Abstract: The present invention relates to a nuclear transport agent, to a gene transfer system comprising said nuclear transport agent, to a method for transporting DNA into the nucleus of eukaryotic cells using said nuclear transport agent and to the use of said nuclear transport agent in gene therapy for treating cancer, viral infections, diseases of the nervous system, graft rejection and monogenic or polygenic hereditary diseases.

Abstract: Non-human mammalian animals having a higher epidermal expression level of protein kinase C&egr; than their wild-type counterparts are phenotypically distinguished from wild-type animals in that the animals induced to develop tumors in a chemical initiation/promotion protocol are suppressed for subsequent papilloma development but are susceptible to developing squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The animals are advantageously used in methods for screening putative agents for altering the susceptibility, development and progression of squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and have further commercial value as tools for investigating the development of metastatic disease.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treatment for an animal having a disease state associated with a genitourinary disorder with a purinergic receptor modulator. Also provided, is a transgenic animal having a disrupted purinergic receptor gene. The invention further provides for a method of screening using the transgenic animal as a positive control.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes AAV as a vector to transfect epithelial cells with an AAV/heterologous gene containing/Neo vector, to form a heterologous protein secreting culture of epithelial cells. This culture is useful for preparing recombinant skin using the organotypic epithelial raft culture system. The sheets of epithelial cells is composed of a stratified sqaumous epithelium composed of a lower layer of immature basal cells and an upper layer of mature keratinized epithelium. The rAAV virus stock prepared without wild type AAV is useful in expressing heterologous protein, however, the maximum production of the heterologous protein was achieved; when the rAAV virus stock contained wild type AAV. This invention discloses that AAV is appropriate for genetically altering skin to secrete new proteins to treat diseases and skin disorders or conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides antiviral compounds and compositions comprising a viral specific oligonucleotide. Also provided are methods to inhibit or treat viral infections with the compounds or compositions of the invention.

Abstract: A novel class or family of TGF-&bgr; binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the secreted peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the secreted peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the secreted peptides.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the isolation of primordial germ cells, culturing these cells to produce primordial germ cell-derived cell lines, methods for transforming both the primordial germ cells and the cultured cell lines, and using these transformed cells and cell lines to generate transgenic animals. The efficiency at which transgenic animals are generated by the present invention is greatly increased, thereby allowing the use of homologous recombination in producing transgenic non-rodent animal species.