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Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are used in gene delivery, but with limited success due to toxicity. The novel AAVs described in this technology may be more effective and useful in gene therapy applications.

The invention described and claimed in this patent application relates to the delivery of heterologous nucleic acids or genes to particular target cells. In particular, the application relates to methods of delivering a heterologous nucleic acid or gene of interest to particular target cells using Adeno-Associated Virus of serotype 4 (AAV4). The particular target cells identified are the ependymal cells of the brain. The methods described herein may be useful in carrying out gene therapy for diseases of the brain or central nervous system.

The invention described and claimed in this patent application is related to the delivery of heterologous nucleic acids or genes to particular target cells. In particular, the application relates to methods of delivering a heterologous nucleic acid or gene of interest to particular target cells using an Adeno-Associated Virus of serotype 5 (AAV5). The particular target cells identified include the alveolar cells of the lung and cerebellar and ependymal cells of the brain.

The inventors have developed methods and reagents for the detection of bone sialoprotein (BSP) in biological samples. The technology relates to the disruption of a serum complex that masks the majority of BSP from established detection systems. Furthermore, there is evidence that there may be a more acidic form of BSP secreted not by normal bone, but only by tumors. Detection of BSP in serum may be a good marker of various bone diseases and a variety of cancers including breast, prostate, lung, and thyroid.

The invention described and claimed in this patent application provides for novel vectors and viral particles which comprise adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5). AAV5 is a single-stranded DNA virus of either plus or minus polarity which, like other AAV serotypes (e.g., AAV4, AAV2) requires a helper virus for replication. AAV type 2 has the interesting and potentially useful ability to integrate into human chromosome 19 q 13.3-q ter. This activity is dependent on the non-structural, Rep, proteins of AAV2.

Available for licensing and commercial development is a method of inhibiting SARS-CoV replication, propagation and transmission using 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic (CDDO). Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious atypical pneumonia that has recently been recognized in patients in 32 countries and regions. The atypical pneumonia with unknown etiology was initially observed in Guangdong Province, China.

Many individuals with ongoing and severe dental problems are faced with the prospect of permanent tooth loss. Examples include dentinal degradation due to caries or periodontal disease; (accidental) injury to the mouth; and surgical removal of teeth due to tumors associated with the jaw. Clearly, a technology that offers a possible alternative to artificial dentures by designing and transplanting a set of living teeth fashioned from the patient's own pulp cells would greatly improve the individual's quality of life.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) affects close to one million people in the United States. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body's own insulin-manufacturing cells in the pancreas. Patients require daily injections of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. The invention identified two proteins, named IA-2 and IA-2beta, that are important markers for type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes. IA-2/IA-2beta, when used in diagnostic tests, recognized autoantibodies in 70 percent of IDDM patients.

Due to the disorganized nature of blood vessels that run through tumors, chemotherapeutic agents often fail to penetrate tumors and kill cancer cells at the tumor’s center. This can lead to ineffective chemotherapeutic treatments, because tumors can quickly grow back if the entire tumor is not destroyed. NIH researchers have developed a therapeutic agent that solves this problem facing current chemotherapy treatments.

Due to the disorganized nature of blood vessels that run through tumors, chemotherapeutic agents often fail to penetrate tumors and kill cancer cells at the tumor’s center. This can lead to ineffective chemotherapeutic treatments, because tumors can quickly grow back if the entire tumor is not destroyed. NIH researchers have developed a therapeutic agent that solves this problem facing current chemotherapy treatments.