Abstract: The instant invention is drawn towards transformed strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides effective for the production of B-carotene. The transformed strains comprise an expression cassette having four genes encoding, respectively, geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate synthase, phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase and lycopene cyclase (i.e. Tri5crtE, Tri5crtB, TriScrtI and CrtY). The transformed strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides of the instant invention produce B-carotene at levels of up to 3-4 milligrams per gram of fungus (dry weight).

Abstract: The invention describes a method for selecting host cell mutants which are resistant to expression system toxicity, comprising the steps of growing an expression system comprising host cells transformed with an expression vector, inducing the expression system such that a toxic effect is observed, and selecting viable cells in which the expression vector continues to function. Cells thus obtained are useful for the expression of polypeptide gene products in microorganisms.

Abstract: This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as the production of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. More particularly, the polypeptides of the present invention are human Hox C10 polypeptides. The invention also relates to identifying mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or other cells comprising such polypeptides or polynucleotides that encode the polypeptides.

Abstract: Aortic-preferentially-expressed gene-1 (APEG-1) and striated muscle preferentially expressed (SPEG) polypeptide, DNA sequences encoding and controlling the transcription of the APEG-1/SPEG encoding gene, methods of diagnosing vascular injury, methods of conferring smooth muscle-cell specific expression, and methods of inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by increasing the level of APEG-1 at the site of vascular injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying nucleic acid molecules encoding (poly)peptides that interact with target molecules. The method of the present invention is particularly characterized by an in vitro translation step under conditions that allow formation of polysomes in the presence of antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the tag-coding sequence of ssrA-RNA. The present invention further relates to kits that are useful for carrying out the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for identifying, isolating and utilizing promoter elements useful for expression of nucleotide sequences and the proteins encoded thereby in a thermophile. In one embodiment, a recombinant DNA molecule is provided, and comprises a reporter sequence, a putative thermophile promoter, a selectable marker sequence, and a 3′ and a 5′ DNA targeting sequence that are together capable of causing integration of at least a portion of said DNA molecule into the genome of a thermophile. Further, within the recombinant DNA, the reporter sequence is under the transcriptional control of a promoter which functions in a thermophile to form a promoter/reporter cassette, the promote/reporter cassette is flanked by said 3′ and said 5′ DNA targeting sequences, and the promoter/reporter cassette is positioned in the opposite orientation of the DNA targeting sequences.

Abstract: A portable DNA sequence is disclosed which is capable of directing intracellular production of metalloproteinanse inhibitors. Vectors containing this portable DNA sequence are also set forth, including the vector pUC9-F5/237P10 (ATCC Accession No. 53003). A recombinant-DNA method for the microbial production of a metalloproteinase inhibitor, which method incorporates at least one of the portable DNA sequences and the vectors disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the generation of lambda (&lgr;) or P1 bacteriophage vectors useful in targeted mutagenesis of eukaryotic cells and the expression of genes and proteins, methods for the identification of a &lgr; or P1 bacteriophage vector having a desired nucleic acid from an assortment or library of bacteriophage each having a different nucleic acid insert and the use of such vectors in gene targeting and the expression of genes and protein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of in vivo and ex vivo gene delivery, for a variety of cells. More specifically, it relates to a novel carrier system and method for targeted delivery of nucleic acids to mammalian cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to carrier system comprising single-chain polypeptide binding molecules having an a region rich in basic amino acid and having the three dimensional folding and, thus, the binding ability and specificity, of the variable region of an antibody. The basic amino acid rich region can comprise oligo-lysine, oligo-arginine or combinations thereof. Such preparations of modified single chain polypeptide binding molecules also have ability to bind nucleic acids at the region rich in basic amino acid residues. These properties of the modified single chain polypeptide binding molecules make them very useful in a variety of therapeutic applications including gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a DNA construct, whereby two or several DNAs are recombined in melted agarose. The invention also relates to vectors which can be used therefor, in addition to a method for providing large DNAs, especially BACs or PACs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising: (i) a primer protion consisting of a contiguous sequence of from 10 to 50 nucleotides capable of hybridizing to (a) the target nucleic acid molecule represented by SEQ ID NO:1, or (b) to the complementary stand thereof; and optional (ii) a further portion comprising from 1 to 25 nucleotides joined to and immediately 5′ to the 5′ end of the primer portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein, which differs from the wild-type coat protein by the introduction of a nonnative amino acid sequence in a conformationally-restrained manner. Such a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein according to the invention is able to direct entry into cells of a vector comprising the chimeric fiber protein that is more efficient than entry into cells of a vector that is identical except for comprising a wild-type adenovirus fiber protein rather than the chimeric adenovirus fiber protein. The nonnative amino acid sequences encodes a peptide motif that comprises an epitope for an antibody, or a ligand for a cell surface receptor, that can be employed in cell targeting. The present invention also pertains to vectors comprising such a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein, and to methods of using such vectors.

Abstract: A two-step, scalable method is described for identifying the cellular function(s) of one or more genes of unknown function, and for identifying modulators of the gene(s). The method uses the reversal or alteration of a phenotype created by the expression of the heterologous gene, e.g., a human gene, to identify modulators of that gene's activity. That modulator is then used in an in vitro or in vivo disease model system to identify compounds which affect disease progression. The subset of compounds which influence disease in a therapeutic manner are drug leads. However, all compounds which influence disease progression are tools to at least partially characterize gene function. The inhibitor identification step of the method is preferably carried out using a plurality of microbial strains or cell lines expressing different heterologous DNA sequences in a single solution. The method is particularly useful for genes which have not been validated as good inhibitor targets.

Abstract: By transducing cells with an HIV-1-MN molecular clone deleted in the major packaging sequence, a stable HIV-1 packaging cell line, &psgr;422 was produced. &psgr;422 cells form syncytia with CD4 positive cells, correctly express HIV-1 structural proteins, and produce large amount of mature particles with normal RT activity. These particles are not infectious. When stably transfected with an HIV-based retroviral vector, the &psgr;422 cell line produces hybrid virions capable of transducing CD4 positive cells with high efficiency (e.g., 105 cells/ml). The availability of this stable, noninfectious HIV-1 packaging cell line capable of generating high titer HIV vectors enables the use of HIV-1 based nucleic acids delivery systems, for example, in gene therapy. An HIV-2 based vector is packaged by the packaging cell lines, demonstrating that HIV-2 cell transformation vectors are packaged by the packaging cell line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modified rapid expansion method (termed “low-PBMC-REM” or “modified-REM”), for quickly generating large numbers of T lymphocytes, including cytolytic and helper T lymphocytes, without using the large excesses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cells (LCL) characteristic of high-PBMC-REM. Clonal expansions of greater than 500-fold can be achieved within a single stimulation cycle of about 8-14 days.

Abstract: A &lgr; phage with a nuclear localization signal has been obtained by constructing a vector capable of expressing a fused protein between a gpD protein constituting the head of a &lgr; phage and a nuclear localization signal sequence, transforming Escherichia coli with this vector, and propagating a mutant &lgr; phage which cannot express the gpD protein in E. coli in this transformant. It has been confirmed that the resulting &lgr; phage is capable of packaging &lgr; phage DNAs of 80% and 100% genome sizes. After further confirming that the nuclear localization signal exposed on the outside of the head of this phage, this phage has been microinjected into cells to analyze its nuclear localization activity. Thus, it has been clarified that this phage has a nuclear localization activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for identifying, isolating and utilizing promoter elements useful for expression of nucleotide sequences and the proteins encoded thereby in a thermophile. In one embodiment, a recombinant DNA molecule is provided, and comprises a reporter sequence, a putative thermophile promoter, a selectable marker sequence, and a 3′ and a 5′ DNA targeting sequence that are together capable of causing integration of at least a portion of said DNA molecule into the genome of a thermophile. Further, within the recombinant DNA, the reporter sequence is under the transcriptional control of a promoter which functions in a thermophile to form a promoter/reporter cassette, the promote/reporter cassette is flanked by said 3′ and said 5′ DNA targeting sequences, and the promoter/reporter cassette is positioned in the opposite orientation of the DNA targeting sequences.

Abstract: Specific genetic deletions are identified in mycobacteria isolates, including variations in the M. tuberculosis genome sequence between isolates, and numerous deletion present in BCG as compared to M. tb. These deletions are used as markers to distinguish between pathogenic and avirulent strains, and as a marker for particular M. tb isolates. Deletions specific to vaccine strains of BCG are useful in determining whether a positive tuberculin skin test is indicative of actual tuberculosis infection. The deleted sequences may be re-introduced into BCG to improve the efficacy of vaccination. Alternatively, the genetic sequence that corresponds to the deletion(s) are deleted from M. bovis or M. tuberculosis to attenuate the pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel system for gene regulation in eukaryotic cells, and methods of using the same for protein production, tissue engineering and gene therapy. In particular, the invention provides a new system for antibiotic-regulated gene expression in eukaryotic cells based on sequences from Actinomycetes antibiotic resistance promoters, polypeptides that bind to the same in an antibiotic responsive manner, and nucleotides encoding such polypeptides. Further, the invention provides novel and sensitive methods of screening for candidate antibiotics.

Abstract: A method for transferring a gene into target cells by a retrovirus with the use of serum-free medium. This method comprises infecting target cells with a retrovirus in serum-free medium optionally containing low-density lipoprotein and/or cytokines in the presence of a functional substance such as fibronectin in an amount effective in elevating the gene transfer efficiency of the retrovirus into the target cells by co-localizing the retrovirus and the target cells.