Abstract: A transgenic mouse whose genome comprises a disruption of the endogenous growth differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) gene is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making such mice. The transgenic mice exhibit a phenotype of increased muscle tissue.

Abstract: Novel cultured inner cell mass (CICM) cells, and cell lines, derived from ungulates, in particular, pigs and cows, and methods for their preparation are provided. The subject CICMs possess similar morphology and express cell markers identically or substantially similarly to ICMs of undifferentiated developing embryos for prolonged culturing periods. Heterologous DNA is inserted into the subject CICM cells and cell lines so as produce transgenic CICM cell which are introduced into non-human fertilized embryos to produce transgenic chimeric embryos. The transgenic chimeric embryos are transferred into recipient females where they are permitted to develop into transgenic chimeric fetuses. Recipient females give birth to transgenic chimeric animals which are capable of transmitting the heterologous DNA to their progeny. Transgenic CICM cells are also used to produce cloned transgenic embryos, fetuses and offspring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of examining the neurovirulence of a polio virus, which comprises inoculating a polio virus into the spinal cord of a transgenic mouse comprising a gene for a polio virus receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transgenic mouse containing a transgene, said transgene comprising a truncated Nur77 (.DELTA.Nur77) gene. Also provided is a double transgenic mouse, wherein said double transgenic mouse comprises the .DELTA.Nur77 transgenic mouse backcrossed with the D.sup.b /HY T cell receptor transgenic mouse.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transgenic mouse comprising a disrupted hepsin gene. In particular, the invention provides methods of making the transgenic mouse comprising the disrupted hepsin gene by utilizing a hepsin targeting vector for homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells. Also, nucleotide and amino acid hepsin sequences are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preventing the formation of platelet-rich clots or thrombus, and for deaggregating platelet-rich clots or thrombus, using hementin, a polypeptide derived from leech salivary glands. Hementin may be administered for this purpose in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, with or without additional anticoagulants such as hirudin, hirudin analogues, or an inhibitor of factor Xa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid vector system which incorporates elements of herpesvirus and adeno-associated virus and which is capable of expressing a gene product in eukaryotic cells. The vector system of the present invention provides a means of packaging plasmid DNA into highly infectious virions which can efficiently and safely deliver large transgenes to both mitotic and postmitotic cells in a state which can be maintained for extended periods. The invention pertains to the use of this vector system in introducing and expressing gene sequences in mitotic and postmitotic cells.

Abstract: An inducible or regulatable retroviral vector for the controlled delivery of a gene product, and in particular, a tetracycline regulated retroviral vector for the controlled delivery of a gene product is disclosed. This retroviral vector contains the following DNA sequences operatively linked from 5' to 3': (a) DNA comprising a first promoter; (b) DNA comprising a second promoter different from the first promoter in (a) and different from the third promoter in (e); (c) DNA encoding a tetracycline regulator unit (tTA) under the transcriptional control of the second promoter; (d) DNA comprising a tetracycline response unit (tetO) in an antisense orientation relative to the DNA encoding the regulator unit of (c); and (e) DNA comprising a third promoter different from the first promoter in (a) and different from the second promoter in (b) wherein the DNA comprising the response unit (d) is comprised within the third promoter.

Abstract: Disease resistance in chickens has been associated with the Rfp-Y system of major histocompatability genes in chickens. A method for breeding chickens to produce disease resistant offspring involves selecting at least one parent that has an Rfp-Y haplotype that is characteristic of disease resistance and mating that parent with a second parent to produce a disease resistant offspring.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for preparing a mouse model of an inflammatory skin condition are disclosed. The methods involve administering donor lymphocytes to a recipient immune deficient mouse to induce the inflammatory skin response. The mouse models are useful for testing the efficacy of a therapeutic agent for treating the inflammatory skin condition. In particular, the mouse models are useful for screening therapeutic agents for treating human psoriasis.

Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs comprising hypoxia response elements in operable linkage with a coding sequence of a gene of interest are disclosed. In particular, such nucleic acid constructs comprise genes encoding pro-drug activation systems or cytokines.

Abstract: A pro-inflammatory T response is specifically prevented by the injection into a recipient of DNA encoding the variable region of a T cell receptor. In response to the vaccination, T cells expressing the variable region produce Th2 cytokines, including IL-4. A pro-inflammatory T cell response directed to an autoantigen is shown to be suppressed by DNA vaccination. The suppressive vaccination further reduced the inflammatory effect of T cells reactive against epitopes of the autoantigen not recognized by the variable region used for vaccination.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a DNA sequence encoding a mutant L3T4 protein which, when expressed on the surface of a cell, is capable of facilitating infection of the cell by human immunodeficiency virus; the mutant protein includes at least one amino acid residue substitution or deletion in a segment corresponding to the gp120 binding epitope of a native L3T4 protein so as to increase homology between that segment and its counterpart in a CD4 protein; (2) a murine cell line or strain transfected with such a DNA sequence; and (3) a transgenic mouse susceptible to infection by human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract: Methods and kits for diagnosing a subject with glaucoma or with a predisposition for developing glaucoma are disclosed.

Abstract: Transgenic mice carrying two transgenes, the first coding for a transactivator fusion protein comprising a tet repressor and a polypeptide which directly or indirectly activates in eucaryotic cells, and the second comprising a gene operably linked to a minimal promoter operably linked to at least one tet operator sequence, are disclosed. Isolated DNA molecules (e.g., targeting vectors) for integrating a polynucleotide sequence encoding a transactivator of the invention at a predetermined location within a second target DNA molecule by homologous recombination are also disclosed. Transgenic mice having the DNA molecules of the invention integrated at a predetermined location in a chromosome by homologous recombination are also encompassed by the invention. Methods to regulate the expression of a tet operator linked-gene of interest by administering tetracycline or a tetracycline analogue to a mouse of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic mice in which the biological function of at least one cell cycle regulatory proteins of the INK4 family is altered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tetracycline repressor-mediated binary regulation system for the control of gene expression in transgenic mice. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that, in a transgenic mouse that carries a first transgene under the control of a modified promoter comprising a tetR operator sequence and a second transgene encoding the tetR protein, expression of the first transgene may be efficiently induced by administering tetracycline to the mouse.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for glaucoma diagnostics are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are transgenic mice that produces prostate tumors and faithfully recapitulate many of the features of human prostatic carcinoma. It has been discovered that transcriptional regulatory elements active in Paneth cells, granule goblet cells, intermediate cells, or a combination, when used to express Simian Virus 40 large T antigen (TAg) in a transgenic mouse leads to development of prostate tumors in the mouse. The transcriptional regulatory elements are derived from the cryptdin-2 (CR2) gene. The disclosed mice develop prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) at an early age. Progression with local invasion, loss of androgen-dependence and eventual metastases are hallmarks of the disclosed transgenic mice.

Abstract: The invention features a method which includes the following steps: (a) introducing a transgene into a zygote of a dwarf goat, (b) transplanting the zygote into a pseudopregnant non-dwarf goat, and (c) allowing the zygote to develop to term. In another aspect the invention features a method which includes the following steps: (a) introducing a transgene into an embryo of a dwarf goat, (b) transplanting the embryo into a pseudopregnant non-dwarf goat, and (c) allowing the embryo to develop to term.