Abstract: Disclosed herein are DNA molecules isolated from Streptococcus agalactiae and other bacterial species encoding a bifunctional enzyme with ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities. Also disclosed are bifunctional enzymes with ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities, uses of bifunctional enzymes with ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities, uses of inhibitors of bifunctional enzymes with ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities, and uses of DNA molecules encoding bifunctional enzymes encoding enzymes with ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include ?-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the ?-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated. Treatments to increase nitrosative stress defenses include repeated administrations of low doses of manipullators of nitrosative stress so that subject treated has increased tolerance to nitrosative stress.

Abstract: Novel antimicrobial compositions containing analogues of L-methionine-SR-sulfoximine (MSO) that are effective in treating intracellular pathogen infections are provided. Specifically, the compostions provided are MSO analogues having superior antimicrobial activity with significantly less toxicity as compared to MSO. These MSO analogues are suitable for use in treating infection in animals including primates, cows, pigs, horses, rabbits, mice, rats, cats, and dogs. Moreover, the MSO analogues are ideally suited for treating infections caused by the genus Mycobacterium. Additionally, methods for using the novel MSO analogues are also provided.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth (for example certain cancers, restenosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy) by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include &agr;-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the &agr;-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl-contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In another invention herein, mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated.

Abstract: Asthma is ameliorated, and mild or moderate asthma is prevented from progressing to more severe asthma by administering agents which prevent and/or accommodate for S-nitrosothiol breakdown. The method reduces requirements for systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of severe asthma.

Abstract: Asthma is ameliorated, and mild or moderate asthma is prevented from progressing to more severe asthma by administering agents which prevent and/or accommodate for S-nitrosothiol breakdown.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include &agr;-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoxmines wherein the &agr;-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated. Treatments to increase nitrosative stress defenses include repeated administrations of low doses of manipulators of nitrosative stress so that the subject treated has increased tolerance to nitrosative stress.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth (for example, certain cancers, restenosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy) by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include &agr;-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the &agr;-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl- contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In another invention herein, mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth (for example, certain cancers, restenosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy) by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include &agr;-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the &agr;-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl- contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In another invention herein, mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated.

Abstract: Paraquat has been found to accept electrons from nitric oxide synthase (NOS) whereupon the reduced paraquat generates toxic O2− and prevents NOS from giving electrons to arginine and thereby inhibits NO production. This is generalized for compounds with a redox potential greater than nitric oxide synthase. The compounds inhibit nitric oxide synthase and kill cells including NOS by generating O2− and also by depriving the cells of the NO which they need. Applications include treating paraquat-induced injury and pathologically proliferating cells (tumors, restenosis benign prostatic hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, infective pathogens).

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infection or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth (for example, certain cancers, restenosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy) by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include &agr;-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the &agr;-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl- contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In another invention herein, mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated.

Abstract: Selective and irreversible inhibitors of neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase catalyzed production of nitric oxide are L-ornithine or L-lysine derivatives having the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is H or (CH.sub.2).sub.r CH.sub.3 where r ranges from 0 to 15, x is 1 or 2, R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H) (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 where y ranges from 0 to 5, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H) (CH.sub.2).sub.z CH.sub.3 where z ranges from 0 to 5, R is H or (CH.sub.2).sub.s CH.sub.3 where s ranges from 0 to 5, with none or only one of R, R' and R" providing an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, R.sup.III is OH or is an alkoxy group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or is an amino acid or peptide attached in amide linkage through its free .alpha.-amino group, and R.sup.IV is --H or an acyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or is an amino acid or peptide attached in amide linkage through its free .alpha.-carboxylate group, and mixtures thereof with corresponding D-isomers. A preferred compound is N.sup.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth (for example, certain cancers, restenosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy) by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include .alpha.-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the .alpha.-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl-contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In another invention herein, mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for prophylaxis or treatment of an animal for systemic hypotension induced by endotoxin and/or a biological response modifier such as the cytokines, IFN, TNF, IL-1 or IL-2 and the like. The method involves administering, preferably intravascularly, a therapeutically effective amount of dobutamine and an inhibitor of nitric oxide formation from arginine.

Abstract: A method for prophylaxis or treatment of an animal for systemic hypotension induced by internal nitrogen oxide production. The method involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of certain arginine derivatives to inhibit nitrogen oxide formation from arginine. Preferably N.sup.G -substituted arginine or an N.sup.G,N.sup.G -disubstituted arginine (having at least one hydrogen on a terminal guanidino amino group replaced by another atomic species) is administered to an animal possibly developing or already having such induced systemic hypotension. The arginine derivatives are preferably of the L configuration and include pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts. Prophylaxis or treatment of systemic hypotension in a patient which has been induced by chemotherapeutic treatment with biologic response modifiers such as tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-2 may be accomplished. Treatment of an animal for systemic hypotension induced by endotoxin, i.e.

Abstract: Administration of argininosuccinate synthetase activity reducing agents, e.g., argininosuccinate synthetase induction blocking agents (e.g., antibiotics that bind to DNA sequences present in the upstream regulatory region of the argininosuccinate synthetase gene, such as mithramycin) and argininosuccinate synthetase inhibitors (e.g., L-citrulline antagonists such as methyl citrulline and L-aspartate antagonists such as D-aspartate) is useful to prevent or treat sepsis or cytokine-induced systemic hypotension, is useful in the treatment of sepsis or cytokine-induced systemic hypotension to restore vascular sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 -adrenergic agonists, and is useful to suppress an immune response, e.g., in treating inflammation. In one embodiment, certain argininosuccinate synthetase activity reducing agents are used together with arginine antagonists to treat sepsis or cytokine induced hypotension.

Abstract: L-amino acid oxidase is utilized to reduce the plasma level of large neutral amino acids to allow the opportunity of increased large neutral amino acid drug transport across the blood brain barrier. Preferably anti L-amino acid oxidase antibody is administered intermediate to the L-amino acid oxidase and large neutral amino acid drug administrations to deplete L-amino acid oxidase activity once the L-amino acid oxidase has caused the large neutral amino acid drug transport improving level plasma reduction of large neutral amino acids thereby to reduce or eliminate degrading of large neutral amino acid drugs by L-amino acid oxidase. The large neutral amino acid drugs include levodopa, melphalan, L-DON, azaserine, acivicin, L-alanosine and 3-(phosphonomethyl)phenylalanines. For treatment of brain tumors, the drug administration is preferably preceded by the administration of a large neutral amino acid glutathione depleting agent, e.g., L-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric oxide formation from arginine useful for treating hypotension, inflammation, stroke and to restore vascular contractile sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 adrenergic agonists are physiologically active compounds including N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties or monoalkyl carbon-substituted N.sup..delta. -substituted ornithine or N.sup..epsilon. -substituted lysine moieties, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3 or H, R' is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, and R" is CH.sub.2 or C(H)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3, with y ranging from 0 to 5, and x is 0 or 1 and wherein none or only one of R, R' and R" provides an alkyl substituent on ornithine or lysine moiety, and wherein Q is a heme binding moiety and/or a sulfur-containing binding moiety and Q' is --NH.sub.2 when there is a double bond between the omega carbon and Q and Q' is .dbd.

Abstract: Administration of argininosuccinate synthetase activity reducing agents, e.g., argininosuccinate synthetase induction blocking agents (e.g., antibiotics that bind to DNA sequences present in the upstream regulatory region of the argininosuccinate synthetase gene, such as mithramycin) and argininosuccinate synthetase inhibitors (e.g., L-citrulline antagonists such as methyl citrulline and L-aspartate antagonists such as D-aspartate) is useful to prevent or treat sepsis or cytokine-induced systemic hypotension, is useful in the treatment of sepsis or cytokine-induced systemic hypotension to restore vascular sensitivity to the effects of .alpha..sub.1 -adrenergic agonists, and is useful to suppress an immune response, e.g., in treating inflammation. In one embodiment, certain argininosuccinate synthetase activity reducing agents are used together with arginine antagonists to treat sepsis or cytokine induced hypotension.

Abstract: An anti-hypotensive formulation comprising an essentially arginine-free or low arginine (less than about 0.1%, most preferably, about 0.01%) containing mixture of amino acids is provided. The invention in particular embodiments of the anti-hypotensive formulation includes ornithine, citrulline or both. A method for prophylaxis and treatment of systemic hypotension in an animal is provided. Most particularly, a method for treating hypotension caused by nitric oxide synthesis through administering a low or essentially arginine-free parenteral formulation to an animal, so as to reduce or eliminate nitric oxide synthesis is described. A method for treating an animal in septic shock is also disclosed, comprising administering to the animal an anti-hypotensive formulation comprising a mixture of amino acids, which is essentially arginine free.