Abstract: Disclosed is a novel Lepidopteran- and Coleopteran-active &dgr;-endotoxin polypeptide, and compositions comprising the polypeptide, peptide fragments thereof, and antibodies specific therefor. Also disclosed are vectors, transformed host cells, and transgenic plants that comprise nucleic acid segments encoding the polypeptide. Also disclosed are methods of identifying related polypeptides and polynucleotides, methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising the novel sequences of the invention, as well as methods for controlling an insect population, such as the Western Corn Rootworm and Colorado potato beetle, and for conferring to a plant population resistance to the target insect species.

Abstract: A novel gene encoding a Coleopteran inhibitory Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal protein is disclosed. The protein, tIC851, is insecticidally active and provides plant protection from at least cotton boll weevil, Anthomomus grandis, when applied to plants in an insecticidally effective composition.

Abstract: A protein obtainable from a non pathgenic microorgansim, said protein having mucosa binding promoting activity and a molecular weight of 20-40 kD is disclosed. Application of such a protein or a peptide derived therefrom in a method of screening non pathogenic microorganisms for a microorganism capable of specifically binding mucosa, said method comprising detection in a manner known per se of the presence of a particular protein on or in a microorganism or in a culture of microorganisms, said particular protein being the already defined protein. Kits suitable for such a screening method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of inducing an immune response which protects a susceptible animal subject from lethal infection with Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) are provided. One method comprises administering an effective amount of wild-type, or preferably a mutated form of, B. anthracis lethal factor (LF) or an immunogenic fragment thereof to the subject. A second method comprises administering an effective amount of a mutated LF protein or an immunogenic fragment of an LF protein and an effective amount of the B anthracis protective antigen (PA) or an immunogenic fragment of the PA protein to the subject A third method comprises administering a polynucleotide or nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a mutated B. anthracis LF protein or an immunogenic fragment of an LF protein to the subject. A fourth method comprises administering a polynucleotide which comprises a coding sequence for a mutated LF protein or an immunogenic fragment of an LF protein and a polynucleotide which comprises a coding sequence for the B.

Abstract: Methods of inducing an immune response which protects a susceptible animal subject from lethal infection with Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) are provided. One method comprises administering an effective amount of wild-type, or preferably a mutated form of, B. anthracis lethal factor (LF) or an immunogenic fragment thereof to the subject. A second method comprises administering an effective amount of a mutated LF protein or an immunogenic fragment of an LF protein and an effective amount of the B anthracis protective antigen (PA) or an immunogenic fragment of the PA protein to the subject A third method comprises administering a polynucleotide or nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a mutated B. anthracis LF protein or an immunogenic fragment of an LF protein to the subject. A fourth method comprises administering a polynucleotide which comprises a coding sequence for a mutated LF protein or an immunogenic fragment of an LF protein and a polynucleotide which comprises a coding sequence for the B.

Abstract: To provide an immunomodulator in which DNA can be administered orally or percutaneously, not through injection, or can be taken daily like a food, or an immunomodulator food or feed. DNA derived from cells of procaryotes such as Bacillus subtilis, lactic acid bacteria, amino acid producing bacteria and Escherichia coli is added to food or molded to be able to administer the same orally, percutaneously or permucosally, or formed into food, feed or the like.

Abstract: A novel compound, which is effective for treatment of AIDS and has inhibitory activity on human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), was examined. The K97-0003 peptide, which has anti-HIV activity caused by inhibition of syncytium formation by fusion of envelope glycoprotein of HIV and the host cells expressing the receptor to said virus, was provided by the present invention. Furthermore, the base sequence of the gene coding for said polypeptide, and the method for preparing said polypeptide using strain K97-0003 were provided.

Abstract: Immunoadhesins active against infectious bacterial agents, e.g., the bacterium responsible for anthrax, are described and claimed. These chimeric molecules feature stabilizing immunoglobulin portions linked to bacterial proteins having affinity for host receptors. Methods of using these immunoadhesins are also desribed.

Abstract: A method is provided for the formation of liposomes of 0.1 &mgr;m to 50 &mgr;m in diameter having unilamella or multilamella structure and containing water insoluble or undissolved particulate materials comprising (a) forming liposomes and removing substantially all of any organic solvent used in their preparation, (b) freeze drying the liposomes so formed and then (c) rehydrating them in intimate admixture with the particulate material. Preferred encapsulated materials are particulate materials, most preferably microorganisms, plant or animal cells or water insoluble structures having organic solvent labile biochemical or immunological activity, but any water insoluble particulate may be encapsulated using the method. For example catalysts or drugs that are sparingly soluble may also be so incorporated such that slow release into the a patients body may be provided while release of detergents included in the many liposome preparation protocols may be avoided.

Abstract: A method of making a vaccine for anthracis that inolves a bacterial expression system and production and use of protective antigen (PA) against Bacillus anthracis. The PA immunogen is useful in a vaccine against human anthrax. The PA can be produced by an asporogenic organism which produces the desired antigen, which is then harvested from the supernatant.

Abstract: Inhibitors of the MAPK pathway, including MEK-directed proteases and small molecule inhibitors, are cytotoxic to human melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo via apoptotic mechanisms. These compounds are used to kill melanoma cells and to treat subjects with melanoma, either alone or in combination with other therapeutic modalities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine for inducing an immune response in mammal to a specific antigen, where the vaccine comprises a unit dose of a binary toxin protective antigen and the antigen, which is bound to a binary toxin protective antigen binding protein. In one embodiment the vaccine is comprised of an anthrax protective antigen and the antigen bound to anthrax protective antigen binding protein. The present invention also provides a method of immunizing a mammal against an antigen using the vaccine, and a method of inducing antigen-presenting mammalian cells to present specific antigens via the MHC class I processing pathway.

Abstract: The invention provides mutant forms of pore-forming toxins. These mutant toxins may be used in vaccines for the prevention of bacterial infection. Additionally, dominant negative mutants may be administered as therapeutics for the treatment of bacterial infection.

Abstract: A method of making a vaccine from a protective antigen. The protective antigen is useful against Bacillus anthracis. The protective antigenis produced by an asporogenic organism which overpoduces the desired antigen. The asporogenic organism is a recombinant asporogenic B. anthracis. The recombinant asporogenic B. anthracis was derived from a &Dgr;Sterne-1(pPA102) strain of bacteria and binds to dye when grown on Congo Red Agar.

Abstract: A method is provided for the formation of liposomes of 0.1 &mgr;m to 50 &mgr;m in diameter having unilamella or multilamella structure and containing water insoluble or undissolved particulate materials comprising (a) forming liposomes and removing substantially all of any organic solvent used in their preparation, (b) freeze drying the liposomes so formed and then (c) rehydrating them in intimate admixture with the particulate material. Preferred encapsulated materials are particulate materials, most preferably microorganisms, plant or animals cells or water insoluble structures having organic solvent labile biochemical or immunological activity, but any water insoluble particulate may be encapsulated using the method. For example, catalysts or drugs that are sparingly soluble may also be so incorporated such that slow release into the patient's body may be provided while release of detergents included in the many lipoome preparation protocols may be avoided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bacterial expression system for production of protective antigen (PA) against bacillus anthracis. Recombinant asporogenic B. anthracits that are derived from &Dgr;Sterne-1(pPA102) and show inability to bind the dye when grown on Congo Red Agar can be screened and asporogenic strains isolated using methods of the invention. organisms of the invention lacking spore-forming function may be killed by heat shock at temperatures as low as 60° C. for 60 minutes. Hence, contamination of the environment with viable spore-forming organisms is easily avoided and decontamination is easily accomplished.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of P. aeruginosa for protecting susceptible hosts against diseases caused by bacterial pathogens which secrete a zinc metalloprotease.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel synthetically-modified B. thuringiensis chimeric crystal proteins having improved insecticidal activity against coleopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are the nucleic acid segments encoding these novel peptides. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells. Transformed host cells and transgenic plants expressing the modified endotoxin are also aspects of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, nucleic acids, and cells for expressing an exogenous gene in a mammalian cell, involving introducing into the cell a non-mammalian DNA virus (e.g., a baculovirus) having an altered coat protein, the genome of which virus carries an exogenous gene, and growing the cell under conditions such that the gene is expressed. Also disclosed are methods for treating gene deficiency disorders, neurological disorders, or cancers in a mammal by (1) providing to a cell a therapeutically effective amount of a non-mammalian DNA virus having an altered coat protein, the genome of which virus carries an exogenous, therapeutic gene and (2) growing the cell under conditions such that the exogenous gene is expressed in the mammal.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, nucleic acids, and cells for expressing an exogenous gene in a mammalian cell, involving (i) introducing into the cell a complement-resistant non-mammalian DNA virus (e.g., a baculovirus), optionally having an altered coat protein, the genome of which virus carries an exogenous gene, and (ii) growing the cell under conditions such that the gene is expressed.