Abstract: A method for eliciting an immune response by contacting a mucosal surface utilizing a composition including an antigen, a NOD agonist, and a mucoadhesive, wherein the NOD agonist is N-Acetyl-muramyl-L-Alanyl-D-Glutamin-n-butyl-ester (“Murabutide”).

Abstract: A method for eliciting an immune response by contacting a mucosal surface utilizing a composition including an antigen, a NOD agonist, and a mucoadhesive, wherein the NOD agonist is N-Acetyl-muramyl-L-Alanyl-D-Glutamin-n-butyl-ester (“Murabutide”).

Abstract: Methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response to an antigen are disclosed. In certain aspects, these methods concern eliciting an immune response in a subject by administering to the mucosa of the subject a composition comprising a virus-like particle (“VLP”) and Murabutide.

Abstract: Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is treated using active vaccination or passive immune therapy of neutralizing antibodies against HPV L2 neutralizing epitopes.

Abstract: Described is a method for diagnosing a person having or being at risk of developing certain B-cell pathologies, including Sjögren's Syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and excluding patients with symptoms similar to Sjögren's Syndrome but with a different etiology, comprising the following steps: providing a sample of a body fluid or tissue from said person, said sample containing a mixture of unknown proteins, protein fragments or peptides; analyzing said samples with mass spectrometry to generate a m/z (mass to charge ratio) spectrogram for each sample; comparing whether the patient's sample contains m/z values that are characteristic of a Sjögren's Syndrome reference database derived from the analysis and cataloguing of multiple patient spectrograms; and determining whether said patient either has or does not have Sjögren's Syndrome on the basis of this comparative analysis.

Abstract: Described is a method for diagnosing a person having or being at risk of developing Sjögren's Syndrome and excluding patients with symptoms similar to Sjögren's Syndrome but with a different etiology, comprising the following steps: providing a sample of a body fluid or tissue from said person, said sample containing a mixture of unknown proteins, protein fragments or peptides; analyzing said samples with mass spectrometry to generate a m/z (mass to charge ratio) spectrogram for each sample; comparing whether the patient's sample contains m/z values that are characteristic of a Sjögren's Syndrome reference database derived from the analysis and cataloguing of multiple patient spectrograms; and determining whether said patient either has or does not have Sjögren's Syndrome on the basis of this comparative analysis.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is treated using active vaccination or passive immune therapy of neutralizing antibodies against HPV L2 neutralizing epitopes.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to human and porcine endothelial cell derived growth factors (EDHF) that contain one or a mixture of more than one endothelial cell proteins having a molecular weight greater than about 30 kDa. The EDHF is added to culture medium to expand tri-lineage pre-dendritic myleomonocytic progenitor cells and culture endothelial cells. The present invention also relates to a method of amplifying myeloid dendritic cell precursors both in vitro and in vivo. The EDHF is also used therapeutically to increase myeloid dendritic cell production in vivo to enhance the activity of vaccines.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: A polypeptide self-antigen useful in a tumor-specific vaccine mimics one or more epitopes of an antigen uniquely expressed by cells of the tumor. The polypeptide is preferably produced in a plant that has been transformed or transfected with nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide and is obtainable from the plant in correctly folded, preferably soluble form without a need for denaturation and renaturation. This plant-produced polypeptide is immunogenic without a need for exogenous adjuvants or other immunostimulatory materials. The polypeptide is preferably an scFv molecule that bears the idiotype of the surface immunoglobulin of a non-Hodgkin's (or B cell) lymphoma. Upon administration to a subject with lymphoma, the plant-produced, tumor-unique scFv polypeptide induces an idiotype-specific antibody or cell-mediated immune response against the lymphoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for functional genomic analysis and antigen prototyping by introducing episomal non-transforming non-viral vector-based cDNA or genomic libraries of donor organisms, pathogens, or cancer cells into host cells. The DNA libraries can be compacted without substantial aggregation to facilitate uptake by host cells. Antigen prototyping can be to identify antigens of pathogens that confer immuno-protection against the pathogens and antigens of cancer cells that confer immuno-protection against the cancer cells..

Abstract: This invention provides a novel anti-microbial system suitable for formulation in a wide variety of ophthalmic solutions. In particular the composition comprises an antimicrobial peptide that is an indolicidin and a buffer compatible with application to a mammalian eye, wherein the buffer is a Good's buffer or the buffer has a halide ion concentration less than 0.85 wt %. The compositions are useful for storing, cleaning, or disinfecting a contact lens. In particular the compositions are self-preserving upon lengthy storage, effective in cleaning and sterilizing contact lenses upon exposure of the lens to the composition, do not require the need for physical or thermal treatment of the lens and enable the immediate application of the lens to the eye without the need for neutralization, deactivation or washing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for effectively inhibiting inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In other aspects, this invention relates to methods of reducing or inhibiting granulomas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for effectively inhibiting unwanted angiogenesis. More particularly, this invention relates to methods of treating diseases that show unwanted angiogenesis and to delivering anti-angiogenic activity to a mammal. In other aspects this invention relates to methods of reducing the level of tumor necrosis factor .alpha..

Abstract: Substantially pure, pyrogen-free beta-1,3-glucan is produced by cultivating Euglena cells in a defined growth medium and under specified conditions that provide a cell mass comprising 70% to 90% beta-1,3-glucan on a dry weight basis, separating the cell mass from the supernatant, extracting the cell mass with methanol and chloroform, acid-washing the extracted cell mass, and washing the acid-treated material with water.

Abstract: Non-phytotoxic roots coating compositions comprising a polymer, VAM propagules, and a fungicide that selectively inhibits pathogenic fungi are provided. Also provided are methods of coating plant roots with the aforesaid composition and plants comprising roots coated with a polymer containing VAM propagules and a fungicide.In an alternative approach, the roots are first rolled in a dried polymer composition and then dipped in a suspension of VAM propagules, or attached to a film which is a dried polymer containing a spore suspension.