Abstract: The present application provides a method of assaying pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity in a mammalian cell that expresses human sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) comprising measuring a level of a dihydrolipoyllysine acetyltransferase (DLAT) lipoamide peptide comprising the amino acid sequence TDK[lipoyl]AT in the cell. The present application also demonstrates that sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) acts as a cellular lipoamidase that negatively regulates pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity through hydrolysis of its lipoamide cofactors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising isolated, single stranded RNA molecules and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers suitable for injection. The present invention relates to methods for stimulating an immune response and treating tumors. The present invention further relates to kits comprising a cancer vaccine and compositions of the present invention for use as an adjuvant to cancer vaccines.

Abstract: A method is provided to improve virus production is an infected host cell by culturing the infected cell in an effective amount of alpha-ketoglutarate.

Abstract: The present application demonstrates that sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) acts as a cellular lipoamidase that negatively regulates pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity through hydrolysis of its lipoamide cofactors.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions and prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines for use in protecting and treating against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) are disclosed. Subunit vaccines comprising a human CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, and nucleic acid vaccines comprising at least one nucleic acid encoding a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130 are described. Also disclosed are therapeutic antibodies reactive against a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, as well as methods for screening compounds that inhibit CMV infection of epithelial and endothelial cells, methods for immunizing a subject against CMV infection, methods for determining the capability of neutralizing antibodies to inhibit CMV infection of cell types other than fibroblasts, and methods of diminishing an CMV infection.

Abstract: A method for enhancing infectivity of HCMV virus particles is provided.

Abstract: Agents and methods of inhibiting or improving the growth of viruses are provided.

Abstract: The present application demonstrates that sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) acts as a cellular lipoamidase that negatively regulates pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity through hydrolysis of its lipoamide cofactors.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions and prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines for use in protecting and treating against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) are disclosed. Subunit vaccines comprising a human CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, and nucleic acid vaccines comprising at least one nucleic acid encoding a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130 are described. Also disclosed are therapeutic antibodies reactive against a CMV protein complex comprising pUL128 or pUL130, as well as methods for screening compounds that inhibit CMV infection of epithelial and endothelial cells, methods for immunizing a subject against CMV infection, methods for determining the capability of neutralizing antibodies to inhibit CMV infection of cell types other than fibroblasts, and methods of diminishing an CMV infection.

Abstract: A method is provided to improve virus production is an infected host cell by culturing the infected cell in an effective amount of alpha-ketoglutarate.

Abstract: Methods of increasing diversity in cytomegalovirus vaccines through the selection of cell type in which the virus is propagated, and the use of cytomegalovirus produced by those methods in the development of vaccine compositions, are disclosed. Vaccine compositions comprising CMV isolated from epithelial cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present application demonstrates that sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) acts as a cellular lipoamidase that negatively regulates pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity through hydrolysis of its lipoamide cofactors.

Abstract: A method for enhancing infectivity of HCMV virus particles is provided.

Abstract: A method for enhancing infectivity of HCMV virus particles is provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method to enhance the production of virus in cultured fibroblasts by supplementing the cells with a TCA cycle intermediate, aketoglutarate, or a derivative thereof, wherein virus production is enhanced compared to the same method canied out in the absence of a-ketoglutarate or the derivative thereof. In view of the art, the method provides an unexpected improvement on methods routinely practiced.

Abstract: Alterations of certain metabolite concentrations and fluxes that occur in response to viral infection are described. Host cell enzymes in the involved metabolic pathways are selected as targets for intervention; i.e., to restore metabolic flux to disadvantage viral replication, or to further derange metabolic flux resulting in “suicide” of viral-infected cells (but not uninfected cells) in order to limit viral propagation. While any of the enzymes in the relevant metabolic pathway can be selected, pivotal enzymes at key control points in these metabolic pathways are preferred as candidate antiviral drug targets. Inhibitors of these enzymes are used to reverse, or redirect, the effects of the viral infection. Drug candidates are tested for antiviral activity using screening assays in vitro and host cells, as well as in animal models. Animal models are then used to test efficacy of candidate compounds in preventing and treating viral infections. The antiviral activity of enzyme inhibitors is demonstrated.

Abstract: Methods of increasing diversity in cytomegalovirus vaccines through the selection of cell type in which the virus is propagated, and the use of cytomegalovirus produced by those methods in the development of vaccine compositions, are disclosed. Vaccine compositions comprising CMV isolated from epithelial cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Alterations of certain metabolite concentrations and fluxes that occur in response to viral infection are described. Host cell enzymes in the involved metabolic pathways are selected as targets for intervention; i.e., to restore metabolic flux to disadvantage viral replication, or to further derange metabolic flux resulting in “suicide” of viral-infected cells (but not uninfected cells) in order to limit viral propagation. While any of the enzymes in the relevant metabolic pathway can be selected, pivotal enzymes at key control points in these metabolic pathways are preferred as candidate antiviral drug targets. Inhibitors of these enzymes are used to reverse, or redirect, the effects of the viral infection. Drug candidates are tested for antiviral activity using screening assays in vitro and host cells, as well as in animal models. Animal models are then used to test efficacy of candidate compounds in preventing and treating viral infections. The antiviral activity of enzyme inhibitors is demonstrated.

Abstract: Agents and methods of inhibiting or improving the growth of viruses are provided.

Abstract: Methods of increasing diversity in cytomegalovirus vaccines through the selection of cell type in which the virus is propagated, and the use of cytomegalovirus produced by those methods in the development of vaccine compositions, are disclosed. Vaccine compositions comprising CMV isolated from epithelial cells are also disclosed.