Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to adenovirus protein modifications to augment immune response to a transgene of a recombinant adenovirus and to circumvent pre-existing anti-adenovirus immunity. Some embodiments are directed to a recombinant adenovirus derived from a recombinant adenovirus plasmid vector, wherein the recombinant adenovirus plasmid vector comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein, or antigenic portion thereof, operably linked to a heterologous promoter and a modified capsid or core protein, wherein an immunogenic epitope of Plasmodium circumsporozoite is inserted into or replaces at least part of a capsid or core protein. Other embodiments are directed to a pharmaceutical composition or a malaria vaccine composition comprising a recombinant adenovirus according to the above embodiments. Further embodiments include a method of treating, preventing, or diagnosing malaria, comprising administering a therapeutic amount of the pharmaceutical composition or malaria vaccine composition in accordance with the above embodiment.
Abstract:
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression is associated with a variety of conditions involving aberrant angiogenesis. Disclosed herein are fully human antibodies that specifically bind human VEGF and inhibit VEGF binding to VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2, and therefore inhibit VEGF signaling. Based on their ability to inhibit VEGF signaling, the antibodies disclosed herein may be used to treat angiogenesis and conditions associated with angiogenesis both in vivo and in vitro .
Abstract:
Provided herein in certain embodiments are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for modulating the functions of estrogen receptor alpha 36, for preventing and/or treating diseases related to estrogen receptor alpha 36, for preventing and/or treating respiratory diseases such as asthma, for inducing cell death and/or inhibiting cell proliferation and for preventing and/or treating diseases involving abnormal cell proliferation such as cancers.
Abstract:
Unregulated angiogenesis is associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Tumor growth and metastasis is dependent on the development of new blood vessels. The development of new blood vessels in the eye, or ocular neovascularization, has been implicated in a variety of serious ocular diseases. For instance, choroidal neovascularization is linked to age-related macular degeneration, while retinal neovascularization is linked to diabetic retinopathy. The present invention is based on the discovery of a peptide sequence, C16Y, which inhibits ocular neovascularization and tumor growth in vivo . C16Y is a scrambled version of the C16 peptide sequence from the y1 chain of laminin-1. Unlike C16, which is an angiogenic stimulator, C16Y has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis. The present invention discloses methods of treating ocular neovascularization and cancer using both full-length and truncated versions of the C16Y.
Abstract:
Mutations to the tumor suppressor protein p53 have been observed in 40-60% of all human cancers. These mutations are often associated with high nuclear and cytoplasmic concentrations of p53. Since many tumors exhibit highly elevated p53 levels, the protein is an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. Unfortunately, p53 is an autoantigen that is likely to be tolerated as a self-protein by the immune system. The present invention is based on the discovery that this self-tolerance can be overcome by administration of recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) containing a nucleic acid that encodes p53 (rMVAp53). The invention discloses a method of generating a p53-specific CTL response to tumor cells expressing mutated p53 by administering a composition comprising rMVAp53. Administration of rMVAp53 decreases tumor development, tumor growth, and mortality in a variety of malignant cell types. These effects are enhanced by administration of CTLA-4 blocker and/or CpG oligodeoxynucleotide immunomodulators.
Abstract:
This invention claims the process for producing two structural variants of functionalized 4-amino-3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and as inhibitors of malignant cell growth. This fundamental molecular construct operates as a heterocyclic mimic of the open-chain N-aminoarginines (or N-aminoguanidines) previously established as NOS inhibitors.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for and method of treatment or vascular procedures. An exitable lumen guide wire sheath (3) is disclosed and advantages thereof. The exitable lumen guide wire sheath (3) and method may be used as a multiple exitable lumen or single exitable lumen. A method of treatment of multiple branch vascular lesions is disclosed in which a desired branch of a multiple branch lesion may be protected for further procedures by an interventionalist or other practitioner. Other combinations and uses for the disclosed invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Abstract:
A crosshead die (16) for a plastic optical fiber fabrication system (10) is provided. The crosshead die (16) includes a body (28), an insert (32), mounting flanges (58) on the upstream (25) and downstream end (26) for securing the crosshead die (16) to adjacent equipment or another crosshead dies (16), an axial bore (14) for receiving a mixed molten material that makes up the core, and a radial bore (36) for receiving a mixed molten material that makes up the outer layering material to be co-extruded over the core. The die insert (32) includes a material distribution channel system (70) that provides substantially the same linear distance for the mixed molten material to travel prior to the co-extrusion. If multiple die inserts are utilized, the crosshead die is able to co-extrude multiple layers over the core. If the crosshead dies are serially assembled, additional concentric layers of material can be co-extruded atop the layered plastic optical fiber extruded from the upstream crosshead die.
Abstract:
The primary aspect of the present invention it directed to a three-dimensional matrix, a living tissue equivalent, a tissue microarray, methods of making thereof, and methods of using thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, the three-dimensional matrix comprises fibroblasts and a fibrin matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the three-dimensional matrix comprises blood plasma, thrombin and fibroblasts. The three-dimensional matrix in accordance with this invention may be used to construct living tissue equivalents, including but not limited to skin, blood vessel, bone, tendon, ligaments, and organ equivalents, among many others. Furthermore, the living tissue equivalents may be used to test the effect of various agents and to study the mechanism of disease and the efficacy of various treatment protocols.
Abstract:
The invention relates to compositions and methods for enhancing bone healing, bone formation and wound healing. More specifically, it relates to the use of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) following bone fracture, orthopaedic procedure or wound infliction to enhance healing.