Abstract: Recombinant retroviruses carrying a vector construct capable of preventing, inhibiting, stabilizing or reversing infectious, cancerous or auto-immune diseases are disclosed. More specifically, the recombinant retroviruses of the present invention are useful for (a) stimulating a specific immune response to an antigen or a pathogenic antigen; (b) inhibiting a function of a pathogenic agent, such as a virus; and (c) inhibiting the interaction of an agent with a host cell receptor. In addition, eucaryotic cells infected with, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such a recombinant retrovirus are disclosed. Various methods for producing recombinant retroviruses having unique characteristics, and methods for producing transgenic packaging animals or insects are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of preventing tissue damage associated with decreased blood flow in a human by administering AICA riboside or a prodrug thereof in an amount which provides a blood plasma concentration of between 1 .mu.g/ml and 20 .mu.g/ml of AICA riboside for a time sufficient to reduce the risk of said tissue damage in said human. Methods of preventing an adverse clinical outcome, such as an adverse cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular event, in a patient at risk for such outcome by administering AICA riboside or a prodrug thereof in an amount which provides a blood plasma concentration of between 1 .mu.g/ml and 20 .mu.g/ml of AICA riboside for a time sufficient to reduce the risk for said patient.

Abstract: Analogs of 5-amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICA riboside) are provided which are useful in increasing extracellular levels of adenosine.

Abstract: A method, and groups of cells and retroviruses useful in the performance of the method, for testing for the presence or amount of a first retrovirus in a specimen is disclosed. A replication defective retroviral construct having a marker sequence is exposed to the specimen and the presence or amount of a recombinant retrovirus carrying the marker sequence is determined. The replication defective vector may be disposed in cells, with the specimen being tested for the presence or amount of a retrovirus, or it may be disposed in a retrovirus, with the specimen being a group of cells which are tested for the presence or amount of a first retrovirus. In either case, where a first retrovirus complements the defective vector, a recombinant retrovirus carrying the marker sequence will be produced. The first retrovirus to be tested for may be of a previously known, or unknown type, and may be any of a group of retroviruses.

Abstract: Novel diazepine derivatives which selectively inhibit adenosine monophosphate deaminase and methods of preparing these compounds are provided. These compounds are useful in treating certain conditions in vivo which may be ameliorated by increased local concentrations of adenosine.

Abstract: Recombinant retroviruses carrying a vector construct capable of preventing, inhibiting, stabilizing or reversing infectious, cancerous or auto-immune diseases are disclosed. More specifically, the recombinant retroviruses of the present invention are useful for (a) stimulating a specific immune response to an antigen or a pathogenic antigen; (b) inhibiting a function of a pathogenic agent, such as a virus; and (c) inhibiting the interaction of an agent with a host cell receptor. In addition, eucaryotic cells infected with, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such a recombinant retrovirus are disclosed. Various methods for producing recombinant retroviruses having unique characteristics, and methods for producing transgenic packaging animals or insects are also disclosed.

Abstract: AICA riboside and prodrugs of AICA riboside are provided which lower blood glucose for the treatment of various pathologic conditions, including hypoglycemia, insulin deficiency, insulin resistance diabetes and Syndrome X. Prodrugs of AICA riboside provide AICA riboside in an orally bioavailable form. The use of adenosine kinase inhibition and ZMP enhancement for lowering blood glucose are also described.

Abstract: Novel compounds which selectively inhibit adenosine kinase and methods of preparing adenosine kinase inhibitors are provided. Also provided are methods of treating various inflammatory conditions, including arthritis and SIRS, which may be ameliorated by increased local concentrations of adenosine using adenosine kinase inhibitors.

Abstract: A method, and groups of cells and retroviruses useful in the performance of the method, of testing for the presence or amount of a first retrovirus in a specimen. A replication defective retroviral construct having a marker sequence is exposed to the specimen and the presence or amount of a recombinant retrovirus carrying the marker sequence is tested for. The replication defective vector may be disposed in cells, with the specimen being tested for the presence or amount of a retrovirus, or it may be disposed in a retrovirus, with the specimen being a group of cells which are tested for the presence or amount of said first retrovirus. In either case, where a first retrovirus complements the defective vector, a recombinant retrovirus carrying the marker sequence will be produced. The first retrovirus to be tested for may be of a previously known, or unknown type, and may be any of a group of retroviruses.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for preventing neural tissue damage caused by injury to the central nervous system (CNS) by the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an adenosinergic agent. One aspect of the invention is directed toward continuous administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an adenosinergic agent for a period of time sufficient to prevent neural tissue damage. In another aspect of the present invention, the adenosinergic agents may be administered on several occasions during the prolonged period of treatment, so long as the doses of adenosinergic agents are spaced in time so that a therapeutically effective concentration of adenosinergic agent is maintained for a period of time sufficient to prevent neural tissue damage.

Abstract: A test method for identifying for and evaluating anti-seizure activity of candidate compounds is provided which shows superior sensitivity for adenosinergic activity and which is believed to be predictive of other adenosine releasing activities for the candidate compounds.

Abstract: Methods of preventing neural tissue damage caused by excitotoxicity due to increased release of excitatory amino acids by increasing extracellular concentrations of adenosine in and around the neural tissue are provided. These methods are especially useful in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Huntington's Disease.

Abstract: Antiviral purine nucleosides, purine nucleoside analogs and prodrugs of both are provided. Also provided are methods of enhancing the antiviral activity of AZT by administering AZT in combination with such purine compounds.

Abstract: Methods for increasing extracellular concentrations of adenosine for the prophylactic or affirmative treatment of diseases of the immune, nervous, cardiac, and vascular systems involving administering to a patient purine nucleoside and purine nucleoside-related analogs which increase extracellular adenosine concentration, and methods for stabilizing mast cells by the suppression of mast cell activation using such compounds.

Abstract: Prodrugs of AICA riboside are provided which increase the bioavailability of AICA riboside and thereby increase extracellular concentrations of the prophylactic and affirmative treatment of various pathologic conditions, including ischemia. Also provided are methods of using AICA riboside prodrugs in treating such conditions.

Abstract: Methods for increasing extracellular concentrations of adenosine for the prophylactic or affirmative treatment of diseases of the immune, nervous, cardiac, and vascular systems involving administering to a patient purine nucleoside and purine nucleoside-related analogs which increase extracellular adenosine concentration, and methods for stabilizing mast cells by the suppression of mast cell activation using such compounds.

Abstract: Methods for increasing extracellular concentrations of adenosine for the prophylactic or affirmative treatment of autism involving administering to a patient purine nucleoside and purine nucleoside-related analogs which increase extracellular adenosine concentration.

Abstract: Methods for increasing extracellular concentrations of adenosine for the prophylactic or affirmative treatment of diseases of the immune, nervous, cardiac, and vascular systems involving admimistering to a patient purine nucleoside and purine nucleoside-related analogs which increase extracellular adenosine concentration, and methods for stabilizing mast cells by the suppression of mast cell activation using such compounds.