Abstract: The discovery of simple, nontoxic, and pharmaceutically defined methods for genetic modification of cells and tissues would enable development of a variety of molecular medicines. “Free”, ‘direct’, or ‘naked’ polynucleotide administration is a simple, apparently safe, and pharmaceutically defined polynucleotide delivery method. Murine, macaque, and clinical human experiments have demonstrated transfection of various tissues, such as respiratory tissues, after direct application of ‘free’ polynucleotide. However, direct DNA transfection is relatively inefficient in comparison to many transduction systems. The invention herein is directed to transfection enhancing agents which augment the transfection activity of ‘free’ polynucleotide, thereby facilitating the development of simple and safe alternatives to tissue transfection, more particularly respiratory tissue transfection.

Abstract: The invention consists of a method for inducing production of a mucosal immune response in a host by administration of an antigen-encoding polynucleotide preparation, comprising DNA or RNA encoding an antigenic epitope to a mucosal inductor site in the mucosal tissue of the host. Naked DNA may be administered directly to mucosa, for instance in saline drops, or in a recombinant gene expression vector. Preferably, the recombinant gene expression vectors are not capable of replication or dessimination. The invention also includes the use of live viral vaccines wherein the viruses include immunostimulatory polynucleotides of the invention. According to a preferred method of the invention, a target protein antigen is administered through its expression by a recombinant gene expression vector.

Abstract: In the generation of cytofectin:polynucleotide complexes for transfection of cells, formulations, counterions, and reaction conditions for maximizing the transfection include using a cationic amine compound that has the general structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a pair of same or different lipoyl moieties selected from a group consisting of an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, or alkynoyl groups and for R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 at least two are hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups or at least one amine bonded halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group or a mixture of at least one halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group and at least one hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group, and X.sup.- is an oxyanion or halide counterion.

Abstract: For use in transporting biologically active species into and through membrane barriers, a symmetrical cationic diamine compound having the general structure ##STR1## wherein m=1-10; R.sub.1 is a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a hydroxylated alkyl or alkenyl group, or an ether containing alkyl or alkenyl group; R.sub.2 is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or an alkyl or alkenyl containing acyl group; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a hydroxylated alkyl or alkenyl group, or an ether containing alkyl or alkenyl group; R.sub.4 is a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a hydroxylated alkyl or alkenyl group, or an ether containing alkyl or alkenyl group; and X.sup.- is an anion.

Abstract: Amine containing compounds and their use in the generation of cytofectin:polynucleotide complexes for transfection of cells, formulations, counterions, and reaction conditions for maximizing the transfection include using cationic amine compounds that have the general structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a pair of same or different lipoyl moieties selected from a group consisting of an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, or alkynoyl groups and for R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 at least two are hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups or at least one amine bonded halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group or a mixture of at least one halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group and at least one hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group, and X.sup.

Abstract: For use transporting biologically active species into and through membrane barriers, a symmetrical cationic diamine compound having the general structure ##STR1##

Abstract: A method for delivering an isolated polynucleotide such as DNA or RNA, to the interior of a cell in a mammal comprising the injection of an isolated polynucleotide into a muscle of the mammal where the polynucleotide is taken up by the cells of the muscle and exerts a therapeutic effect on the mammal. The method can be used to deliver a therapeutic polypeptide to the cells of the mammal, to provide an immune response upon in vivo translation of the polynucleotide, to deliver antisense polynucleotides, to deliver receptors to the cells of the mammal or to provide transitory gene therapy.

Abstract: Polynucleotide sequences, comprising DNA and RNA molecules can be directly administered, for example by injection, to tissues, such as muscle, and expressed as a protein, polypeptide or polypeptide. The polynucleotides can be contained within liposomes or the polynucleotides can free from association with transfection-facilitating proteins, viral particles, liposomal formulations, charged lipids and calcium phosphate precipitating agents.

Abstract: For use in transporting biologically active species into and through membrane barriers, a symmetrical cationic diamine compound having the general structure ##STR1##