Abstract: The present invention is directed to conantokin peptides, conantokin peptide derivatives and conantokin peptide chimeras, referred to collectively as conantokins, having 10-30 amino acids, including preferably two or more &ggr;-carboxyglutamic acid residues. The contantokins are useful for the treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, such as anticonvulsant agents, neuroprotective agents or analgesic agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to kappaA (&kgr;A) conopeptides and the use of these peptides for blocking the flow of potassium ions through voltage-gated potassium channels. The &kgr;A conopeptides include unglycosylated and O-glycosylated peptides.

Abstract: A novel high availability small foot-print server is described in which four or more separate computer modules and associated power supply and communication connections or other units are clustered together in a single server chassis to occupy a limited amount of space while providing maximum accessibility for administrative, maintenance, installation, or other purposes. Each separate computer module is equipped with its own fan or blower box to provide redundancy in the case of fan or blower box failure. The server chassis is contoured to provide for natural interconnection such that more than one high availability small foot-print server may be stacked together to take up the same amount of floor, shelf, or desk space as a single server.

Abstract: The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed &agr;-conotoxins herein), about 10-25 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds. The &agr;-conotoxins, as described herein, are useful for as neuromuscular blocking agents, such as muscle relaxants.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to conantokin peptides, conantokin peptide derivatives and conantokin peptide chimeras, referred to collectively as conantokins, having 10-30 amino acids, including preferably two or more &ggr;-carboxyglutamic acid residues. The conantokins are useful for the treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, such as anticonvulsant agents, neuroprotective agents or analgesic agents.

Abstract: A novel high availability small foot-print server is described in which four or more separate computer modules and associated power supply and communication connections or other units are clustered together in a single server chassis to occupy a limited amount of space while providing maximum accessibility for administrative, maintenance, installation, or other purposes. Each separate computer module is equipped with its own fan or blower box to provide redundancy in the case of fan or blower box failure. The server chassis is contoured to provide for natural interconnection such that more than one high availability small foot-print server may be stacked together to take up the same amount of floor, shelf, or desk space as a single server.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to contulakin-G (which is the native glycosylated peptide), a des-glycosylated contulakin-G (termed Thr10-contulakin-G), and derivatives thereof, to a cDNA clone encoding a precursor of this mature peptide and to a precursor peptide. The invention is further directed to the use of this peptide as a therapeutic for anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory, anti-shock, anti-thrombus, hypotensive, analgesia, anti-psychotic, Parkinson's disease, gastrointestinal disorders, depressive states, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, tardive dyskinesia, drug dependency, panic attack, mania, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, ulcer, GI tumors, Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's chorea, vascular leakage, anti-arteriosclerosis, vascular and vasodilation disorders, as well as neurological, neuropharmalogical and neuropsychopharmacological disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed O-Superfamily conotoxins herein), about 20-40 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to contulakin-G (which is the native glycosylated peptide), a des-glycosylated contulakin-G (termed Thr10-contulakin-G), and derivatives thereof, to a cDNA clone encoding a precursor of this mature peptide and to a precursor peptide. The invention is further directed to the use of this peptide as a therapeutic for anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory, anti-shock, anti-thrombus, hypotensive, analgesia, anti-psychotic, Parkinson's disease, gastrointestinal disorders, depressive states, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, tardive dyskinesia, drug dependency, panic attack, mania, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, ulcer, GI tumors, Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's chorea, vascular leakage, anti-arteriosclerosis, vascular and vasodilation disorders, as well as neurological, neuropharmalogical and neuropsychopharmacological disorders.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to contulakin-G (which is the native glycosylated peptide), a des-glycosylated contulakin-G (termed Thr10-contulakin-G), and derivatives thereof, to a cDNA clone encoding a precursor of this mature peptide and to a precursor peptide. The invention is further directed to the use of this peptide as a therapeutic for anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory, anti-shock, anti-thrombus, hypotensive, analgesia, anti-psychotic, Parkinson's disease, gastrointestinal disorders, depressive states, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, tardive dyskinesia, drug dependency, panic attack, mania, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, ulcer, GI tumors, Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's chorea, vascular leakage, anti-arteriosclerosis, vascular and vasodilation disorders, as well as neurological, neuropharmalogical and neuropsychopharmacological disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed &agr;-conotoxins herein), about 10-25 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds. The &agr;-conotoxins, as described herein, are useful for as neuromuscular blocking agents, such as muscle relaxants.

Abstract: A thermal cycling method and device is disclosed. The device comprises a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such a the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in glass micro capillary tubes and then located inside the sample chamber. A programmable controller regulates the temperature of the sample inside the sample chamber. Once a heating cycle is completed, the controller opens a door to the chamber for venting hot air out and cool ambient air is moved in. Temperature versus time profiles corresponding to optimum denaturation, annealing and elongation temperatures for amplification of DNA are achieved by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having 6-12 amino acids, preferably including one or more D-tryptophan or D-leucine residues. The peptides of the present invention are generically termed "contryphans," although the D-leucine containing contryphans are sometimes referred to as leu-contryphans. More specifically, the present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having the general formula Xaa.sub.1 -Cys-Xaa.sub.2 -Xaa.sub.3 -Xaa.sub.4 -Pro-Xaa.sub.5 -Cys (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein Xaa.sub.1 is any amino acid or des-Xaa.sub.1, Xaa.sub.2 is Pro, 4-trans-hydroxyproline or Val, Xaa.sub.3 is D-Trp, L-Trp, D-Leu or L-Leu, preferably D-Trp or D-Leu, Xaa.sub.4 is any amino acid and Xaa.sub.5 is Trp or Tyr. When the peptide contains Xaa.sub.1, it is preferably Gly, Glu, or Lys, most preferably Gly. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Trp, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Pro or 4-trans-hydroxyproline. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Leu, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Val.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having 6-12 amino acids, preferably including one or more D-tryptophan or D-leucine residues. The peptides of the present invention are generically termed "contryphans," although the D-leucine containing contryphans are sometimes referred to as leu-contryphans. More specifically, the present invention is directed to contryphan peptides having the general formula Xaa.sub.1 -Cys-Xaa.sub.2 -Xaa.sub.3 -Xaa.sub.4 -Pro-Xaa.sub.5 -Cys (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein Xaa.sub.1, is any amino acid or des-Xaa.sub.1, Xaa.sub.2 is Pro, 4-trans-hydroxyproline or Val, Xaa.sub.3 is D-Trp, L-Trp, D-Leu or L-Leu, preferably D-Trp or D-Leu, Xaa.sub.4 is any amino acid and Xaa.sub.5 is Trp or Tyr. When the peptide contains Xaa.sub.1, it is preferably Gly, Glu, or Lys, most preferably Gly. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Trp, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Pro or 4-trans-hydroxyproline. When Xaa.sub.3 is D- or L-Leu, Xaa.sub.2 is preferably Val.

Abstract: Substantially pure conotoxin peptides are provided which inhibit synaptic transmissions at the neuromuscular junctions and which are useful both in vivo and in assays because they specifically target particular skeletal nAChRs to the exclusion of neuronal nAChRs. The peptides are of such length that they can be made by chemical synthesis, and the preferred peptides have formula: H-His-4Hyp-4Hyp-Cys-Cys-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Cys-Arg-Arg-Tyr-4Hyp-Gly-Cys-Ser-S er-Ala-Ser-Cys-Cys-Gln-Xaa.sub.24 -NH.sub.2 wherein Xaa.sub.24 is Arg or Gly.

Abstract: A method for separating, identifying and purifying small, conotoxin-like rigidly conformed peptides ("conopeptides") containing multiple Cys residues comprises forming a conoeffector library, each member of which has a nucleic acid encoding a potential conopeptide sequence. The conoeffectors are expressed such that they are exposed on the surface of a bacteriophage. These bacteriophage are screened for binding to a target protein molecule, and receptors in particular, to separate and bind phage having affinity for the target protein. Reiterative screening, if required, is used to enrich and yield a phage carrying the bound conopeptide of the desired specificity and affinity. The enriched phage are then subjected to DNA sequencing to determine the conopeptide sequence including the position of the Cys residues.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a new .mu.-conotoxin named GIIIA. .mu.-Conotoxin PIIIA consists of 22 amino residues and is found in the Eastern Pacific fish-hunting species Conus purpurascens. This conotoxin is a new Na.sup.+ channel blocker and can be used to resolve tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels into three categories: 1) sensitive to .mu.-PIIIA and .mu.-conotoxin GIIIA; 2) sensitive to .mu.-PIIIA but not to .mu.-GIIIA; and 3) sensitive to neither of these two .mu.-conotoxins. In rat brain, binding competition studies between the two .mu.-conotoxins and saxitoxin suggest at least three pharmacologically distinguishable binding sites. Thus, .mu.-conotoxin PIIIA should be a key tool for distinguishing among different sodium channel subtypes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to A-lineage conotoxin peptides, which are conotoxin peptides that have strong homology in the signal sequence and the 3'-untranslated region of the genes coding for these peptides to the sequences in the .alpha.-conotoxin peptides. The A-lineage conotoxin peptides include the .alpha.-conotoxin peptides, the .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides and the .kappa.-conotoxin peptides, described further below. The .alpha.-conotoxin-peptides generally share a "core" sequence motif. This core sequence is termed the .alpha.3/5 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa- Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:1). The .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides generally share a core sequence termed the .alpha.4/7 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa- Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:2). The .kappa.-conotoxin peptides generally have a core sequence termed the .kappa.

Abstract: The invention is directed to A-lineage conotoxin peptides, which are conotoxin peptides that have strong homology in the signal sequence and the 3'-untranslated region of the genes coding for these peptides to the sequences in the .alpha.-conotoxin peptides. The A-lineage conotoxin peptides include the .alpha.-conotoxin peptides, the .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides and the .kappa.-conotoxin peptides, described further below. The .alpha.-conotoxin-peptides generally share a "core" sequence motif. This core sequence is termed the .alpha.3/5 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO: 1). The .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides generally share a core sequence termed the .alpha.4/7 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:2). The .kappa.-conotoxin peptides generally have a core sequence termed the .kappa.