摘要:
Methods and compositions are presented for the administration of transposon-based vectors to an animal or human to provide gene therapy to the animal or human.
摘要:
Methods and compositions are presented for the administration of transposon based vectors to an animal or human to provide gene therapy to the animal or human.
摘要:
Methods and compositions are presented for the administration of transposon based vectors to an animal or human to provide gene therapy to the animal or human.
摘要:
Methods and compositions are presented for the administration of transposon-based vectors to an animal or human to provide gene therapy to the animal or human
摘要:
Methods and compositions are presented for the administration of transposon-based vectors to an animal or human to provide gene therapy to the animal or human.
摘要:
A paratransgenesis system is disclosed to kill targeted social insects such as termites and cockroaches, for example the Formosan subterranean termite. A genetically modified yeast can be effectively used to express and deliver lytic peptides directly within the termite gut. Some highly lytic peptides directly damage the insect gut itself, leading to the death of the insect within about three days. Other lytic peptides kill all (or at least most) species of protozoa in the termite gut. The protozoa provide wood-digesting enzymes (cellulases) to the termite. Without these protozoa (and their cellulases) the insect dies within about six weeks. The system is completely free from conventional neurotoxins and other organic pesticides.
摘要:
“Minimalist” antimicrobial peptides are disclosed based on 50 to 80% &agr;,&agr;-dialkylated amino acids. The peptides are short, cationic, amphipathic, and possess a high helix propensity. Polar &agr;,&agr;-dialkylated amino acids are also disclosed. These peptides are easy and inexpensive to synthesize via solid-phase techniques. The peptides exhibit in vitro anti-bacterial properties at concentrations that are not lethal to normal mammalian cells. The peptides exhibit in vivo bioactivity against intracellular pathogens.
摘要:
Novel means have been discovered for increasing the resistance of an animal host (including humans) to diseases caused by intracellular bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. The infection treated may, for example, be equine infectious anemia, or infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. Novel means have also been found for treating tumors Augmentation of the host's defenses against infectious diseases or tumors is achieved by "arming" the host's cells with an exogenous gene encoding a natural or synthetic lytic peptide. For example, the transfection of hematopoietic stem cells and embryonic cells will produce animals with enhanced disease resistance; and transfection of TIL (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) cells or other cells can be used in the treatment of tumors. Genes coding for a cecropin or other native or synthetic lytic peptide can be transferred and stably expressed in mammalian, bony fish, other vertebrate, and other animal cells. The transformed cells have the ability to produce and secrete a broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent that has a systemic effect on certain pathogens, particularly pathogens that might otherwise evade or overcome host defenses.
摘要:
Novel means have been discovered for increasing the resistance of a mammalian host (including humans) to diseases caused by intracellular bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Novel means have also been found for treating tumors. Augmentation of the host's defenses against infectious diseases or tumors is achieved by "arming" the host's cells with a gene encoding the lytic peptide cecropin B. The host's own leukocytes, other cells involved in resistance to infection, or other cells are transformed, and expression of the gene is induced when needed to combat pathogens. Transfection of hematopoietic stem cells with the cecropin B gene will enhance disease resistance in mammals; and transfection of TIL (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) cells or other cells can be used in the treatment of tumors. The transformed cells have the ability to produce and secrete a broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent which has a systemic effect on certain pathogens, particularly pathogens that might otherwise evade or overcome host defenses. The peptide's expression is preferably induced only in areas of infection, where it will most effectively augment the host's defense systems. Expression of the exogenous gene does not damage a healthy recipient cell.
摘要:
Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid. The two components—the ligand and the lytic peptide—may optionally be administered as a fusion peptide, or they may be administered separately, with the ligand administered slightly before the lytic peptide, to activate cells with receptors for the ligand, and thereby make those cells susceptible to lysis by the lytic peptide. The compounds may be used in gene therapy to treat malignant or non-malignant tumors, and other diseases caused by clones or populations of “normal” host cells bearing specific receptors (such as lymphocytes), because genes encoding a lytic peptide or encoding a lytic peptide/peptide hormone fusion may readily be inserted into hematopoietic stem cells or myeloid precursor cells.