Abstract: This invention provides an antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell with an appropriate CD4+ cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1. This antibody is then used to identify a molecule which is important for HIV infection. Different uses of the antibody and the molecule are described.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition which comprises an admixture of three compounds, wherein: (a) one compound is an antibody which binds to a CCR5 receptor; (b) one compound retards attachment of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by retarding binding of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 on the surface of the CD4+ cell; and (c) one compound retards gp41 from adopting a conformation capable of mediating fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by binding noncovalently to an epitope on a gp41 fusion intermediate; wherein the relative mass ratio of any two of the compounds in the admixture ranges from about 100:1 to about 1:100, the composition being effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell. This invention also provides a method of inhibiting HIV-1 infection of a CD4+ cell which comprises contacting the CD4+ cell with an amount of the composition of the subject invention effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell so as to thereby inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell.

Abstract: The invention is directed an anti-CCR5 antibody which comprises (i) two light chains, each light chain comprising the expression product of a plasmid designated pVK:HuPRO140-VK (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4097), and (ii) two heavy chains, each heavy chain comprising an expression product of either a plasmid designated pVg4:HuPRO140 HG2-VH (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4098) or a plasmid designated pVg4:HuPRO140 (mutB+D+I)-VH (ATCC Deposit Designation PTA-4099) or a fragment thereof which binds to CCR5 on the surface of a human cell.

Abstract: This invention provides an antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell with an appropriate CD4+ cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1. This antibody is then used to identify a molecule which is important for HIV infection. Different uses of the antibody and the molecule are described.

Abstract: This invention provides an expression vector encoding a CD4-gamma2 chimeric heavy chain homodimer. This invention also provides an expression vector encoding the heavy chains of a CD4-IgG2 chimeric heterotetramer. Finally, this invention provides an expression vector encoding the light chains of a CD4-IgG2 chimeric heterotetramer.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of reducing an HIV infected subject's HIV-1 viral load which comprises administering to the subject an effective viral load reducing amount of an antibody which (a) binds to a CCR5 chemokine receptor and (b) inhibits fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+CCR5+cell, so as to thereby reduce the subject's HIV-1 viral load to 50% or less of the subject's HIV-1 viral load prior to administering the antibody to the subject.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of reducing an HIV infected subject's HIV-1 viral load which comprises administering to the subject an effective viral load reducing amount of an antibody which (a) binds to a CCR5 chemokine receptor and (b) inhibits fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+CCR5+ cell, so as to thereby reduce the subject's HIV-1 viral load to 50% or less of the subject's HIV-1 viral load prior to administering the antibody to the subject.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which comprises a nucleotide segment having a sequence encoding a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention also provides a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention further provides methods of treating HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV infection of a cell susceptible to HCV infection which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of a compound effective to inhibit binding of an HCV envelope glycoprotein to a DC-SIGN protein present on the surface of the cell, so as to thereby inhibit HCV infection of the cell susceptible to HCV infection. This invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV infection of a cell susceptible to HCV infection which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of a compound effective to inhibit binding of an HCV envelope glycoprotein to a DC-SIGNR protein present on the surface of the cell, so as to thereby inhibit HCV infection of the cell susceptible to HCV infection. Compounds of the present invention inhibit HCV infection of cells susceptible to HCV infection.

Abstract: This invention provides: agents determined to be capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell, but not a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell; and agents determined to be capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell, but not a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell. This invention also provides: agents capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a macrophage tropic primary isolate of HIV-1 with a CD+ cell susceptible to infection by a macrophage-tropic primary isolate of HIV-1; and agents capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1 with a CD4+ cell susceptible to infection by a T cell-tropic isolate of HIV-1. The agents include but are not limited to antibodies.

Abstract: Methods for treating constipation are provided. The methods include administration of peripheral opioid antagonists in combination with laxatives and/or stool softeners. Patients treatable by the invention include those refractory to conventional laxative and stool softener therapy.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition for inhibiting HIV-1 infection comprising at least two compounds in synergistically effective amounts for inhibiting HIV-1 infection, wherein at least one of the compounds prevents the productive interaction between HIV-1 and an HIV-1 fusion co-receptor. This invention also provides a composition which inhibits fusion of HIV-1 or an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell to a target cell, comprising at least two compounds in synergistically effective amounts for inhibiting fusion of HIV-1 or an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell to a target cell, wherein at least one of the compounds prevents the productive interaction between HIV-1 and an HIV-1 fusion co-receptor. This invention also provides a method of treating a subject afflicted with HIV-1 which comprises administering to the subject an effective dose of said compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which comprises a nucleotide segment having a sequence encoding a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention also provides a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention further provides methods of treating HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The invention includes stable multimeric, particularly dimeric, forms of PSMA protein, compositions and kits containing dimeric PSMA protein as well as methods of producing, purifying and using these compositions. Such methods include methods for eliciting or enhancing an immune reponse to cells expressing PSMA, including methods of producing antibodies to dimeric PSMA, as well as methods of treating cancer, such as prostate cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapeutic methods using compositions including immunotoxins based on antibodies that specifically bind the B cell membrane protein CD19. Anti-CD19 immunotoxins, compositions containing such immunotoxins, and methods for using the immunotoxins are provided. Use of immunotoxins in the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of various disorders also is provided.

Abstract: This invention provides an immunoconjugate which comprises 1) a non-peptidyl toxin and 2) a CD4-gamma2 chimeric heavy chain homodimer linked thereto. This invention also provides an immunoconjugate which comprises 1) a gamma radiation-emitting radionuclide of low to moderate cytotoxicity and 2) a CD4-gamma2 chimeric heavy chain homodimer linked thereto. This invention further provides an immunoconjugate which comprises 1) a non-peptidyl toxin and 2) a heterotetramer comprising two heavy chains and two light chains, both heavy chains being either a) IgG2 heavy chains or b) chimeric CD4-IgG2 heavy chains, and both light chains being either a) kappa light chains or b) chimeric CD4-kappa light chains.

Abstract: This invention provides a polypeptide comprising a fragment of a chemokine receptor capable of inhibiting HIV-1 infection. In an embodiment, the chemokine receptor is C—C CKR-5. In another embodiment, the fragment comprises at least one extracellular domain of the chemokine receptor C—C CKR-5. This invention further provides different uses of the chemokine receptor for inhibiting HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition which comprises an admixture of two compounds, wherein one compound retards attachment of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by retarding binding of HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 on the surface of the CD4+ cell and the other compound retards gp41 from adopting a conformation capable of mediating fusion of HIV-1 to a CD4+ cell by binding noncovalently to an epitope on a gp41 fusion intermediate, wherein the relative mass ratio of the compounds in the admixture ranges from about 100:1 to about 1:100, the composition being effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell. This invention also provides a method of inhibiting HIV-1 infection of a CD4+ cell which comprises contacting the CD4+ cell with an amount of the above composition effective to inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell so as to thereby inhibit HIV-1 infection of the CD4+ cell.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which comprises a nucleotide segment having a sequence encoding a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention also provides a viral envelope protein comprising a viral surface protein and a corresponding viral transmembrane protein wherein the viral envelope protein contains one or more mutations in amino acid sequence that enhance the stability of the complex formed between the viral surface protein and transmembrane protein. This invention further provides methods of treating HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The invention includes antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof which bind specifically to conformational epitopes on the extracellular domain of PSMA, compositions containing one or a combination of such antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, hybridoma cell lines that produce the antibodies, and methods of using the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The invention also includes oligomeric forms of PSMA proteins, compositions comprising the multimers, and antibodies that selectively bind to the multimers.