Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting cancer, a progression of cancer, or a predisposition to cancer in a human, comprising (a) obtaining a sample of airway basal cells from the human, and (b) analyzing the sample to determine expression of one or more hESC-signature genes, wherein the expression or lack of expression of the one or more hESC-signature genes is indicative of a presence or absence of cancer, a progression of cancer, or a predisposition to cancer in the human. The invention also provides an in vitro model for lung cancer, comprising airway basal cells that express one or more hESC-signature genes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting ocular neovascularization in a mammal by administering a composition comprising a bevacizumab-encoding adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector directly to the eye of the mammal.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an adenovirus-antigen conjugate comprising (a) a disrupted adenovirus with a coat protein and (b) an antigen conjugated to the coat protein of the disrupted adenovirus, as well as a conjugate comprising (a) a disrupted adenovirus with a coat protein and (b) an antigen conjugated to the coat protein of the disrupted adenovirus. The invention also provides a method of inducing an immune response against an antigen in a human using the aforementioned conjugates. The invention further provides an adeno-associated viral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes an antibody directed against cocaine.

Abstract: The invention provides an adenovirus-antigen conjugate comprising an adenovirus with a coat protein and an antigen of an addictive drug conjugated to the coat protein of the adenovirus. The invention also provides an adenoviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes an antibody directed against the addictive drug. The invention further provides a method of inducing an immune response against an addictive drug or reducing the effect of an addictive drug in a human by ad-ministering to the human the aforementioned adenovirus-antigen conjugate or antibody encoding adenoviral vector.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene transfer vector for inducing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal. The gene transfer vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic portion of one or more proteins of Yersinia pestis and/or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a monoclonal antibody directed against Yersinia pestis. The invention further provides a method of producing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal comprising administration of the gene transfer vector to the mammal. The invention also provides a monoclonal antibody directed against the Virulence (V) antigen of Y. pestis, as well as a hybridoma cell line producing same and a nucleic acid sequence encoding same.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining the likelihood that a smoker will or will not develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by obtaining a sample from the smoker, analyzing the sample for the expression of a set of biomarkers associated with COPD, and comparing the expression pattern determined in the sample with a standard expression pattern to determine the likelihood that the smoker will or will not develop COPD. The invention further provides a composition, a method of treatment, and methods of determining the efficacy of treatment for COPD.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene transfer vector comprising a humanized nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic portion of one or more exotoxins of Bacillus anthracis and a heterologous sorting signal. The invention also provides a method of producing an immune response against Bacillus anthracis in a host comprising administering to the host the gene transfer vector.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene transfer vector for inducing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal. The gene transfer vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic portion of one or more proteins of Yersinia pestis and/or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a monoclonal antibody directed against Yersinia pestis. The invention further provides a method of producing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal comprising administration of the gene transfer vector to the mammal. The invention also provides a monoclonal antibody directed against the Virulence (V) antigen of Y. pestis, as well as a hybridoma cell line producing same and a nucleic acid sequence encoding same.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:1, which contains cDNA comprising exons 1-5 of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) joined to genomic DNA comprising introns 5, 6, and 7 and exons 6, 7, and 8 of VEGF and a mutation in one or more of the splice donor, branch point, and splice acceptor regions, which promotes the production of a VEGF189 isoform. Expression constructs, compositions, and cells comprising such a nucleic acid molecule also are provided by the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enhancing bone density or formation. In accordance with the method, a nucleic acid encoding an angiogenic protein is administered to a cell in a region of a bone such that the nucleic acid is expressed to produce the angiogenic protein, whereby bone density or formation is enhanced within the region. Optionally, a nucleic acid encoding an osteogenic protein is administered to a cell within the same region such that the nucleic acid is expressed to produce the osteogenic protein. The method can be employed to produce a bone graft having a cell harboring an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an angiogenic protein and, optionally, a cell harboring a nucleic acid encoding an osteogenic protein. To facilitate the inventive method, the invention also pertains to a recombinant viral vector having a nucleic acid encoding an angiogenic protein and a nucleic acid encoding an osteogenic protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing vascularity in a tissue flap. The method comprises contacting a tissue flap with a viral vector, which viral vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an angiogenic factor, whereby the nucleic acid sequence encoding the angiogenic factor is expressed in the tissue flap and vascularity in the tissue flap is increased.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selectively expressing DNA in neointimal cells in an injured blood vessel of a subject comprising administering a replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus which functionally encodes the DNA to the blood vessel at the site of injury, such that the adenovirus remains at the site of injury for a time sufficient for the adenovirus to selectively infect neointimal cells and thereby selectively express the DNA in neointimal cells. In particular, the invention provides administering a replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus which functionally encodes a DNA encoding a protein or an antisense ribonucleic acid. This method can be used to treat restenosis and, relatedly, prevent neointimal cell proliferation.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of transferring a gene product to non-pleural tissue in a mammal, wherein a vector comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence which encodes a gene product is administered directly to the pleural cavity, the vector transfects pleural tissue cells, the exogenous nucleic acid sequence is expressed to produce the gene product, and the gene product contacts non-pleural tissue, thereby transferring the gene product to the non-pleural tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a dendritic cell-mediator, such as CD40L or MDC, and dendritic cells, wherein the dendritic cells can be unmodified or activated, and the dendritic cell-mediator preferably is encoded by a viral vector, such as an adenoviral vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a adenovirus mediated transfer of genes to the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of recombinant, replication-deficient adenovirus mediated transfer of therapuetic genes to the gastrointestinal tract whereby therapeutic proteins for systemic and/or local purposes are produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing the level of perfusion of blood to a target tissue, treating a target tissue suffering from or at risk of suffering from ischemic damage, inducing angiogenesis in a target tissue, and/or inducing collateral blood vessel formation in a target tissue affected by or at risk of being affected by a vascular occlusion. The present inventive method comprises administering to the target tissue a dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and (b) an adenoviral vector comprising a DNA encoding an angiogenic peptide, such that the level of perfusion of blood to the target tissue is enhanced, the dose has a therapeutic or prophylactic effect on the target tissue, angiogenesis is induced in the target tissue, and/or the adenoviral vector contacts a region including the source, the terminus, and an area therebetween for the collateral blood vessel formation, and collateral blood vessel formation is induced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enhancing immunity in a mammal. The method comprises modifying a dendritic cell (DC) in vivo or ex vivo to produce a dendritic cell-mediator in the mammal. The dendritic cell-mediator up-regulates DC in the mammal, thereby enhancing immunity in the mammal. The present invention further provides a method of inducing an immune response to an antigen, cancer, or infectious disease in a mammal. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering the antigen or an antigen of the cancer or infectious disease to a mammal, which has been treated as described above, whereupon an immune response to the antigen, cancer, or infectious disease, respectively, is induced in the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in vivo cell transformed with DNA encoding a cell signalling receptor not endogenous to the cell. The cell signalling receptor is capable of activating a signal transduction pathway endogenous to the cell, and the cell signalling receptor can be controllably activated thereby controllably activating the signal transduction pathway so as to regulate a cell function controlled by the signal transduction pathway. The invention also provides a method of ectopically expressing a non-endogenous receptor in a cell, and a method of regulating a cell function in vivo. The method of regulating a cell function comprises transforming a cell with DNA encoding a cell signalling receptor not endogenous to the cell, as above, and controllably exposing the cell to an extracellular molecule capable of activating the foreign cell signalling receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing the level of perfusion of blood to a target tissue, treating a target tissue suffering from or at risk of suffering from ischemic damage, inducing angiogenesis in a target tissue, and/or inducing collateral blood vessel formation in a target tissue affected by or at risk of being affected by a vascular occlusion. The present inventive method comprises administering to the target tissue a dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and (b) an adenoviral vector comprising a DNA encoding an angiogenic peptide, such that the level of perfusion of blood to the target tissue is enhanced, the dose has a therapeutic or prophylactic effect on the target tissue, angiogenesis is induced in the target tissue, and/or the adenoviral vector contacts a region including the source, the terminus, and an area therebetween for the collateral blood vessel formation, and collateral blood vessel formation is induced.

Abstract: The invention provides a steerable device for the delivery of a therapeutic solution, in particular, an angiogenesis-promoting substance into a heart, and a method of delivering such a substance into the heart. The device includes an elongated needle which the physician may steer by asserting a tensioning force on a steering cable coupled to the needle toward its distal end. A axially-slidable steering sleeve is disposed about the needle and the steering cable, and the position of the steering sleeve may be adjusted to control the radius of flexure of the needle. The needle body is flexible enough to maneuver around thoracic and cardiac geometry, yet sufficiently rigid to facilitate such maneuvering. The needle may also have a stop, or platform, spaced from the distal needle tip to stabilize the needle in the cardiac tissue. According to a method of the invention, the needle may be inserted into the heart tissue through lung tissue adhering to the heart, as is common in re-operative patients.