HLA molecules are indispensable and invaluable tools for efficient vaccine research and development. Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death among adults and the most prominent cause of death in infants and children worldwide. Thus, rapid availability of prophylactic vaccines for cancers and infectious diseases such as HIV, HPV, influenza and diarrheal and respiratory diseases is a world-wide health concern.

Fabry disease is a severe metabolic disorder that affects the vascular system of multiple tissues and organs. An estimated 1 in 40,000 individuals inherit this rare disease, and suffer from various complications including stroke, renal failure, and cardiac arrest. At present, molecular markers that directly measure cellular dysfunction to not exist, thus, prognosis for Fabry disease therapy can not be assessed.

Parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques employ RF coil arrays for faster data acquisition, and have been shown to reduce the overall length of MRI procedures, improve signal-to–noise ratio (SNR) and image quality, thus making MRI more attractive and less costly. Elimination of inductive coupling is an essential step in designing RF coil arrays for parallel MRI.

This invention is a new three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging device that will allow better imaging of biologic tissue. Conventional BURST technology excites a set of equally spaced, narrow strips in an object and creates an image from a single slice, perpendicular to the direction of the strips. In order to scan multiple slices or for three-dimensional imaging, repeated excitation of the same strips is required. For ultra-fast scanning, repetition times are short compared to longitudinal relaxation times, leading to saturation effects and, thus, inefficiency.

Available for licensing and commercial development are methods of using two MAP kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors, PD98059 and U0126, in the prevention and treatment of polyomavirus infection. Decrease in viral protein expression upon treatment with the MEK inhibitors has been demonstrated for two polyomavirus species, JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV). It is believed that these MEK inhibitors may also be effective against other polyomavirus species in which TGF-beta expression is elevated.

The development of sensitive and specific tests for JC virus and BK virus activity may provide tools essential in the steps required to find a treatment for these fatal infections. This invention describes a Recombinant Vpl protein (rVp1) that can be used 1) as an antigen source for ELISA assays 2) for studies of viral proteins in cells and 3) for the self assembly of icosahedral particles encapsidating DNA [gene expression of choice in range of up to 5.1kb size gene].

Available for licensing and commercial development are methods of using Tranilast [N-(3',4'-dimethoxycinnamoyl)anthranilic acid] in the prevention and treatment of human polyomavirus infection. Treatment with Tranilast decreases viral protein expression for two human polyomavirus species, JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV). Furthermore, the increase in JCV/BKV protein production observed upon the addition of TGF-beta could also be effectively abolished by Tranilast co-treatment.

Niemann-Pick disease is a class of inherited lipid storage diseases. Niemann-Pick Type C disease is an autosomal recessive neurovisceral lipid storage disorder which leads to systemic and neurological abnormalities including ataxia, seizures, and loss of speech. Patients with the disease typically die as children. The biochemical hallmark of Niemann-Pick Type C cells is the abnormal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in lysosomes, which results in the delayed homeostatic regulation of both uptake and esterification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

The invention is a method and composition for inhibiting or treating symptoms of inflammatory demyelination or inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders. This is accomplished by administering recombinant E-selectin protein intranasally and resulting in E selectin-specific regulatory T-cells.

Motion artifacts continue to be a significant problem in MRI of human brain. Prospective motion correction based on external tracking systems has been proposed to ameliorate this issue. However, the calibration of these systems is very complicated and time consuming, as it requires a camera system calibration as well as a calibration between camera and MRI system using dedicated phantoms. An alternative motion correction method for MRI that does not require calibration and can work with just a single video camera has been developed and is available for licensing.