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The ubiquitous use of antibiotics has resulted in the selection of bacteria that are relatively resistant to these drugs. Furthermore, few drugs are effective against viral and fungal microorganisms. There is therefore a continuing need to identify novel agents that reduce or inhibit the growth of such microorganisms, or to identify ways of modifying existing agents in order to give them superior antimicrobial activities, or to identify agents that may recruit inflammatory cells.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 20 million Americans, costing billions of dollars in health care annually. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage, leading to a loss of the cartilage "cushion" between the bones of the joints. Risk factors associated with OA include age, obesity, traumatic injury and overuse due to sports or occupational stresses. There is no cure for OA and current treatments are directed at the symptomatic relief of pain, and at improving and maintaining joint function.

This invention identifies a monoclonal antibody (4G10) against the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and is a mouse IgG1 antibody. CXCR4 has been identified as a co-receptor mediating entry of HIV-1 into T cells. Subsequently, CXCR4 has been implicated in normal physiological functions, including activation of B cells and B cell progenitors and guiding their migration into the bone marrow (via its ligand SDF-1). CXCR4 also functions in T cell progenitor migration and neural progenitor stem cell activation.

Cardiovascular disease is a major health risk throughout the industrialized world. Atherosclerosis, the most prevalent of cardiovascular diseases, is the principal cause of heart attack, stroke, and gangrene of the extremities. It is also the principal cause of death in the United States.

Purines such as adenosine and ATP have been shown to play a wide array of roles in biological systems such as inter alia, modulator of vasodilation and hypotension, muscle relaxant, central depressant, inhibitor of platelet aggregation, regulator of energy supply/demand, responder to oxygen availability, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. All P1 and P2 receptor nucleoside ligands suffer from chemical instability that is caused by the labile glycosidic linkage in the sugar moiety of the nucleoside.

NF-kB has been found to be important in immune responses, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and in organ development. Several years ago it was discovered that an IKKgamma/NEMO protein was essential as an adaptor molecule to mediate TNF-alpha, IL-1, and oncoprotein induced activation of NF-kB. Mutation in IKKgamma/NEMO also results in two human genetic diseases, Familial incontinentia pigmenti and hypohidrotic/anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. The NIH announces mouse monoclonal antibodies to IKKgamma/NEMO that are far superior to other immunological reagents.

Congenital hydrocephalus is a significant public health problem, affecting approximately one in 500 live births in the United States. Congenital hydrocephalus has an adverse effect on developing brain and may persist as neurological defects in children and adults. Some of these defects may manifest as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and visual disabilities. Improved diagnostics are needed for assessing the risks of developing this debilitating disease.

This invention portrays a simple method for treatment of antigen-deficiency diseases by orally administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of the deficient antigen, wherein the antigen is not present in a liposome. This method increases hemostasis in a subject having hemophilia A or B, by orally administering to the hemophiliac a therapeutically effective amount of the appropriate clotting factor, sufficient to induce oral tolerance and supply exogenous clotting factor to the subject.

The National Institutes of Health announces three specific monoclonal antibodies that strongly inhibit and/or immunoblot the human cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2).

Cytochrome P450s catalyze the NADPH-dependent oxidation of arachidonic acid to various eicosanoids found in several species. The eicosanoids are biosynthesized in numerous tissues including pancreas, intestine, kidney, heart and lung where they are involved in many different biological activities.