Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to novel multispecific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) proteins and DNA sequences encoding these proteins. The CARs comprise at least two extracellular domains fused, via a transmembrane domain to a cytoplasmic signaling domain comprising two signaling domains. The disclosure further relates to nucleic acids encoding the novel CARs, to host cells expressing the novel CARs, and to methods of using the CARs to co-stimulate effector functions in the cells and for using cells expressing the receptors for treatment of disease and viral infections. The disclosure also relates to methods of generating a recombinant T cell with reduced susceptibility to HIV infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to novel multispecific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) proteins and DNA sequences encoding these proteins. The CARs comprise at least two extracellular domains fused, via a transmembrane domain to a cytoplasmic signaling domain comprising two signaling domains. The disclosure further relates to nucleic acids encoding the novel CARs, to host cells expressing the novel CARs, and to methods of using the CARs to co-stimulate effector functions in the cells and for using cells expressing the receptors for treatment of disease and viral infections. The disclosure also relates to methods of generating a recombinant T cell with reduced susceptibility to HIV infection.

Abstract: Provided herein is a mammalian cell transformed to contain a plasmid encoding a T7 or SP6 promoter operably linked to one or more HCV genes, a subgenomic replicon from a flavivirus and a cytoplasmic T7 and SP6 RNA amplification system. Also provided herein are isolated replication-competent HCV particles produced by the method comprising the steps of providing a transformed mammalian cell according to the first embodiment, culturing the cell, and recovering the replication-competent HCV particles from the cell culture. Provided herein are isolated HCV structural proteins produced by the method comprising the steps of providing a transformed mammalian cell according to the first embodiment, culturing the cell, and recovering the HCV structural proteins from the cell culture.

Abstract: This invention relates to bispecific fusion proteins effective in viral neutralization. More specifically, such proteins have two different binding domains, an inducing-binding domain and an induced-binding domain, functionally linked by a peptide linker. Such proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding them, and their production and use in preventing or treating viral infections are provided. One prototypical bispecific fusion protein is sCD4-SCFv(17b), in which a soluble CD4 fragment (containing domains D1 and D2) is fused to a single chain Fv portion of antibody 17b via a linker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication instrument mounting apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having one or more mounting members shaped to engage the rear portion of a communication instrument. The mounting bracket of the present invention provides mounting sleeves for receiving mounting members. Such sleeves may be utilized to releasably attach the mounting bracket of the present invention directly to a mounting surface and/or a conventional input junction box. The mounting member of the present invention provides walls defining at least one cavity through which input cables may be inserted. In one embodiment, the cavity of the present invention has a generally rectangular configuration and is positioned upon the mounting bracket so as to be adjacent to one or more attachment ports of the instrument. The relative positioning of the cavity allows cables to be connected and/or disconnected in a convenient manner.

Abstract: Provided herein is a mammalian cell transformed to contain a plasmid encoding a T7 or SP6 promoter operably linked to one or more HCV genes, a subgenomic replicon from a flavivirus and a cytoplasmic T7 and SP6 RNA amplification system. Also provided herein are isolated replication-competent HCV particles produced by the method comprising the steps of providing a transformed mammalian cell according to the first embodiment, culturing the cell, and recovering the replication-competent HCV particles from the cell culture. Provided herein are isolated HCV structural proteins produced by the method comprising the steps of providing a transformed mammalian cell according to the first embodiment, culturing the cell, and recovering the HCV structural proteins from the cell culture.

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication instrument mounting apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having one or more mounting members shaped to engage the rear portion of a communication instrument. The mounting bracket of the present invention provides mounting sleeves for receiving mounting members. Such sleeves may be utilized to releasably attach the mounting bracket of the present invention directly to a mounting surface and/or a conventional input junction box. The mounting member of the present invention provides walls defining at least one cavity through which input cables may be inserted. In one embodiment, the cavity of the present invention has a generally rectangular configuration and is positioned upon the mounting bracket so as to be adjacent to one or more attachment ports of the instrument. The relative positioning of the cavity allows cables to be connected and/or disconnected in a convenient manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a telephone mounting apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having one or more mounting members shaped to engage the rear portion of a telephone. The mounting bracket of the present invention provides mounting sleeves having a hollow cylindrical bore for receiving screw members. Such sleeves may be utilized to releasably attach the mounting bracket of the present invention directly to a mounting surface and/or a conventional telephone mounting box. The mounting member of the present invention provides walls defining at least one cavity through which phone cables may be inserted. In one embodiment, the cavity of the present invention has a generally rectangular configuration and is positioned upon the mounting bracket so as to be adjacent to one or more attachment ports of the telephone. The relative positioning of the cavity allows cables to be connected and/or disconnected in a convenient manner.

Abstract: An SMS message can be received from a requesting device displaying a digital image of a region of interest that requests a traffic update, characterizes a region of interest and identifying a communications service provider associated with the requesting device. Thereafter, traffic information can be collected for the traffic region of interest. Once that traffic information is collected, a plurality of SMS messages can be sent that contain the traffic information to the requesting device via an SMS gateway associated with the communications service provider to enable a plurality of traffic designation points overlaid on the digital image of the region of interest to be displayed with the traffic information. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: This invention relates to bispecific fusion proteins effective in viral neutralization. More specifically, such proteins have two different binding domains, an inducing-binding domain and an induced-binding domain, functionally linked by a peptide linker. Such proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding them, and their production and use in preventing or treating viral infections are provided. One prototypical bispecific fusion protein is sCD4-SCFv(17b), in which a soluble CD4 fragment (containing domains D1 and D2) is fused to a single chain Fv portion of antibody 17b via a linker.

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: This invention relates to bispecific fusion proteins effective in viral neutralization. More specifically, such proteins have two different binding domains, an inducing-binding domain and an induced-binding domain, functionally linked by a peptide linker. Such proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding them, and their production and use in preventing or treating viral infections are provided. One prototypical bispecific fusion protein is sCD4-SCFv(17b), in which a soluble CD4 fragment (containing domains D1 and D2) is fused to a single chain Fv portion of antibody 17b via a linker.

Abstract: The susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on the cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and a human fusion accessory factor associated with HIV infection (CXCR4). CXCR4 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CXCR4 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of HIV infection. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CXCR4 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection and the development of more effective anti-HIV therapeutics. In addition, antibodies against CXCR4, isolated and purified peptide fragments of CXCR4, and CXCR4-binding biologic agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics.

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: The susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on the cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and a human fusion accessory factor associated with HIV infection (STRL33). STRL33 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. STRL33 plays a role in the membrane fusion step of HIV infection for both TCL-tropic and M-tropic variants of HIV. The invention provides STRL33 polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences encoding STRL33 polypeptide. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and STRL33 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection and the development of more effective anti-HIV therapeutics. In addition, antibodies against STRL33, isolated and purified peptide fragments of STRL33, and STRL33-binding biologic agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics.

Abstract: The susceptibility of human macrophages to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and CC cytokine receptor 5. CCR5 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CCR5 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of infection by some HIV isolates. The establishment of stable, nonhuman cell lines and transgenic mammals having cells that coexpress human CD4 and CCR5 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection. In addition, antibodies which bind to CCR5, CCR5 variants, and CCR5-binding agents, capable of blocking membrane fusion between HIV and target cells represent potential anti-HIV therapeutics for macrophage-tropic strains of HIV.

Abstract: The susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depends on the cell surface expression of the human CD4 molecule and a human fusion accessory factor associated with HIV infection (CXCR4). CXCR4 is a member of the 7-transmembrane segment superfamily of G-protein-coupled cell surface molecules. CXCR4 plays an essential role in the membrane fusion step of HIV infection. The establishment of stable cell lines that coexpress human CD4 and CXCR4 provides valuable tools for the continuing research of HIV infection and the development of more effective anti-HIV therapeutics.