Novel Chemoattractant-Based Toxins To Improve Vaccine Immune Responses for Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in United States and it is estimated that there will be more than half a million deaths caused by cancer in 2009.  A major drawback of the current chemotherapy-based therapeutics is the cytotoxic side-effects associated with them.  Thus there is a dire need to develop new therapeutic strategies with fewer side-effects.  Immunotherapy has taken a lead among the new therapeutic approaches.  Enhancing the innate immune response of an individual has been a key approach for the treatment against different diseases such as cancer an

Human Antibodies Against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

No effective therapeutics or vaccines against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are available. The human-to-human aspect of transmission and the high mortality rate associated with MERS-CoV infection have raised concerns over the potential for a future MERS-CoV pandemic and emphasized the need for development of effective therapeutics and vaccines.

Methods of Treating Giardiasis Using FDA-Approved Compounds

This technology includes a group of at least twenty-nine, diverse, commercially available compounds that are newly identified for activity against Giardia lamblia parasites. At least six of the candidate compounds, Bortezomib, Decitabine, Hydroxocobalamin, Amlexanox, Idarubicin, and Auranofin have preexisting FDA approval for human use for other (non-Giardia) conditions. Another three compounds, Fumagillin, Nitarsone and Carbadox have preexisting approval for veterinary use for non-Giardia conditions.

Methods of Synthesis of the Ketamine Analogs (2R, 6R)-kydroxynorketamine and (2S, 6S)-hydroxynorketamine for the Treatment of Pain and other Anxiety-related Disorders

This technology includes a method for synthesizing the ketamine analogs (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) and (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine that may be useful for the treatment of pain, depression, anxiety, and related disorders. The drug ketamine was first used as an anesthetic but was found to be an effective treatment in a range of conditions, including paint, treatment-resistant bipolar depression, and other anxiety-related disorders. However, the routine use of ketamine is hindered by unwanted side effects, including the potential for abuse.

Use of the Ketamine Metabolite (R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine in Depression

This technology includes the identification and use of a ketamine metabolite, (2R,6R)-2-amino-2-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-hydroxycyclohexanone (HNK), for the treatment of depression. Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that exerts a rapid and sustained antidepressant and anti-suicidal effect. However, even low doses of ketamine has addictive and psychomimetic effects. The downstream metabolite, (2R,6R)-HNK, does not inhibit the NMDA receptor but recapitulates the antidepressant and anti-suicidal effect of ketamine.

IL7Rα-Specific Antibody for Treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children with approximately 3,250 new cases occurring per year in the United States. About 20% of cases are refractory to current treatment protocols and there is a desperate need for targeted therapies that do not result in adverse side effects such as cognitive impairment. 

Monoclonal Antibodies That Bind to the Underside of Influenza Viral Neuraminidase

Current influenza vaccines mainly induce antibodies against the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) that block viral attachment to its host receptors and viral membrane fusion to the host cell. The immunodominant head region of HA undergoes antigenic drift and antibodies directed to the head confer little cross-protections between strains or subtypes.

Neutralizing Antibodies to Influenza HA and Their Use and Identification

The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines varies by strain and season, in part because influenza viruses continuously evolve to evade human immune responses. While the majority of seasonal influenza infections cause relatively mild symptoms, each year influenza virus infections result in over 500,000 hospitalizations in the United States and Europe. Current standard of care for individuals hospitalized with uncomplicated influenza infection is administration of neuraminidase inhibitors.

Monoclonal Antibodies to Fentanyl Analogs for Research, Therapeutics, and Novel Diagnostics

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic. However, synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are prone to abuse and are the primary drivers of overdose related deaths in the United States. As little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. Furthermore, structural variants of fentanyl, often mixed with other drugs or counterfeit pills are illegally distributed without the user’s knowledge.

Stable Human Cell Lines Expressing Flavivirus Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) for Vaccine, Biologics, and Diagnostic Development

Flaviviruses such as Zika virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus cause widespread illness and death throughout the world. Typically, flaviviruses get transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and ticks.