Abstract:
The invention is a carbohydrate receptor for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma hominus and its use to detect mycoplasma in biological fluids and diseased tissue and cells. The receptor can be included in a composition having a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods are provided for purifying, detecting, or removing mycoplasma from diseased tissue or fluids. The receptor includes sulfatides, dextran sulfate, sialyloligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
Abstract:
Provided herein are methods for preventing, ameliorating, and/or reducing tissue ischemia and/or tissue damage due to ischemia, increasing blood vessel diameter, blood flow and tissue perfusion in the presence of vascular disease including peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and influencing other conditions, by suppressing CD47 and/or blocking TSP1 and/or CD47 activity or interaction. Influencing the interaction of CD47-TSP1 in blood vessels allows for control of blood vessel diameter and blood flow, and permits modification of blood pressure and cardiac function. Under conditions of decreased blood flow, for instance through injury or atherosclerosis, blocking TSP1-CD47 interaction allows blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow, tissue perfusion and tissue survival.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of biliverdin and methods of treatment and prevention. In particular, the invention concerns methods for producing biliverdin in yeast, especially Candida albicans, and other microorganisms.
Abstract:
Provided herein are compositions for preventing, ameliorating, and/or reducing tissue ischemia and/or tissue damage due to ischemia, increasing blood vessel diameter, blood flow and tissue perfusion in the presence of vascular disease including peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and influencing other conditions, by suppressing CD47 and/or blocking TSP1 and/or CD47 activity or interaction. Influencing the interaction of CD47-TSP1 in blood vessels allows for control of blood vessel diameter and blood flow, and permits modification of blood pressure and cardiac function. Under conditions of decreased blood flow, for instance through injury or atherosclerosis, blocking TSP1-CD47 interaction allows blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow, tissue perfusion and tissue survival.
Abstract:
Method of diagnosing cancer in a mammal comprising assaying a test sample from the mammal for an increased level of semenogelin, wherein the increased level of semenogelin in the test sample is diagnostic for the cancer; methods of prognosticating and assessing the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer in a mammal based on the level of semenogelin in a test sample; a composition comprising (a) an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) semenogelin or polypeptide fragment thereof or (ii) antibody thereto or (b) a recombinant vector encoding and expressing an immune-response inducing effective amount of (i) or (ii); a method of inducing an immune response to a cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal the foregoing composition.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of biliverdin. In particular, the invention concerns methods for producing biliverdin in yeast, especially Candida albicans, and other microorganisms.
Abstract:
Three hemoglobin-response genes in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans are disclosed. The expression of these genes is specifically induced when the organism is exposed to hemoglobin during disseminated infections. The invention relates to the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of these hemoglobin-response genes. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods, kits and compositions which employ the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the invention.
Abstract:
A transducer for a hard disk drive system has a planar magnetic core and a pair of poletips that project transversely from the core for sliding contact with the disk during reading and writing. The transducer is formed entirely of thin films in the shape of a low profile table having three legs that slide on the disk, the poletips being exposed at a bottom of one of the legs for high resolution communication with the disk, the throat height of the poletips affording sufficient tolerance to allow for wear. The legs elevate the transducer from the disk sufficiently to minimize lifting by a thin air layer that moves with the spinning disk which, in combination with the small size of the thin film head allows a low load and a flexible beam and gimbal to hold the transducer to the disk. The transducer includes a loop shaped core of magnetic material that ends at the poletips, the core extending further parallel than perpendicular to the disk surface and preferably being formed of a plurality of slightly spaced ribbons of magnetic material in order to increase high frequency permeance. A high magnetic saturation layer may be formed adjoining the gap in at least the trailing poletip, in order to avoid saturation at the poletips during writing. The dimensions of the yoke adjacent to the poletips are also designed to avoid saturation at the poletips by saturating at a lower flux in the yoke than the poletips. The close relationship between the transducer and the media of the disk affords high density magnetic data storage and retrieval.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of stimulating TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the stimulation of TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an inhibiting peptide from TSP effective to inhibit conversion of latent of TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. The invention also provides a method of enhancing wound healing, comprising the step of administering to the wound site an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, the activation of TGF-&bgr; resulting in enhanced wound healing. A method of preventing excessive fibrosis stimulated by TGF-&bgr; in pathology is also provided, comprising administering to a site of potential fibrosis an amount of inhibiting peptide from TSP effective to inhibit conversion of latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, resulting in reduced fibrosis. The invention also provides a method of blocking TGF-&bgr;-mediated inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation comprising contacting the endothelial cells with an inhibiting peptide effective to inhibit conversion of latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, resulting in proliferation of endothelial cells.
Abstract:
Peptides derived from the second type 1 repeat of human endothelial cell thrombospondin which bind to the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin have been isolated and synthetically produced. The peptides can be used to bind to fibronectin or other related collagen-binding proteins to inhibit fibronectin-dependent cell adhesion to collagen matrices and to inhibit interactions with collagen of other proteins that share homologies with the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin.