摘要:
The present invention relates to an enhanced and simplified herpes virus amplicon packaging system. The packaging system comprises a herpes virus amplicon vector and a packaging vector. In one embodiment, the packaging vector comprises a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing the HSV-1 genome. The packaging vector contains an intact pac site but is otherwise rendered packaging defective. The packaging vector can be rendered packaging defective by inserting nucleotides into the pac site, or by otherwise interfering with the capsid's ability to close, for example, by increasing the size of the DNA fragment upon which the herpes virus genome is cloned. This system can be used to package a wide range of nucleotide sequences (e.g., a therapeutic or antigenic gene) into an empty herpes virus particle taking advantage of the large transgene capacity of herpes viruses. This system can also be used as a vaccine to induce protective immunity against HSV-1, or other complex pathogens.
摘要:
The present invention relates to viral mutants and methods of using these viral mutants for selectively killing neoplastic cells. The viral mutants of the invention are capable of selectively killing neoplastic cells by a combination of viral mediated oncolysis and anti-cancer (“suicide”) gene therapy.
摘要:
A method for selectively killing nervous system and peripheral neoplastic cells is provided. Viral vectors are used to selectively express a cytochrome P450 gene in neoplastic cells, whose gene product targets the cells for selective killing, by rendering the cells sensitive to a chemotherapeutic agent.
摘要:
One of the impediments to the treatment of some human brain tumors (e.g. gliomas) has been the degree to which they expand, migrate widely, and infiltrate normal tissue. We demonstrate that a clone of multipotent neural progenitor stem cells, when implanted into an experimental glioma, will migrate along with and distribute themselves throughout the tumor in juxtaposition to widely expanding and aggressively advancing tumor cells, while continuing to express a foreign reporter gene. Furthermore, drawn somewhat by the degenerative environment created just beyond the infiltrating tumor edge, the neural progenitor cells migrate slightly beyond and surround the invading tumor border. When implanted at a distant sight from the tumor bed (e.g., into normal tissue, into the contralateral hemisphere, into the lateral ventricles) the donor neural progenitor/stem cells will migrate through normal tissue and specifically target the tumor cells. These results suggest the adjunctive use of neural progenitor/stem cells as a novel, effective delivery vehicle for helping to target therapeutic genes and vectors to invasive brain tumors that have been refractory to treatment.
摘要:
Microvesicles are small membrane vesicles that either shed or bud off eukarotic cells. Analysis of the nucleic acid content of microvesicles may be useful in detecting the presence or absence of genetic aberrations. This invention discloses novel methods of diagnosing, prognosing, monitoring, or treating a disease, such as cancer, or other medical condition in a subject involving analyzing one or more nucleic acids contained within an isolated microvesicle for the presence or absence of one or more Kras genetic aberrations.
摘要:
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methods of aiding diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and evaluation of a disease or other medical condition in a′ subject by detecting a biomarker in microvesicles isolated from a biological, sample from the subject. Moreover, disclosed subject matter is directed to methods of diagnosis, monitoring a disease by determining the concentration of microvesicles within a biological sample; methods of delivering a nucleic acid or protein to a target all by administering microvesicles that contain said nucleic acid or protein; methods for performing a body fluid transfusion by introducing a microvesicle-free or microvesicle enriched fluid fraction into a patient.
摘要:
Methods of killing neoplastic cells are provided. The invention relates to the use of folylpolyglutamyl synthetase (FPGS) gene transfer to enhance the sensitivity of several types of tumor cells to polyglutamylatable antifolate drugs, such as methotrexate (MTX) and edatrexate (EDX).
摘要:
The present invention relates to herpes simplex virus (HSV) amplicon vectors, and in particular, HSV-1 amplicon vectors, which have been genetically modified and used alone or with consequent genetically modified HSV virus, to target a selected cell type, such as neoplastic cells. The present invention also relates to methods of using such vectors to target a cell, in order to treat a pathologic condition, such as cancer.
摘要:
Methods are provided for detecting the presence of a gene for torsion dystonia in a human subject. Furthermore, a haplotype which is associated with torsion dystonia is disclosed. Methods and kits for the detection of torsion dystonia in a subject are additionally provided.
摘要:
The invention concerns gene signatures obtained from microvesicles and a method of applying these gene signatures in helping to determine a biological condition. The determination of a biological condition may aid, for example, the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy treatment selection for a disease in a subject.