Abstract: The invention features immunoconjugates for impeding weight gain and treating obesity in a subject. The immuno-conjugates comprise particular ghrelin polypeptides and a suitable carrier moiety.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods of producing an antibody phage population having affinity for a tumor cell target expressing a metastatic phenotype. The invention further relates to antibody compositions that specifically bind to a cell surface receptor on the metastatic cell.

Abstract: Methods for treating a neoplastic disease with an antibody-cytotoxin conjugate molecule, methods of synthesizing an antibody-cytotoxin conjugate molecule are provided. Compounds that are useful as antibody-cytotoxin conjugate molecule or useful in the synthesis of these molecules are also provided.

Abstract: A fluorescent dye-doped crystalline assay is employed for selection and detection of thiophilic heavy metal ions. While comparable in analytical performance to known solution based methodologies, the formation of crystalline analytes provides for signal amplification, and consequently, a powerful platform whose analysis is directly amenable to high-throughput video capture systems. In a microcapillary format, this assay is capable of screening hundreds of samples per day for the presence of subnanomolar concentrations of Hg2+ using a conventional fluorescence microscope.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods of producing an antibody phage population having affinity for a tumor cell target expressing a metastatic phenotype. The invention further relates to antibody compositions that specifically bind to a cell surface receptor on the metastatic cell.

Abstract: The invention describes the display of exogenous polypeptides on filamentous phage using a fusion between the exogenous polypeptide and phage pVII or pIX proteins. In particular, phage particles and phagemid vectors are described for expression and display of heterodimeric proteins such as antibody Fv heterodimers in combinatorial libraries, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A reaction cassette has been designed for the highly sensitive detection of the making and breaking of chemical bonds. The system may be employed as a companion device to be used in the search for antibody and other novel catalysts. The cassette also has important clinical applications in the design of diagnostic reagents. In its fully encoded format this methodology is capable of both detecting and decoding chemical events.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of immunology. More specifically, the invention relates the finding that antibodies can generate superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from singlet oxygen. Accordingly, methods and compositions able to increase or decrease oxidative stress are provided. Also provided are screening assays to identify agents that modulate the ability of a antibody to generate superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Such agents can be used therapeutically to treat patients in need. Further, the invention provides methods to use antibodies in immunoassays.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-stilbene antibody. Preferably, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. Exemplary and preferred such antibodies are designated herein as 19G2, 20F2, 21C6, 22B9, 25F8, 25E2, 23E4, 23G3, 23D3, 23C2, 25C10, 24B6, 21E2, 16H10 and 9E11. The present invention further provides hybridomas that produce and secrete anti-stilbene antibodies. An antibody of the present invention has particular utility in processes for identifying and/or locating target moieties appended to or incorporating antigenic stilbene. In one embodiment, therefore, the present invention further provides a method of detecting antigenic stilbene. The method includes the steps of exposing antigenic stilbene to an anti-stilbene antibody and detecting an anti-stilbene antibody-stilbene immunoconjugate. Such immunoconjugates can be detected using fluoroscopic procedures.

Abstract: Peptidomimetic azatides and combinatorial oligoazitide libraries are produced by means of a stepwise synthesis. Combinatorial library construction of this new biomimetic polymer provides a means to fabricate global peptidomimetic libraries.

Abstract: &bgr;-keto esters are prepared by way of a lipase-catalyzed transesterification. The synthetic methodology provides a simple scheme for the synthesis of optically active &bgr;-keto esters that are useful building blocks and starting materials for natural product synthesis. Moreover, the methodology employs mild, solvent-free conditions. The methodology may also be employed for resolving racemic alcohols.

Abstract: The invention describes the display of exogenous polypeptides on filamentous phage using a fusion between the exogenous polypeptide and phage pVII or pIX proteins. In particular, phage particles and phagemid vectors are described for expression and display of heterodimeric proteins such a antibody Fv heterodimers in combinatorial libraries, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention describes the display of exogenous polypeptides on filamentous phage using a fusion between the exogenous polypeptide and phage pVII or pIX proteins. In particular, phage particles and phagemid vectors are described for expression and display of heterodimeric proteins such a antibody Fv heterodimers in combinatorial libraries, and uses thereof.

Abstract: &bgr;-keto esters are prepared by way of a lipase-catalyzed transesterification. The synthetic methodology provides a simple scheme for the synthesis of optically active &bgr;-keto esters that are useful building blocks and starting materials for natural product synthesis. Moreover, the methodology employs mild, solvent-free conditions. The methodology may also be employed for resolving racemic alcohols.

Abstract: Polymer supports for liquid-phase organic synthesis (LPOS) are employed in a process for transferring a chemical intermediate between immiscilbe solvents. These compounds are produced with an expanded range of solubility range in a variety of solvent systems. A sequence of normal and “living” free radical polymerizations are employed to generate a library of block copolymers possessing either block or graft architecture with initiators 100, 200 and 3-4 and a diverse set of vinyl monomers 5-9. Novel bifunctional initiators are employed that have functional groups that independently produce free radical polymerizations to produce the block copolymers. Preferred functional groups include diazene (—N═N—) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) moieties tethered by ester or ether linkages.

Abstract: An anti-cocaine vaccine employs a cocaine hapten conjugated to a carrier protein. The anti-cocaine vaccine elicits an immune response which reduces the psychoactive effects of cocaine consumption by the production of anti-cocaine polyclonal antibodies. The antibodies may be employed in an ELISA test for assaying cocaine. The immune response elicited by the anti-cocaine vaccine produces antibody producing cells which may be isolated and cloned for producing anti-cocaine monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: A series of novel oxirane derivatives, which are useful for inhibiting HIV are disclosed. Particularly of value are peptidomimetic compounds, containing a terminal epoxide group on a peptide or psuedopeptide backbone, which are believed to inhibit HIV protease by extruding enzyme-bound water molecules from the active site of the enzyme.

Abstract: Molecules having covalent catalytic activity are identified by panning synthetic and semisynthetic combinatorial libraries on solid phase suicide substrates. In an alternative mode, mechanism-based inhibitors or affinity labels may substituted for the suicide substrate. Covalent catalysts within the combinatorial library form covalent conjugates with the suicide substrate, mechanism-based inhibitor, or affinity label. Covalent conjugates are immobilized by attachment to the suicide substrate to solid phase and are easily separated from unconjugated elements of the combinatorial library by stringent washing. Combinatorial libraries employing phagemid-display are particularly preferred since such phagemids include genetic material for identifying and amplifying conjugated catalysts. Covalent catalysts obtainable by this method include, inter alia, molecules having esterolytic activity, aldol condensation activity, .beta.-lactamase activity, glycosidase activity, RNase activity, and proteolytic activity.

Abstract: A peptide linkage unit is employed for joining peptide and pseudopeptide sequences, including peptides and pseudopeptides that inhibit aspartic proteinase enzymes. The peptide linkage unit includes a phosphinate methylene ammonium linkage in place of a peptidyl carboxamide bond. If the peptide linkage unit is incorporated into a peptide sequence that would otherwise serve as an aspartic proteinase substrate and if it is positioned at a cleavage site within such peptide sequence, the phosphinate methylene ammonium linkage is resistant to cleavage and serves as an exploding transition state analog of such cleavage site. When so incorporated, the phosphinate methylene ammonium linkage can bind or interfere with the active site of aspartic proteinase enzymes and inhibit its activity. Preferred inhibitors contain a phosphinic acid methylene amine group joining the P.sub.1 and P.sub.1 ' residues and have a length of 3 to about 15 amino acid residues.

Abstract: A reaction cassette has been designed for the highly sensitive detection of the making and breaking of chemical bonds. The system may be employed as a companion device to be used in the search for antibody and other novel catalysts. The cassette also has important clinical applications in the design of diagnostic reagents. In its fully encoded format this methodology is capable of both detecting and decoding chemical events.