Abstract: The invention pertains to rhesus monkey P-glycoproteins and related P-glycoproteins which include rhesus-specific amino acids, as well as nucleic acids which encode those polypeptides. The present invention also includes fragments and biologically functional variants of the rhesus monkey P-glycoprotein. The invention further relates to methods of using such rhesus monkey P-glycoprotein nucleic acids and polypeptides, especially in methods for determining bioavailability of drugs and for screening for inhibitors of rhesus PGP. Also included are rhesus PGP inhibitors which inhibit rhesus PGP activity by inhibiting the expression or function of rhesus PGP.

Abstract: Peptides able to inhibit or activate the translocation or function of ?PKC are identified. Administration of the peptides for protection or enhancement of cell damage due to ischemia is described. Therapeutic methods to reduce damage to cells or to enhance damage to cells due to ischemia are also described, as well as methods for screening test compounds for ?PKC-selective agonists and antagonists.

Abstract: A composition for promoting extension of bladder smooth muscle, comprising adrenomedullin. The composition of the present invention may be used to ameliorate a urination disorder. The urination disorder may be a urinary incontinence selected from the group consisting of urge incontinence, reflex incontinence, and overflow incontinence. According to the present invention, a method is provided for ameliorating a urination disorder using a composition comprising adrenomedullin. Further, use of adrenomedullin in production of a drug for ameliorating a urination disorder is provided.

Abstract: A reagent containing a purified horseshoe crab Factor C, particularly a recombinantly produced Factor C, and a surfactant can be used in a sensitive, rapid, and reproducible assay to detect endotoxin.

Abstract: A process is described for monitoring the effectiveness of a purification process in removing plasminogen activator (PA) endogenous to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells from a sample containing human tPA or variants thereof. This process comprises incubating the sample with a protease capable of specifically cleaving the Arg275-Ile276 bond of human wild-type tPA and then with denaturing/reducing agents in respective amounts effective to reduce the disulfide bonds of human wild-type tPA; subjecting the sample to a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography step, and analyzing the elution profile from the chromatography step for the amount of PA endogenous to the CHO cells present therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods, kits, and pharmaceutical compositions for treating and preventing damage to mucosal tissue by administering an effective amount of angiotensinogen, angiotensin I (AI), AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, angiotensin II (AII), AII analogues, AII fragments or analogues thereof or AII AT2 type 2 receptor agonists to the subject.

Abstract: Method of obtaining a fibrinogen enriched preparation by (i) adding an effective amount of a sulphated polysaccharide (SPS) to a fibrinogen containing solution to form a fibrinogen containing precipitate and (ii) extracting fibrinogen from the fibrinogen containing precipitate from step (i) with a solution containing at least 0.1M salt to obtain a fibrinogen enriched preparation.

Abstract: A search of the public human genome database identified a human EST, GenBank accession number AW293249, which has high homology to known pufferfish urocortin sequences. The full length sequence was amplified from human genomic DNA and sequenced. Sequence homology comparisons of the novel sequence with human urocortin I and urocortin II revealed that the sequence encoded a novel human urocortin, which was designated urocortin III (UcnIII). While urocortin III does not have high affinity for either CRF-R1 or CRF-R2, the affinity for CRF-R2 is greater than the affinity for CRF-R1. Urocortin III is capable stimulating cyclic AMP production in cells expressing CRF-R2&agr; or &bgr;. Thus, the affinity is high enough that urocortin III could act as a native agonist of CRF-R2. However, it is also likely that urocortin III is a stronger agonist of a yet to be identified receptor.

Abstract: Ingestable products for lowering blood total cholesterol, including isoflavone, vegetable protein such as soy protein and phytosterol. The combination of phytosterol with soy protein (which includes isoflavone) is superior to the individual components alone in improving plasma lipid profiles. Preferably the products are food products. The invention is also a method for lowering plasma cholesterol in animals, preferably humans, by feeding compositions having plasma cholesterol-lowering, synergistically effective amounts of isoflavone, soy protein and phytosterol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a solution comprising a substantially pure isoform of AT-III, said process comprising separating the isoform AT-III&agr; from AT-III&bgr; on a calcium hydroxyphosphate-based adsorbent.

Abstract: Stable pharmaceutical preparations containing blood coagulation Factor VII is disclosed. The pharmaceutical preparations containing blood coagulation Factor VII are free of coagulation inhibitors and are stable over a wide range of environmental conditions. Also provided are blood coagulation Factor VII preparations having a minimum activity of 50 Units/mg of protein that contain less than 5% activated blood coagulation Factor VII (Factor VIIa). The blood coagulation Factor VII containing preparations may also contain other blood coagulation factors and are free from detectable transmissible human pathogens.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for the specific inhibition of neurotransmission. More specifically, the invention relates to isolated modified &agr;-bungarotoxin molecules that show high specificity for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Such modified &agr;-bungarotoxin molecules, as well as native &agr;-bungarotoxin molecules, are useful in a variety of conditions where localized inhibition of neuronal and/or muscle cell function is desirable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein and peptide chemistry. In particular, the present invention relates to the discovery and isolation of novel peptides whose sequences derive from microorganism by-products including biosurfactants. The invention is also directed to the use of these novel peptides in the inhibition of infections caused by pathogens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zacrp13, a novel member of the family of proteins bearing a collagen-like domain and a C1q domain. Novel zacrp13 polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed. Also disclosed are antibodies to the zacrp13 protein or fragments thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods useful in the control of pests and, particularly, plant pests. More specifically, the subject invention concerns novel genes and pesticidal toxins referred to as 86A1(b) and 52A1(b). In preferred embodiments, the subject toxins are used for controlling flea beetles of the genus Phyllotreta. Using the genes described herein, the transformation of plants can be accomplished using techniques known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the subject invention provides toxin genes optimized for expression in plants.

Abstract: Variants of tissue plasminogen factor exhibit significantly enhanced fibrin stimulation, dramatically increased discrimination among fibrin co-factors, marked resistance to inhibition by PAI-1, and substantially increased zymogenicity, a combination of properties that enhance the therapeutic utility of the enzyme.

Abstract: The cystatin superfamily includes inhibitors of cysteine proteinases, which function in a protective role with regard to various pathological actions of endogenous proteinases. Zcys6 is a new member of this superfamily.

Abstract: Mutacin are bactericidal substances of proteinaceous natures produced by Streptococcus mutans. Lantibiotics are antibacterial substances containing posttranslationnally modified amino acids such as lanthionine. The present invention teaches a simple method of purifying mutacin B-Ny266 from Streptococcus mutans strain Ny266 to homogeneity. The present invention further teaches the primary amino acid sequence of mutacin B-Ny266 as well as its proposed modified structure. Further, the present invention teaches compositions comprising mutacin B-Ny266 as well as methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxy of bacterial infections comprising an administration of a suitable dose of composition comprising mutacin B-Ny266.

Abstract: BLAST search was done on the EST database by using various nucleotide sequences encoding known bromodomain motifs to discover several ESTs likely encoding bromodomain genes. Next, testicular cDNAs were PCR cloned by using primers designed based on the sequence of EST (W17142), which is one of the ESTs discovered above. By using the thus obtained PCR product as a probe, the testicular library was screened. The obtained cDNA clone was used as a probe to re-screen the testicular cDNA library, thereby successfully isolating a full-length cDNA corresponding to EST (W17142). The protein encoded by the thus isolated cDNA had, in addition to the bromodomain, several regions and domains conserved in transcription regulatory factors. Moreover, the protein interacted with proteins associated with the chromatin-mediated transcriptional regulatory mechanism and a transcription co-activator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pharmaceutical preparation [lacuna] cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-NMe-Val) and/or one of its physiologically acceptable salts and at least one chemotherapeutic agent and/or one of its physiologically acceptable salts and/or an angiogenesis inhibitor and/or one of its physiologically acceptable salts.