Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a system to significantly increase the expression of genes of interest, and in particular proteins and polypeptide products. Expression of hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (N) by itself results in augmented translational expression of diverse genes. The mechanism of this augmentation relies on the ability of N to replace the cellular cap binding complex to attain more efficient translation initiation- the result being great mRNA production and greater protein/polypeptide production. The inventors have also recently found that inclusion of a 5' untranslated leader region (viral UTR) from a viral RNA, in conjunction with N, leads to even more robust expression. This mechanism appears to involve recognition of the viral UTR by the N to provide even more robust protein production. Thus, a general strategy for expression of any gene would be to generate significant quantities of mRNA containing the viral UTR from a strong promoter, and then to allow translation of mRNA of a gene product in the presence of N. Even a modest increase in the production of commercially desirable proteins is a goal in industry.
Abstract:
An immunogen generally includes a virus-like particle and an antigen linked to the virus-like particle. The antigen includes an antigenic portion of a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide inhibits lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity by binding to LPL. In some embodiments, the polypeptide is at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3). In other embodiments, the polypeptide is at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). In other embodiments, the polypeptide at least a portion of angiopoietin-like 8 (ANGPTL8). In some embodiments, the virus-like particle is a Qbeta immunogenic carrier. In some of these embodiments, the antigen is linked to the virus-like particle through a Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys linker at the C-terminal of the antigen.
Abstract:
A composition includes two or more isoflavone compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some cases, the isoflavone compounds can include calycosin, formononetin, or daidzein. The composition can be used in methods to treat a subject having at risk of having cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and/or hypoxia brain injury.
Abstract:
In one aspect, a fusion antibody specifically binds to a C. difficile virulence toxin. In some embodiments, the C. difficile virulence toxin can include TcdA or TcdB. In some embodiments, the fusion antibody can include a first antibody moiety and a second antibody moiety. The first antibody moiety can include at least a fragment of a first antibody, and the second antibody moiety can include at least a fragment of a second antibody. In another aspect, a recombinant cell expresses the fusion antibody. In another aspect, a recombinant cell has activity that can be modulated by growing the recombinant cell in medium that includes cellobiose. Generally, the recombinant cell includes a heterologous polynucleotide that includes a promoter operably linked to a heterologous coding region, wherein the expression from the promoter is modulated when the recombinant cell is grown in culture medium that comprises cellobiose compared to when the recombinant cell is grown in culture medium that comprises glucose.
Abstract:
Provided is a composite metal-wide-bandgap semiconductor tip for scanning tunneling microscopy and/or scanning, tunneling lithography, a method of forming, and a method for using the composite metal-wide-bandgap semiconductor tip.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes recombinant hypoallergens and methods of treating allergy that involve administering a recombinant hypoallergen to a subject. Generally, the recombinant hypoallergen includes at least one amino acid modification compared to a corresponding wildtype allergen. As a result, the recombinant hypoallergen binds to IgE that specifically binds to the allergen, but induces release of histamine from basophils to a degree less than the wildtype allergen.
Abstract:
Novel particular-based pesticides formed from pesticidal agents encapsulated in one or more coatings wherein the coating enhances the pesticidal agent' s ability to control a pest population, and methods for making the same. In various embodiments the pesticidal agent may be a biopesticide and the coating may impart stability, protection from UV radiation and/or other environmental conditions, enhance the attractiveness of the pesticide to the pest, and/or serve to separate two different biologically incompatible pesticides within a mixture.
Abstract:
A method of calculating radiation fluence and energy deposition distributions on a networked virtual computational cluster is presented. With this method, complex Monte Carlo simulations that require expansive equipment, personnel, and financial resources can be done efficiently and inexpensively by hospitals and clinics requiring radiation therapy dose calculations.
Abstract:
This invention relates to novel cancer treatment compositions and associated therapeutic methods. More particularly, this invention relates in part to small chemical bifunctional inhibitors of DNA replication and repair proteins Metnase and/or Intnase (also termed Gypsy Integrase, Gypsy Integrease-1, Gypsy Retransposon Integrase 1, or GIN-I) that simultaneously damage DNA, and to a therapeutic method that utilizes the inhibitors to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment protocols, including radiation therapy. In preferred embodiments, compounds, compositions and methods of treatment of the invention are used to treat a patient suffering from leukemia (e.g. acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related cancers. In certain aspects of such treatments, compounds, compositions and methods of treatment of the invention are administered as a monotherapy (in some cases, to patients who have exhibited resistance to Topo IIalpha inhibitors such as VP- 16), or are co-administered with a Topo IIalpha inhibitor or other anti-cancer agents as otherwise described herein or in combination with radiation therapy.
Abstract:
A system and methods that generates a physical unclonable function ("PUF") security key for an integrated circuit ("IC") through use of equivalent resistance variations in the power distribution system ("PDS") to mitigate the vulnerability of security keys to threats including cloning, misappropriation and unauthorized use.