Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the treatment or inhibition of diseases associated with HIV-1 infection. In particular, the present invention identifies a protein, which is secreted by macrophages as a result of HIV infection. The secreted protein induces apoptosis in neuronal cells, as well as T cells and B cell. The protein is specifically expressed in the neuronal tissue of HAD patients but not in the neuronal tissue of patients with non-HIV associated dementia. Methods and compositions for decreasing, inhibiting, or otherwise abrogating neuronal cell apoptosis that leads to HIV-1 associated dementia are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for use in the intervention of diseases associated with HIV infection. In exemplary embodiments, methods and compositions for the treatment of HIV associated nephropathy (HIVAN) are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tumor suppressor gene, SSeCKS. The SSeCKS gene product is a substrate of protien kinase C and acts as a mitogenic regulator and as an inhibitor of the transformed phenotype. In various embodiments, the present invention relates to the SSeCKS gene and protein and in particular, to rat and human SSeCKS gene and protein. Furthermore, the present invention provides for the use of such genes and proteins in diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tumor suppressor gene, SSeCKSS. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery of a gene, hitherto referred to as "322" (Lin et al., 1995, Mol. Cell. Biol. 15:2754-2762) but now referred to as SSeCKS, which was found to be down-regulated in certain transformed cells. Further, the SSeCKS gene product was subsequently shown to be a substrate of protein kinase C. SSeCKS protein has been shown to act as a mitogenic regulator and as an inhibitor of the transformed phenotype.

Abstract: Nucleic acid oligonucleotide probes or primers that hybridize specifically and exclusively to two regions of the pol gene, identified as LV I and LV II, conserved among a wide range of lentiviruses, wherein the preferred amino acid sequences of the conserved regions are:PHPX.sub.1 GLX.sub.2 KX.sub.3 X.sub.3 X.sub.4 X.sub.5 Twherein X.sub.1 =A, P or G, X.sub.2 =K or A, X.sub.3 =K or R, X.sub.4 =S or R, and X.sub.5 =V or I; andWX.sub.1 GX.sub.2 X.sub.3 LX.sub.4 PX.sub.5 KWX.sub.6wherein X.sub.1 =M, L or I; X.sub.2 =Y, F or T; X.sub.3 =E or Q; X.sub.4 =H or W; X.sub.5 =D or T; and X.sub.6 =T or K. Methods of use of the probes and primers in the detection of lentiviral genomic sequences in biological samples and the termination of replication of lentiviruses are also included.