Abstract: The present invention describes methods of controlling and regulating the inflammatory reaction generated in response to various toxins, immunogens, pathogens and autoimmune insults. The method employs a vector that includes an anti-cytokine protein or antibacterial protein gene under the control of a cytokine responsive promoter. In animal models, adenoviral vectors successfully delivered the vectors to hepatic cells and were subsequently shown to respond only to stimulation by induced cytokines.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods of controlling and regulating the inflammatory reaction generated in response to various toxins, immunogens, pathogens and autoimmune insults. The method employs a vector that includes an anti-cytokine protein or antibacterial protein gene under the control of a cytokine responsive promoter. In animal models, adenoviral vectors successfully delivered the vectors to hepatic cells and were subsequently shown to respond only to stimulation by induced cytokines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting gram-negative bacterial endotoxin using antibody capture combined with amoebocyte lysate chromogenic detection. The method is highly sensitive and rapid and may be used for detection of specific endotoxin. In a particular application, picogram levels of Haemophilus influenzae type b endotoxin are detected in plasma taken from previously infected mammals. In another particular application, the method is applied to the detection and diagnosis of disease, through the detection of endotoxin from disease-causing organisms. A specific example is the diagnosis of chancroid through the detection of endotoxin from H. ducreyi.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing acyloxyacyl hydrolase. The protein is produced from eukaryotic host cells transformed or transfected with DNA construct(s) containing information necessary to direct the expression of acyloxyacyl hydrolase. The DNA constructs generally include the following operably linked elements: a transcriptional promoter; DNA sequence encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase, the small subunit of acyloxyacyl hydrolase or the large subunit of acyloxyacyl hydrolase; and a transcriptional terminator. In addition, isolated DNA sequences encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase and isolated DNA sequences encoding the small or large subunit of acyloxyacyl hydrolase are disclosed.

Abstract: An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids from their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being bound in turn to LPS glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight by gel exclusion chromatography between about 50,000 Daltons and about 70,000 Daltons.Altered bacterial LPS substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of LPS lipid A are produced. Since the structure of the lipid A moiety is highly conserved, acThe U.S. Government may have rights in the present invention because the development was partially supported by NIH grant R01 AI18188 from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting gram-negative bacterial endotoxin using antibody capture combined with amoebocyte lysate chromogenic detection. The method is highly sensitive and rapid and may be used for detection of specific endotoxin. In a particular application, picogram levels of Haemophilus influenzae are detected in plasma taken from previously infected mammals.

Abstract: An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids from their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being being bound in turn to lipopolysaccharide glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight by gel exclusion chromatography between about 50,000 Daltons and about 70,000 Daltons, and a molecular weight by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecylsulphate, using reduced molecular weight standards, of approximately 54,000 to 60,000 Daltons.Altered bacterial lipopolysaccharide substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of lipopolysaccharide lipid A are produced.

Abstract: An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids form their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being bound in turn to LPS glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight between about 50,000 daltons and about 70,000 daltons.Altered bacterial LPS substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of LPS lipid A are produced. Since the structure of the lipid A moiety is highly conserved, acyloxyacyl hydrolase may act on LPS of many different pathogenic bacteria (for example Salmonella, Escherichia, Hemophilus, and Neisseria).