Monoclonal Antibodies to HIV-1 Vpr

Available for licensing are monoclonal antibodies against HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) and the respective hybridoma cell lines expressing the same. The antibodies provide a means for detecting HIV-1 Vpr. Currently, the mechanism of HIV pathogenesis believed to involve viral replication inside immune cells and other cells. At present, there are no clinical assays for detecting HIV-1 Vpr. Vpr circulates at detectable levels in the blood and is likely derived from degraded virions or released from infected cells. Vpr facilitates viral replication and disrupt normal cell function.

Conditionally Immortalized Human Podocyte Cell Lines

Podocytes, cells of the visceral epithelium in the kidneys, are a key component of the glomerular filtration barrier. Podocyte damage and loss contribute to the initiation of glomerular diseases. NIH investigators recently established long-term urinary cell cultures from two patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and two healthy volunteers, via transformation with the thermosensitive SV40 large T antigen (U19tsA58) together with human telomerase (hTERT).

Construct for Tetracycline Inducible Podocyte Specific Gene Expression in Mice

The National Institutes of Health announces the generation of a construct by ligating 2.5kb human podocin promoter sequence to gene encoding reverse tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activator which enables tetracycline-inducible podocyte specific gene of interest expression with another construct consisting of tetracycline responsive element, minimal CMV promoter and gene of interest.

Thyclotide Peptide Conjugates With Cell Permeability And Inhibitory Activity

Thyclotides are oligomeric molecules with chiral tetrahydrofuran (THF) diamine units consisting of either R,R or
S,S stereochemistry. Thyclotide sequences with R,R stereochemistry bind to complementary DNA and RNA
sequences with strong affinity and sequence specificity, while thyclotides with S,S stereochemistry have a helical
handedness that does not allow binding to DNA or RNA. Thyclotides are cell permeable and can be used to
suppress microRNA activity in cells. Peptides are oligomeric molecules consisting of amino acids found in

A3 Adenosine Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators

Selective A3AR agonists are sought as potential agents for treating inflammatory diseases,
chronic pain, cancer and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NIDDK investigators have invented 
new chemical composition as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the A3AR. These chemical 
compounds contain sterically constrained, bridged modifications and cycloalkyl rings of various 
sizes, as well as modifications of the 4-arylamino group. The compounds have added 

Sidechain Functionalized S-Acylbenzamides With Anti-HIV Activity

HIV infection remains a major medical problem, with approximately 38 million people worldwide living with HIV. Nipamovir and SAMT-247 are simple and inexpensive small molecules that inactivate HIV virus by interference with final maturation steps of the virus. This mechanism provides a high barrier for HIV to develop resistance. In fact, lab experiments designed to encourage HIV to develop resistance to Nipamovir and SAMT-247 have all failed. In animal tests, Nipamovir and SAMT-247 do not display toxic side effects.

Truncated Methanocarba Adenosine Derivatives as A3 Adenosine Receptor Antagonists

Novel A3 adenosine antagonists available for licensing. A3 receptors are particularly highly expressed in inflammatory cells, making it a potentially desirable target for inflammatory diseases. This technology relates to highly specific antagonists and partial agonists of A3 adenosine receptors, which are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase and have been broadly implicated in inflammation, cardiovascular disease, endocrine conditions and cancer. Further, A3 adenosine receptors have been implicated in asthma and glaucoma.

New Cholera Vaccine and Method for Conjugating Bacterial Polysaccharides to Proteins

A new conjugate vaccine for cholera has been developed. The invention includes a new method to conjugate the O-specific polysaccharide-core part of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide and protein subcomponents. Conventional technology has entailed chemical treatment of both components to introduce linkers, which made them amenable for covalent linking. The new method simplifies production by utilizing squaric acid chemistry for conjugating the free amine-containing species (e.g. polysaccharides) directly to amine-containing species (e.g.
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