and methods of use of such viruses are provided. These viruses comprise an adenoviral gene under control of a transcriptional regulatory portion of a PB-TRE, which is in turn dependent upon AR expression. The gene can be, for example, a gene required for viral replication or the adenovirus death protein gene (ADP). The viruses can also comprise at least one additional adenoviral gene under control of at least one additional prostate-specific transcriptional response element, such as that controlling prostate-specific antigen expression (PSA-TRE). Thus, virus replication can be restricted to target cells exhibiting prostate-specific gene expression, particularly prostate carcinoma cells.

Abstract: A method for isolating, from a mixture, a virus having a surface protein with a binding site for sialic acid is provided. The method involves contacting the mixture with mucin which has been linked to a solid support and washing the solid support to remove material from the mixture is non-specifically bound to the mucin-linked support. Thereafter, the specifically bound virus (e.g., AAV4 or AAV5) may be removed in a further washing step utilizing a concentrated slat or solution with low pH. Also described are pharmaceutical kits containing solid supports linked to mucin for use in isolating virus having a surface protein with a binding site for sialic acid, or detecting the presence of the virus in a biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more amplifiable markers located on the integrated vector. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to activation of endogenous genes by non-targeted integration of specialized activation vectors, which are provided by the invention, into the genome of a host cell.

Abstract: The invention discloses a simple, accurate and reproducible method of determining viral particle concentration, especially for any serotype of adenovirus. More specifically, an accurate absorptivity/extinction coefficient in units of viral particles per milliliter per absorbance unit per centimeter (vp/mL-AU-cm) for a sample virus, such as adenovirus, at 260 nanometers (nm) is disclosed, as well as an ultraviolet (UV) absorbance method to determine virus particle concentrations based on this established absorptivity/extinction coefficient and absorbances at 260 nm for purified virus preparations, such as adenovirus preparations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant bank of diploid micro-organisms which consists of a population of mutant cells in which at least one cell has a random mutation which disrupts the activity of at least one gene, wherein the micro-organism is inducible into haploid form. The invention further relates to a method of using the mutant bank to identify the genes which contribute to a chosen phenotype.

Abstract: Methods for treating neoplasia, by administering reovirus to a Ras-mediated neoplasm, and use of reovirus for manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of neoplasia, 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 sterotypes or strains of reovirus can be used. Combinations of more than one type and/or strain or reovirus can be used, as can reovirus from different species of animal. Either solid neoplasms or hematopoietic neoplasms can be treated.

Abstract: Inducible gene expression systems and a method thereof. A first inducible gene expression system includes a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter and at least one factor to induce the retroviral promoter. At least one gene product is expressed in proportion to retroviral promoter induction. The method includes providing a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter and providing at least one factor corresponding to the retroviral promoter. The retroviral promoter is induced with the at least one factor. At least one protein is expressed based on the induction of the retroviral promoter. A second inducing expression system includes a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter, an inducer for the retroviral promoter, and at least one protein expressed in proportion to retroviral promoter induction.