Cytokines exert their respective biochemical and physiological effects by binding to specific receptor molecules, which then stimulate signal transduction pathways. Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a type I cytokine whose receptor is expressed on T, B, and NK cells.

Available for licensing and commercial development are novel biotechnological tools, prophylactics, therapeutics, and methods for modulating the activation state of an antigen presenting cell (APC) and thereby modulating the activation of a killer T cell.

A primary goal of diabetes therapy is to improve control of blood glucose levels (known as glycemic control) in patients. Prospective studies of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes indicate that careful glycemic control significantly reduces the risk of microvascular, neurological, and cardiovascular complications of diabetes. The current method of monitoring glycemic control involves measuring levels of the intracellular hemoglobin (HbA1C).

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colorectum and affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States. The cause of UC is not known, although an abnormal immunological response to bacterial antigens in the gut microflora is thought to be involved. Present treatments for UC include anti-inflammatory therapy using aminosalicylates or corticosteroids, as well as immunomodulators and diet.

Micropthalmia Transcription Factor (MITF) plays an important role in melanocyte development and melanoma growth. MITF is important for embryonic development, regulating the generation of pigment cells and formation of melanomas and other tumors. MITF is made in various isoforms that may play unique roles for different organs during different developmental periods. Additionally, tissue MITF levels can serve as a molecular marker for the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma and therapeutic response.

Available for licensing and commercial development is a newly discovered bacterium in the Acetobacteraceae family. This bacterium was isolated, characterized and grown from lymph nodes of a patient with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a rare genetic disorder that impairs the immune system.

Available for licensing is the A.E7 T cell clone, a model Th1 clone described in Matis et al., J Immunol. 1983 Apr;130(4):1527-1535 [PubMed abs] and J Immunol. 1983 Sep;131(3):1049-1055 [PubMed abs].

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.

Two chimpanzee mAbs specifically reacted with light chain of the botulinum neurotoxin A and neutralize the toxin in the mouse model. They can be used for emergency prophylaxis and treatment of either naturally acquired or terrorist associated botulism. Since the sequence of chimpanzee immune globulin is virtually identical to that of humans, the MAbs are not expected to have problems in repeated administration as equine antibodies. They can also be used for rapid diagnosis of botulinum neurotoxin A.

ADP-ribosylation is important in many cellular processes, including DNA replication and repair, maintenance of genomic stability, telomere dynamics, cell differentiation and proliferation, and necrosis and apoptosis. Poly-ADP-ribose is important in a number of critical physiological processes such as DNA repair, cellular differentiation, and carcinogenesis. Until recently, only one human enzyme, PARG, had been identified that degrades the ADP-ribose polymer.