Abstract: The present invention relates to the development of a hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid hybrid nanoparticle systems for the administration of active molecules, peptides, DNA and/or other hydrophilic or hydrophobic molecules, the composition of hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid hybrid nanoparticle systems, and the procedure for their development and use. These nanoparticles are made up of hyaluronic acid in salt form, preferentially the sodium salt of the polymers or hybridized with magnetic Fe particles. The nanoparticles are basically from natural polymers, biocompatibles and biodegradables. The nanoparticles allow the controlled release of the active molecules they transport and their orientation towards the target tissues. The present invention teaches a procedure to elaborate particles of hyaluronic acid with a diameter less than 180 nm., that incorporate an active ingredient, independent of its hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature. Procedures to produce the particles are described.

Abstract: A delivery system employing nanoparticles of thiolated chitosan which complex with nucleic acids or other drugs. The system utilizes an approximately 33 kDa thiol-modified chitosan derivative resulting in highly effective gene delivery. Thiolation of chitosan resulted in reduced density of positive charges and DNA binding capacity. However, thiolated chitosan carrying a plasmid DNA expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) showed significantly higher GFP expression in various cell lines and in vivo in mice. Sustained delivery of plasmid DNA from thiolated chitosan was achieved by crosslinking thiolated chitosan/plasmid DNA nanocomplexes through inter- as well as intramolecular disulfide bonds under the physiological conditions. Thiolated chitosan nanoparticles have a great potential for gene therapy and tissue engineering.

Abstract: An effective prophylactic mucosal gene expression vaccine (GXV), made up of a cocktail of at least 4 different plasmid DNAs encoding corresponding RSV antigens, coacervated with chitosan to formulate nanospheres. In a murine model of RSV infection, intranasal administration with GXV results in significant induction of RSV-specific antibodies, nasal IgA antibodies, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and IFN-? production in the lung and splenocytes. A single dose of GXV induces a drastic reduction of viral titers.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for treatment of allergic diseases by administering a natriuretic hormone peptide (NHP), or a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP, to a patient in need thereof. In another aspect, the present invention concerns an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a host cell genetically modified with a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising NHP or a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another aspect, the present invention pertains to novel fragments of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) exhibiting bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity, and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the fragments.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to vectors for regulating gene expression having at least one gene expressing cassette and at least one gene suppressing cassette, wherein the gene expression cassette encodes a polypeptide of interest, and wherein the gene suppressing cassette encodes a short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule that reduces expression of a target gene by RNA interference. The present invention further includes vectors that contain suppressor cassettes in conjunction with cassettes upregulating gene expression regulated by either a constitutive promoter, such as a general CMV promoter, or a tissue specific promoter. The present invention further includes vectors that contain Dengue virus gene suppression cassettes. The present invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions containing such vectors, methods of modulating the expression of genes in a host using such vectors, and method of producing such vectors.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods for treatment of inflammatory and cell proliferation disorders, such as cancer, by administering an agent that reduces atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A) activity. In one aspect, the invention concerns a method for treatment of inflammatory and cell proliferation disorders, such as cancer, by administration of an effective amount of natriuretic hormone peptide (NP), or a polynucleotide encoding NP and an operably-linked promoter sequence. In another aspect, the present invention includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent that reduces the activity of atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A), and an anti-cancer agent. In another aspect, the present invention further concerns a method for identifying an agent useful for treating an inflammatory or cell proliferation disorder, comprising determining whether the agent reduces the activity of atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A).

Abstract: The present invention concerns particles comprising a chitin component, such as chitosan or a derivative thereof, associated with a polynucleotide encoding an interferon (IFN) molecule, 2-5? oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 AS), or a combination thereof. Preferably, the chitin component comprises chitosan or a derivative thereof. The particles of the invention are useful for delivery and expression of the interferon-encoding and/or 2-5 AS-encoding polynucleotide within a host in vitro or in vivo. The invention further concerns pharmaceutical compositions comprising particles of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method for producing particles of the present invention. The present invention further pertains to a method of inducing apoptosis in a cancer cell, such as a lung cancer cell, by contacting a target cancer cell in vitro or in vivo with an effective amount of particles of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for treating or reducing the likelihood of developing a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a subject by administering an effective amount of an inhibitor of the janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway or the mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling pathway to the subject. Another aspect of the invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition that includes an inhibitor of JAK/STAT or MAPK/ERK signaling to the subject; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preventing a respiratory infection by administering an effective amount of an agent for regulating ICAM-1 expression. Also provided is a composition for the prevention of respiratory infection including an agent which regulates ICAM expression. Also provided is a method of preventing RSV infection by administering an effective amount of an agent that interferes with the binding of RSV to ICAM-1. A method of preventing RSV infection by administering an effective amount of an agent that down regulates the expression of ICAM-1, thereby decreasing RSV binding to ICAM-1 is also provided. There is provided a method of treating RSV infection by administering an effective amount of an agent for down regulating ICAM-1 expression. A method of blocking RSV-ICAM-1 interaction by administering an effective amount of agents for blocking ICAM sites of binding is provided. Also provided is a compound for blocking RSV-ICAM-1 interaction including an agent for blocking ICAM sites of binding.