Tryptophan as a Functional Replacement for ADP-ribose-arginine in Recombinant Proteins

Bacterial toxins such as cholera toxin and diphtheria toxin catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of important cellular target proteins in their human hosts, thereby, as in the case of cholera toxin, irreversibly activating adenylyl cyclase. In this reaction, the toxin transfers the ADP-ribose moiety of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) to an acceptor amino acid in a protein or peptide. ADP-ribosylation leads to a peptide/protein with altered biochemical or pharmacological properties. Mammalians proteins catalyze reactions similar to the bacterial toxins.

Novel Acylthiol Compositions and Methods of Making and Using Them Against HIV

This invention provides a novel family of acylthiols and uses thereof. More specifically, this invention provides effective inhibitors of HIV that selectively target its highly conserved nucleocapsid protein (NCp7) by interacting with metal chelating structures of a zinc finger-containing protein. Because of the mutationally intolerant nature of NCp7, drug resistance is much less likely to occur with compounds attacking this target.

Oral Treatment of Hemophilia

This invention portrays a simple method for treatment of antigen-deficiency diseases by orally administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of the deficient antigen, wherein the antigen is not present in a liposome. This method increases hemostasis in a subject having hemophilia A or B, by orally administering to the hemophiliac a therapeutically effective amount of the appropriate clotting factor, sufficient to induce oral tolerance and supply exogenous clotting factor to the subject.

Vaccines Comprising Sand Fly Salivary Proteins for Control of Leishmania Infection

This invention relates to the use of several peptides from the salivary glands of various sand fly species for the control of leishmania infection. Many of these peptides were shown to be effective in eliciting potent immune responses in animal models and are excellent candidates for the development of vaccines against the disease. A vaccine comprising one of the peptides was used to protect mice challenged with parasites and salivary gland homogenates.

Codon-optimization of HIV-1 Viral Infectivity Factor (VIF) Gene

Expression of the HIV-1 Vif protein in the absence of other viral factors such a Tat and Rev is extremely inefficient due to the presence of inhibitory sequences on its mRNA. This invention uses codon optimization to remove such inhibitory sequences without altering the amino acid sequence of the protein. The modified vif gene in the resulting pcDNA -hVIF vector is expressed under the control of the CMV promoter. In this, the protein functions as wild type and is more amendable to high-level expression in mammalian cells.

Enzymatically-Active RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase From a Human Norovirus (Calicivirus)

The noroviruses (formerly known as “Norwalk-like viruses”) are associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks, affecting large numbers of individuals each year. Emerging data are supporting their increasing recognition as important agents of diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality. The frequency with which noroviruses are associated with gastroenteritis as “food and water-borne pathogens” has led to the inclusion of caliciviruses as Category B Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases.

Construction of an Infectious Full-Length cDNA Clone of the Porcine Enteric Calicivirus RNA Genome

Porcine enteric calicivirus (PEC) is a member of the genus Sapovirus in the family Caliciviridae. This virus causes diarrheal illness in pigs, and is presently the only enteric calicivirus that can be grown in cell culture. In addition to its relevance to veterinary medicine as a diarrheal agent in pigs, PEC serves as an important model for the study of enteric caliciviruses that cause diarrhea and that cannot be grown in cell culture (including the noroviruses represented by Norwalk virus).

Bispecific Antibody Targeting Anthrax Toxins and Capsule for Enhanced Biodefense

The technology focuses on the development of a tetravalent bispecific antibody effective against Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium responsible for anthrax. This antibody combines the specificities of two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs): one targeting anthrax protective antigen (PA) and the other targeting the bacterial capsule. The anti-PA mAb shows potent toxin-neutralizing activity, while the anti-capsule mAb efficiently kills anthrax bacteria.

Application of AAV44.9 Vector in Gene Therapy for the Inner Ear

This technology includes a novel AAV isolate (AAV44.9) to be used as gene therapy for the inner ear for the treatment of deafness. The ability of AAV vectors to transduce dividing and non-dividing cells, establish long-term transgene expression, and the lack of pathogenicity has made them attractive for use in gene therapy applications. Vectors based on new AAV isolates may have different host range and different immunological properties, thus allowing for more efficient transduction in certain cell types.
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