Abstract: A method for increasing the percentage of mammalian offspring of either sex which comprises contacting a semen sample with an antibody specific for the spermatozoa determinative of one sex and separating said spermatozoa from spermatozoa determinative of the other sex, said antibody being bound to a non-porous magnetic bead support having a diameter of 0.1 to 2 microns.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for screening for intracellular transdominant effector peptides and RNA molecules selected inside living cells from randomized pools are provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of a novel nucleic acid molecule which encodes a hematopoietic-specific protein, termed LAPTM5. The expression pattern of the gene together with evidence that the protein interacts with ubiquitin indicates that the protein has a functional role during embryogenesis and in adult hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: Endogenous and exogenous proteins, and fragments thereof, are chemically modified outside the body of an animal so that when injected into the animal they produce more antibodies against the unmodified protein than would injection of the unmodified protein or fragment alone. The chemical modification may be accomplished by attaching the proteins or fragments to carriers such as, for example, bacterial toxoids. The chemical modification can also be accomplished by polymerization of protein fragments. Proteins which can be modified include Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. The modified polypeptide may be administered to animals for the purpose of contraception, abortion or treatment of hormone-related disease states and disease disorders, treatment of hormone-associated carcinomas, and to boost the animals' resistance to exogenous proteins, for example viral proteins.

Abstract: Soluble polypeptide fraction consisting of all or part of one at least one of the four immunoglobulin-type extracellular LAG-3 protein domains (amino acids 1-159, 160-230, 240-330 and 331-412 of the SEQ ID NO:1 sequence) or consisting of one peptide sequence derived from these domains by replacement, addition or deletion of one or more amino acids. The fraction of the invention has a specificity at least equal to that of LAG-3 in relation to its ligand.

Abstract: Method and compositions for treating type II diabetes; and type II diabetes diagnostics are disclosed

Abstract: The present invention provides a human eosinophil-derived basic protein (EBPH) and polynucleotides which identify and encode EBPH. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding EBPH and a method for producing EBPH. The invention also provides for use of EBPH and agonists, antibodies or antagonists specifically binding EBPH, in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of EBPH. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding EBPH for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of EBPH. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, and antibodies specifically binding EBPH.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a blood-cell fraction enriched for potent antigen presenting cells is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a monocyte-depleted lymphocyte fraction, culturing the cell fraction in a serum-free medium for a period sufficient to produce a morphological change in dendritic-precursor cells to cells having the morphology of dendritic cells, harvesting non-adherent cells produced by said culturing, and enriching the portion of dendritic cells in the harvested cells by density centrifugation. Also disclosed is a PAP cell composition containing cells enriched for PAP activity in a collagen matrix.

Abstract: Nucleic acid compositions are provided that encode a family of mammalian proteins expressed in the retina and brain. Members of the gene family are genetically linked to various neurosensory defects, including cochlear degeneration, peripheral retinal degeneration and cone-rod retinal dystrophy. The nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying DNA sequences encoding homologous or related proteins; for production of the encoded protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of neurosensory defects, identification of retinal cells based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for genetic predisposition to the linked neurosensory defect.

Abstract: Novel peptides which are epitopes of the human 60 kDa heat shock protein (hsp60) may be used for the diagnosis and treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Pharmaceutical compositions containing such peptides and kits for use in diagnosis of IDDM are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining the complexed forms of immunologically determinable prostate specific antigen (cPSA) in a blood sample, e.g., by two-site immunometric assays, in which the blood sample is treated to render free PSA (fPSA) immunologically nondetectable. A particularly preferred immunometric assay method employs three anti-PSA antibodies: an antibody that binds to both cPSA and fPSA (anti-tPSA), a second anti-tPSA antibody which is characterized by the unique property that binding to fPSA is blocked by binding of fPSA-specific antibodies, and a third antibody which is a fPSA-specific antibody. Thus, binding of the fPSA-specific antibody to PSA in the sample allows only cPSA to be measured in the immunometric assay. Measurement of cPSA blood levels has been found to provide a method for aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer that is highly sensitive and specific, and eliminates the need for a significant number of patients to undergo unnecessary prostate biopsy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for suppressing the cytotoxic activity of mammalian Natural Killer (NK) cells, especially in women experiencing repeated miscarriages. An antibody which binds to an 80 kDa surface protein on the maternal surface of normal term human syncytiotrophoblast (R80K) was discovered. This antibody was also found to bind to Natural Killer (NK) target cells (K562) and inhibit NK killing of this human NK target cell line. A monoclonal antibody (BA11) was raised against K562 cells which was also directed against a monomorphic site on the R80K surface protein of placentae. BA11 was found both to inhibit the attachment of NK cells and killing of both target cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of inducing oral tolerance to ischemic injury which has the objective of minimizing the severity and size of injured regions in the brain that arise as a result of ischemia. The method responds rapidly to the onset of infarction, with treatment that is short in duration. The procedure is specifically focused on the injured area of the infarct by virtue of being targeted immunologically to the ischemic site. The method therefore avoids the possibility of inducing systemic side effects affecting other organs of the patient. The present invention involves administering myelin or a component thereof such as myelin basic protein or proteolipid protein to a subject either orally or by inhalation. The amount administered and the duration of the treatment are effective to minimize the size and severity of the infarct in the brain of the subject.

Abstract: A method for preparing a responder cell clone that proliferates when combined with a selected antigenic peptide presented by a stimulator cell is disclosed. CD56 negative, CD8 negative responder cells are isolated from peripheral blood mononucleocytes and stimulated with pulsed or primed stimulator cells. Responder cell clones from prediabetic or new onset diabetic patients which are specific for GAD peptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a marker for inflammatory diseases and/or pathologies comprising an autoimmune reaction, which is the plasmatic membrane and/or a portion therof, in particular the plasmatic DNA. The present invention concerns also the method to obtain said marker and the diagnostic device which comprises said marker.

Abstract: The invention is directed to contraceptive vaccines comprising a carrier protein or fragment thereof in peptide linkage with a reproduction related polypeptide, protein or fragment thereof, and to DNAs encoding the chimeric proteins. The invention also includes the use of the chimeric proteins in immunocontraceptive methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and characterization of a novel, membrane-anchored chemokine, neurotactin. Sequence analysis of neurotactin reveals that, while it includes an amino terminal domain which resembles that of other chemokines, it has an overall structure which distinguishes it from all presently identified chemokines. Neurotactin is highly expressed in normal mammalian brain. Inhibitors of neurotactin expression or activity can be used to treat inflammation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies which specifically bind to mammalian tub gene products, tub peptide fragments and tub peptides produced by genetically engineered cells.

Abstract: Endogenous and exogenous proteins, and fragments thereof, are chemically modified outside the body of an animal so that when injected into the animal they produce more antibodies against the unmodified protein than would injection of the unmodified protein or fragment alone. The chemical modification may be accomplished by attaching the proteins or fragments to carriers such as, for example, bacterial toxoids. The chemical modification can also be accomplished by polymerization of protein fragments. Proteins which can be modified include Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. The modified polypeptide may be administered to animals for the purpose of contraception, abortion or treatment of hormone-related disease states and disease disorders, treatment of hormone-associated carcinomas, and to boost the animals' resistance to exogenous proteins, for example viral proteins.

Abstract: Plasma EPCR has been isolated, characterized and shown to block cellular protein C activation and APC anticoagulant activity. Plasma EPCR appears to be about 43,000 daltons and circulates at approximately 100 ng/ml (98.4.+-.27.8 ng/ml, n=22). Plasma EPCR bound activated protein C with an affinity similar to that of recombinant soluble EPCR (Kd.sub.app approximately 30 nM), and inhibits both protein C activation on an endothelial cell line and APC anticoagulant activity in a one-stage factor Xa clotting assay. Soluble plasma EPCR appears to attenuate the membrane-bound EPCR augmentation of protein C activation and the anticoagulant function of activated protein C. Soluble EPCR has also been detected in urine. Levels of soluble EPCR can rise in inflammatory disease associated with vascular injury and appear to be correlated with inflammation and disease states associated with abnormal coagulation.