Abstract: A method of using vaults as carrier molecules to deliver one or more than one substance to an organism, or to a specific tissue or to specific cells, or to an environmental medium. A vault-like particle. A method of preventing damage by one or more than one substance to an organism, to a specific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium, by sequestering the one or more than one substance within a vault-like particle. A method of delivering one or more than one substance or a sensor to an organism, to a specific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of making vault-like particles, and making vault-like particles comprising one or more than one substance, or one or more than one sensor.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided herein for immunizing a subject against Chlamydial genital infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a Chlamydial immunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault-like particle carrier. In some aspects, the vault-like-particles are administered to the nasal mucosa. The methods and compositions advantageously exhibit enhanced ability to induce cell-mediated immunity and/or antibody-based immunity at mucosal surfaces while reducing inflammation associated with Chlamydia infection.

Abstract: A method of using vaults as carrier molecules to deliver one or more than one substance to an organism, or to a specific tissue or to specific cells, or to an environmental medium. A vault-like particle. A method of preventing damage by one or more than one substance to an organism, to a specific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium, by sequestering the one or more than one substance within a vault-like particle. A method of delivering one or more than one substance or a sensor to an organism, to a specific tissue, to specific cells, or to an environmental medium. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of making vault-like particles, and making vault-like particles comprising one or more than one substance, or one or more than one sensor.

Abstract: A polynucleotide molecule encoding human minor vault protein p193, or its complementary strands. A purified and isolated polynucleotide molecule consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence encoding human minor vault protein p193, or its complementary strands, or a combination of a nucleotide sequence encoding human minor vault protein p193 and its complementary strands.

Abstract: A protein consisting essentially of purified human minor vault protein p193 or purified biologically active variants thereof, or a combination of purified human minor vault protein p193 and biologically active variants thereof. Also, a polynucleotide molecule encoding a protein which consists essentially of human minor vault protein p193, or its complementary strands. Further, there is provided a method of diagnosing and a method of treating patients with multidrug resistant cancer.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding a human vault-associated vRNA or its complementary strand. A purified and isolated polynucleotide molecule consisting essentially of a human vault RNA, or its complementary strands, or a combination of a nucleotide sequence consisting essentially of a human vault RNA and its complementary strands. A method of diagnosing a patient with a multidrug-resistant cancer. A method of treating a patient with multidrug-resistant cancer. A composition for treating multidrug-resistant cancer comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes with a human vault-associated vRNA. A method of screening for compositions for treating a patient with multidrug-resistant cancer.