Abstract: A viral or non-viral vector particle having a modified viral surface protein wherein the viral surface protein is modified to include a targeting polypeptide including a binding region which binds to an extracellular matrix component. Such vector particles are useful in delivering genes encoding therapeutic agents to cells located at the site of an exposed extracellular matrix component.

Abstract: A method of treating a tumor (in particular osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma) in a host by administering to a host or to the tumor cells an agent which inhibits cyclin G1 protein in an amount effective to inhibit cyclin G1 protein in tumor cells of the host. The agent may be an antisense polynucleotide which is complementary to at least a portion of a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein, or an antibody or fragment or derivative thereof which recognizes cyclin G1 protein. Also contemplated within the scope of the present invention are (i) the immortalization of cell lines by transducing cells with a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein; (ii) increasing the receptiveness of cells to retroviral infection by transducing cells with a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein; and (iii) the detection of cancer by detecting cyclin G1 protein or a polynucleotide encoding cyclin G1 protein in cells.

Abstract: A vector particle (eg., a retroviral vector particle) containing a chimeric envelope includes a receptor binding region that binds to a receptor of a target cell. The receptor of the target cell is other than the amphotropic cell receptor. The receptor binding region may be a receptor binding region of a human virus. A portion of the envelope gene may be deleted and the deleted portion is replaced with another receptor binding region or ligand. Such vector particles are targetable to a desired target cell or tissue, and may be administered directly to the desired target cell or tissue as part of a gene therapy procedure, or administered directly into the patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides new compositions and methods to induce therapeutic angiogenesis locally utilizing a collagen binding domain to target an angiogenesis modulating agents. Fusion polypeptides containing a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent are provided, as are nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptides. Also included are methods for locally altering circulation by administering a fusion polypeptide consisting of a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent, or by administering a nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptide. Tissue grafts in which isolated tissue is treated with a fusion polypeptide consisting of a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent, or with a nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptide are also provided, as are methods of making the grafts.

Abstract: A method for expressing a recombinant protein from bone marrow-derived cells comprises the steps of treating the bone marrow-derived cells in vitro with a TGF&bgr;1 protein, which selects a population of the cells for further treatment. The selected cells can then be expanded, after which a gene encoding a therapeutic protein can be inserted into the expanded cells and thereafter express the therapeutic protein. The transduced cells can then be introduced into a mammal to produce a therapeutic result.

Abstract: A recombinant replication competent retrovirus for gene deliver and gene therapy is provided. The recombinant retrovirus has a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, a sequence encoding a cell- or tissue-specific ligand or a sequence for transcriptional targeting, or a combination of both a cell- or tissue-specific ligand and a cell- or tissue-specific transcriptional targeting sequence.

Abstract: A method for expressing a recombinant protein from bone marrow-derived cells comprises the steps of treating the bone marrow-derived cells in vitro with a TGF&bgr;1 protein, which selects a population of the cells for further treatment. The selected cells can then be expanded, after which a gene encoding a therapeutic protein can be inserted into the expanded cells and thereafter express the therapeutic protein. The transduced cells can then be introduced into a mammal to produce a therapeutic result.

Abstract: A recombinant replication competent retrovirus for gene deliver and gene therapy is provided. The recombinant retrovirus has a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, a sequence encoding a cell- or tissue-specific ligand or a sequence for transcriptional targeting, or a combination of both a cell- or tissue-specific ligand and a cell- or tissue-specific transcriptional targeting sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides improved vectors for cell-specific gene delivery to a target cell. The vectors according to the instant invention comprise a recombinant core containing the genetic materials to be delivered and an artificially reconstituted surface encompassing the core. The surface facilitates targeting and cell fusion of the vector, and also provides an immunoprotection function for the vector. Methods for preparing the sectors and for transfecting eukaryotic cells using the vectors also are disclosed.

Abstract: An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence derived from a viral envelope protein, wherein at least a portion of the amino acid sequence is located within the cytoplasmic tail or membrane-spanning region of a viral envelope protein. Such peptides are amphiphilic in nature, provide for the destabilization of membranes, and facilitate the entry of viral particles into cells and the efficient formation of viral particles. The peptides may, in another embodiment, be attached to the viral membrane, along with a targeting polypeptide, as part of an artificial viral envelope protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides new compositions and methods to induce therapeutic angiogenesis locally utilizing a collagen binding domain to target an angiogenesis modulating agents. Fusion polypeptides containing a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent are provided, as are nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptides. Also included are methods for locally altering circulation by administering a fusion polypeptide consisting of a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent, or by administering a nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptide. Tissue grafts in which isolated tissue is treated with a fusion polypeptide consisting of a collagen binding domain linked to an angiogenesis modulating agent, or with a nucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion polypeptide are also provided, as are methods of making the grafts.

Abstract: Primary human cells which are genetically engineered with DNA (RNA) encoding a marker or therapeutic which is expressed to be expressed in vivo. Such engineered cells may be used in gene therapy.

Abstract: A method for expressing a recombinant protein from bone marrow-derived cells comprises the steps of treating the bone marrow-derived cells in vitro with a TGF&bgr;1 protein, which selects a population of the cells for further treatment. The selected cells can then be expanded, after which a gene encoding a therapeutic protein can be inserted into the expanded cells and thereafter express the therapeutic protein. The transduced cells can then be introduced into a mammal to produce a therapeutic result.

Abstract: A method for expressing a recombinant protein from bone marrow-derived cells comprises the steps of treating the bone marrow-derived cells in vitro with a TGF.beta.1 protein, which selects a population of the cells for further treatment. The selected cells can then be expanded, after which a gene encoding a therapeutic protein can be inserted into the expanded cells and thereafter express the therapeutic protein. The transduced cells can then be introduced into a mammal to produce a therapeutic result.

Abstract: A retroviral vector particle having a modified retroviral envelope polypeptide. The retroviral envelope polypeptide includes the hypervariable polyproline region, or hinge region, and the hypervariable polyproline region, or hinge region is modified to include a targeting polypeptide including a binding region which binds to a ligand. Such a retroviral vector may be "targeted" to various cells for delivery of genetic material to such cells.

Abstract: A vector particle (e.g., a retroviral vector particle) containing a chimeric envelope includes a receptor binding region that binds to a receptor of a target cell. The receptor of the target cell is other than the amphotropic cell receptor. The receptor binding region may be a receptor binding region of a human virus. A portion of the envelope gene may be deleted and the deleted portion is replaced with another receptor binding region or ligand. Such vector particles are targetable to a desired target cell or tissue, and may be administered directly to the desired target cell or tissue as part of a gene therapy procedure, or administered directly into the patient.

Abstract: A vector, in particular a retroviral vector, which includes a heterologous or foreign gene and a gene encoding a negative selective marker. The negative selective marker enables one to kill cells which contain the gene encoding the negative selective marker, when a particular agent is administered to such cells.

Abstract: A retroviral vector including a multiple cloning site having no greater than about 70 base pairs, and which includes at least four different enzyme restriction sites, wherein at least two of the sites have an average frequency of appearance in eukaryotic genes of less than one in 10,000 base pairs. Such vector may be employed in conjunction with a shuttle cloning vector having complementary cloning sites to accomplish transfers of genes and/or promoters between the shuttle cloning vector and the retroviral vector. Such a system provides for efficient transfer of genes and/or promoters to a retroviral vector without necessitating reconstruction of the entire retroviral vector. Also contemplated within the scope of the present invention is a retroviral vector having a 3' LTR wherein at least the promoter sequence of the 3' LTR is mutated such that the promoter sequence becomes nonfunctional.

Abstract: Primary human cells which are genetically engineered with DNA (RNA) encoding a marker or therapeutic which is expressed to be expressed in vivo. Such engineered cells may be used in gene therapy.