Abstract: The present invention provides a therapy for treating neuropathic pain by subpial administration of small quantities of a composition for spinal segment-specific upregulation of GAD65 (glutamatedecarboxylase) gene and VGAT (vesicular GABA transporter) gene, which is effective for induction of nociceptive effects by potentiating release of vesicular GABA from infected dorsal horn neurons into the synaptic cleft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapy for treating neuropathic pain by subpial administration of small quantities of a composition for spinal segment-specific upregulation of GAD65 (glutamatedecarboxylase) gene and VGAT (vesicular GABA transporter) gene, which is effective for induction of nociceptive effects by potentiating release of vesicular GABA from infected dorsal horn neurons into the synaptic cleft.

Abstract: Delivery devices, systems, and methods related thereto may be used in humans for spinal delivery of cells, drugs or vectors. Thus, the system enables subpial delivery, which leads to a near complete spinal parenchymal AAV9-mediated gene expression or distribution in both white and grey matter.

Abstract: Delivery devices, systems, and methods related thereto may be used in humans for spinal delivery of cells, drugs or vectors. Thus, the system enables subpial delivery, which leads to a near complete spinal parenchymal AAV9-mediated gene expression or distribution in both white and grey matter.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for production of retroviruses which are replication incompetent. In the system, gag and pol retroviral structural proteins are expressed separately by different plasmids in a packaging cell line. Separate gag and pol expressing plasmids are provided, as are packaging cell lines containing such plasmids. Retrovirus products of the retroviral vector production system, including chimeric retroviruses, are also provided.

Abstract: Transfection of host cells cultured in the presence of serum is increased by adding VSV-G or polybrene to a nucleic acid-lipid complex or culture medium prior to transfection.

Abstract: The present invention features packaging cell lines and recombinant retroviral particles produced thereby, particularly pseudotyped retroviral particles. Preferably, the packaging cell lines are derived from HeLa, Cf2Th, D17, MDCK, or BHK cells, most preferably from Cf2Th cells. Retroviral particles are produced by inducibly expressing an envelope protein of interest (e.g., a retroviral envelope or the envelope protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV G)). Inducible expression of the envelope protein is accomplished by operably linking an envelope protein-encoding nucleotide sequence to an inducible promoter (e.g., a promoter composed of a minimal promoter linked to multiple copies of tetO, the binding site for the tetracycline repressor (tetR) of the Escherichia coli, tetracycline resistance operon Tn10).

Abstract: A shuttle vector containing an yeast gene and an E. coli gene and carrying the expression control region of acid phosphatase gene of yeast, which can be recombined with various genes under control of the phosphatase promoter, to give various recombinant plasmids. The shuttle vector is useful in genetic engineering industries.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA comprising 3 fragments of Hepatitis B virus DNA recombined with a vector consisting essentially of 0.31 Kb replication orgin of SV40 DNA inserted into EcoRI cleavage site of Escherichia coli plasmid which is deficient in the 1.426-2.521 Kb region of inhibiting replication in mammalian cells, wherein each HBV DNA fragment is a 3.2 Kb BamHI fragment consisting of 1.9 Kb HBc gene and 1.3 Kb HBs gene, and said HBV DNA fragments are arranged in a head-to-tail tandem relationship wherein the HBc gene positions at the head and the HBs gene positions at the tail, mammalian cells transformed with the recombinant DNA, and a method of production of Hepatitis B virus proteins, i.e. HBsAg and/or HBeAg. These HBV proteins have the same immunological properties as those of the natural HBV proteins originated from human blood plasma and can be used for the preparation of HBV vaccine and diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: A recombinant plasmid inserted with Hepatitis B virus gene, which comprises a plasmid vector containing a yeast gene and an E. coli gene and carrying the expression control region of the repressible acid phosphatase gene of yeast and a Hepatitis B virus gene recombined thereto under control of the phosphatase promoter, a transformed yeast which is prepared by transforming a yeast with the recombinant plasmid, and a method of the production of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen in a large scale by culturing the transformed yeast in a medium. The Hepatitis B virus surface antigen prepared by the present invention has the same immunological properties as those of the natural antigen from human blood plasma and is useful for the preparation of Hepatitis B virus vaccine and diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: An improved method for purification of HBs antigen comprising passing a partially purified HBs antigen prepared from blood plasma or serum through a column filled with an anion exchanger which may be equilibrated with a buffer solution having a specific ionic strength and pH level, and further passing the resulting effluent through a column filled with a cation exchanger which may be equilibrated with a buffer solution having a specific ionic strength and pH level. The HBs antigen obtained by the present invention is highly purified and is useful for preparing vaccine for preventing Viral Hepatitis Type B.