Abstract: A DNA sequence containing a) the primary structure shown in SEQ ID NO:1 position 9 to 307 or b) a primary structure which hybridizes with the double strand containing a) under standard conditions and which has essentially the same promoter activities as a) is suitable as promoter.

Abstract: Liposomes containing therapeutic genes are conjugated to multiple blood-brain barrier and brain cell membrane targeting agents to provide transport of the encapsulated gene across the blood-brain barrier and brain cell membrane. Once across the blood-brain barrier and brain cell membrane, the encapsulated gene expresses the encoded therapeutic agent within the brain to provide treatment and diagnosis of disease.

Abstract: The invention consists of episomal expression cassettes for expression of a transgene in gene therapy. The expression cassettes consist of regulatory elements of the human cytokeratin gene and a transgene. The invention also includes of liposomes for transfection of epithelial tissue with the cassettes in treatment of cystic fibrosis, emphysema, cancers of epithelial origin arising in the lung or other organs.

Abstract: The invention relates to the expression of proteins in nonpathogenic protozoans. In particular, the invention relates to the expression and subsequent isolation of proteins from the nonpathogenic protozoan Crithidia.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid vectors which comprise: (a) a transfer nucleotide sequence comprising (i) a plant active promoter, operably linked to (ii) a recombinant tobacco rattle virus (TRV) cDNA (preferably derived from TRV RNA2) which includes at least cis acting elements permitting replication of the cDNA; a subgenomic promoter operably linked to a sequence encoding a TRV coat protein; and a heterologous nucleotide sequence which is foreign to the virus;(b) border sequences which permit the transfer of the transfer nucleotide sequence into a plant genome. Such vectors may be used as expression vectors or for achieving viral induced gene silencing (VIGS) of a target gene, wherein the heterologous nucleotide sequence is a targeting sequence which corresponding to that gene. Example vectors include pTV00 and vectors which are derived from PTV00 and have the characteristics thereof. Also disclosed are associated processes, methods, viruses or viral particle, kits, host cells and plant tissues.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating learning and short term memory defects associated with a defect in the NF1 protein. The present invention also provides methods for screening a pharmaceutical agent for its ability to treat learning and short term memory defects associated with a defect in the NF1 protein.

Abstract: The invention provides a human translational regulator (TRANAC) and polynucleotides which identify and encode TRANAC. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of TRANAC.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method to identify granulocytic cell genes that are differentially expressed upon exposure to a pathogen or in a sterile inflammatory disease by preparing a gene expression profile of a granulocytic cell population exposed to a pathogen or isolated from a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease and comparing that profile to a profile prepared from quiescent granulocytic cells. The present invention is particularly useful for identifying cytokine genes, genes encoding cell surface receptors and genes encoding intermediary signaling molecules. The invention also includes methods to identify a therapeutic agent that modulates the expression of at least one gene in a granulocytic population. Genes which are differentially expressed during neutrophil contact with a pathogen, such as a virulent bacteria, or that are differentially expressed in a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease are of particular importance.

Abstract: Disclosed are mammalian nucleic acid sequences encoding a neuronal-specific subunit of a voltage-gated calcium channel. Specifically disclosed are &ggr;2, &ggr;3 and &ggr;4 subunits. In other aspects, the disclosure relates to expression vectors which encode neuronal-specific subunits, as well as cells containing such vectors. In other aspects, the disclosure relates to antigenic fusion proteins comprising at least a portion of a mammalian neuronal-specific subunit of a voltage-gated calcium channel. Such fusion proteins are useful, for example, in the production of antibodies specifically reactive with the subunits of the invention. The nucleic acid sequences of the invention find application, for example, in screening for compounds which modulate the activity of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels and also in diagnostic methods for diagnosing the autoimmune disease Lambert-Eaton Syndrome, as well as diagnosing defects in &ggr; subunit genes of a patient with a neuronal disease such as epilepsy.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for producing high titer preparations of recombinant AAV (“rAAV”) virions. The compositions of the present invention include AAV helper function systems and host cells. The present invention also includes methods of using AAV helper function vectors that effect the production of only small amounts of the long forms of Rep protein, and rAAV virions produced by such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 11cby, in particular 11cby polypeptides and 11cby polynucleotides, recombinant materials and methods for their production. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods for using such polypeptides and polynucleotides, including the treatment of bacterial, fungal, protozoan and viral infections, particularly infection caused by HIV-1 or HIV-2; pain; cancers; diabetes; obesity; feeding and drinking abnormalities, such as anorexia and bulimia; asthma; Parkinson's disease; both acute and congestive heart failure; hypotension; hypertension; urinary retention; osteoporosis; angina pectoris; myocardial infarction; ulcers; allergies; benign prostatic hypertrophy and psychotic and neurological disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, manic depression, delirium, dementia or severe mental retardation, and dyskinesias, such as Huntington's disease or Gilles dela Tourett's syndrome, hereinafter referred to as “the Diseases”, among others.

Abstract: A method of enhancing expression of MHC Class I molecules bearing endogenous peptides on the surface of a target cell expressing low or nondetectable levels of MHC Class I molecules and expressing low or nondetectable levels of TAP-1 and TAP-2 transporter proteins comprising: introducing into the target cell a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence encoding TAP-1 or TAP-2 under control of a suitable promoter; and expressing TAP-1 or TAP-2 in the target cell under suitable conditions, thereby enhancing processing and presentation of MHC Class I molecules bearing endogenous peptides.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of controlling gene expression in plants. Specifically, the method comprises transforming a plant with a USP receptor expression cassette which encodes a USP receptor and at least one target expression cassette which encodes a target polypeptide. Contacting said transformed plant with juvenile hormone or one of its agonists activates expression of the target polypeptide in the presence of said USP receptor polypeptide. Optionally, additional “secondary” receptor expression cassettes may be used, wherein the secondary receptor expression cassette encodes a receptor polypeptide distinct from USP. The method is useful for controlling various traits of agronomic importance, such as plant fertility. Also disclosed is a method of identifying previously unknown ligands for USP. Substances to be tested are identified by placing them in contact with plant cells transformed with a USP receptor expression cassette and a target expression cassette.

Abstract: A molecule comprising a nucleic acid portion and a protein portion directly bound to said nucleic acid portion with a covalent bond, wherein said nucleic acid portion comprises a polymer of nucleoside, and said protein portion is encoded by said nucleic acid portion, and a method for constructing the molecule, which comprises (a) preparing a DNA containing a gene which has no termination codon, (b) transcribing the prepared DNA into RNA, (c) bonding a chimeric spacer composed of DNA and RNA to a 3′-terminal end of the obtained RNA, (d) bonding to a 3′-terminal end of the obtained bonded product, a nucleoside or a substance having a chemical structure analogous to that of a nucleoside, which can be covalently bound to an amino acid or substance having a chemical structure analogous to that of an amino acid, and (e) performing protein synthesis in a cell-free protein synthesis system using the obtained bonded product as mRNA to bond a nucleic acid portion containing the gene to a translation product

Abstract: An expression system which provides heterologous proteins expressed by a non-native host organism but which have native-protein-like biological activity and/or structure. Disclosed are vectors, expression hosts and methods for expressing the heterologous proteins. The expression system involves co-expression of protein factor(s) which is/are capable of catalyzing disulphide bond formation and desired heterologous protein(s). The expression system is presented using yeast cells as the preferred host, protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and thioredoxin (TRX) as the preferred examples of the protein factors and HCV-E2715 envelope glycoprotein and human FIGF as the preferred examples of the heterologous proteins.

Abstract: The present invention is for a formulation comprising a nucleic acid vaccine and an immunoenhancing amount of acemannan, whereby the acemannan enhances immune response, in a host, to the vaccine. The present invention is also for a method of enhancing the immune response of a host to a nucleic acid vaccine by administering a formulation comprising a nucleic acid vaccine and acemannan.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides comprising an immunogenic epitope of a M. vaccae protein, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, and fusion proteins comprising at least one such polypeptide, together with DNA constructs comprising at least one inventive polynucleotide. Compositions comprising such polypeptides, polynucleotides, fusion proteins and/or DNA constructs may be employed in the treatment of infectious diseases and immune disorders.

Abstract: This invention demonstrates the utility of a yeast expression system for the expression of functional heterologous multi-domain proteins in yeast. The yeast expression system allows for the inclusion of a plurality of (up to three) modular expression cassettes which may encode multiple polypeptide chains of a heterologous multi-domain protein on a single plasmid (Twin Cassette). Because multiple polypeptide chains may be encoded for by the expression cassettes of the present invention in a single vector, the system can produce equivalent amounts of the multiple polypeptide chains, thereby enhancing the yield of a functional heterologous multi-domain protein. For example, functional monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) comprising a heavy chain and a light chain of an immunoglobulin (IgG), and functional immunotoxins comprising an antibody domain and an oxidase toxin may be produced using the Yeast expression system of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a number of strategies for transferring and/or evolving gene(s) associated with cellular DNA uptake so that they confer or enhance DNA-uptake capacity of a recipient cell. Evolution is achieved by recursive cycles of recombination and screening/selection. One such strategy entails evolving genes that confer competence in one species to confer either greater competence in that species, or comparable or greater competence in a second species. Another strategy entails evolving genes for use as components of cloning vector to confer enhanced uptake of the vector. Other strategies entail evolving viral receptors, viruses, and genes that mediate conjugal transfer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tumor suppressor gene, termed large tumor suppressor (lats), and methods for identifying tumor suppressor genes. The method provides nucleotide sequences of lats genes, and amino acid sequences of their encoded proteins, as well as derivatives (e.g., fragments) and analogs thereof. In a specific embodiment, the lats protein is a human protein. The invention further relates to fragments (and derivatives and analogs thereof) of lats which comprise one or more domains of a lats protein. Antibodies to lats, its derivatives and analogs, are additionally provided. Methods of production of the lats proteins, derivatives and analogs, e.g., by recombinant means, are also provided. Therapeutic and diagnostic methods and pharmaceutical compositions are provided. The invention also relates to recombinant plants and animals and methods of increasing the growth of edible plants and animals.