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NIAID, IAVI, Emergent, and Scripps have developed two recombinant adenovirus type 4 (Ad4) vector-based vaccine candidates. These replicating Ad4 vector-based candidates have shown improved activity against tier 2 HIV-1 isolates in experimental animals. Tier 2 isolates are among the most prevalent in infected populations. The two candidates, Ad4-Env150KN and Ad4-Env145NFL, incorporate novel design features based on Ad4-EnvC150 (1086c). Specifically, the truncation of the cytoplasmic tail of Env increases cell surface expression and has resulted in improved antigenicity from both candidates.

Feedback vasodilation by endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is under the regulation of globins. NIH Researchers discovered that not only the alpha globin but also the beta globin subunits of hemoglobin are expressed in the human artery wall, with beta globin interacting directly with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

The invention is a new algorithm for decoding neuronal responses based on the discovery that neuronal spike trains can be described using order statistics. The device has applications in the direct control of prosthetic limbs by neuronal signals originating from electrodes placed in the brain. The method allows for decoding neuronal responses by monitoring sequences of potentials from neurons while specific motor tasks are carried out.

Although flaviviruses cause a great deal of human suffering and economic loss, there is a shortage of effective vaccines. This invention relates to dengue virus mutations that may contribute to the development of improved dengue vaccines. Site directed and random mutagenesis techniques were used to introduce mutations into the dengue virus genome and to assemble a collection of useful mutations for incorporation in recombinant live attenuated dengue virus vaccines.

Hepatitis E is endemic in many countries throughout the developing world, in particular on the continents of Africa and Asia. The disease generally affects young adults and has a very high mortality rate, up to 20%, in pregnant women. This invention relates to the identification of a neutralization site of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and neutralizing antibodies that react with it. The neutralization site is located on a polypeptide from the ORF2 gene (capsid gene) of HEV.

Hearing loss is a common communication disorder affecting nearly 1 in 1,000 children in the United States alone, and nearly 50% of adults by the age of eighty. Hearing loss can be caused by environmental and disease-related factors; however, hearing loss due to genetic factors accounts for approximately 50% of cases.

Cytochrome P450s catalyze the metabolism of a wide range of exogenous compounds, including drugs, industrial chemicals, environmental pollutants, and carcinogens. The 2C family of cytochrome P450 metabolizes an extensive number of drugs which include tolbutamide, S-Warfarin, mephenytoin, diazepam and taxol. The inventors cloned the cDNAs for several different CYP2J subfamily members including human CYP2J2, rat CYP2J3, mouse CYP2J5, mouse CYP2J6, and mouse CYP2J9. The recombinant proteins were expressed in insect cells.

Through injury or diseases, human or animal lungs may become too weak to sustain a sufficient flow of oxygen to the body and to remove adequate amounts of expired carbon dioxide. The present invention is a tracheal tube ventilation apparatus which efficiently rids patients of expired gases and promotes healthier breathing. This is accomplished by creating one or more leak holes in the wall of the endotracheal tube above the larynx, such as in the back of the mouth (i.e., oropharynx), so that expired gases can leak out of the endotracheal tube.

Bacterial toxins such as cholera toxin and diphtheria toxin catalyze the ADP-ribosylation of important cellular target proteins in their human hosts, thereby, as in the case of cholera toxin, irreversibly activating adenylyl cyclase. In this reaction, the toxin transfers the ADP-ribose moiety of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) to an acceptor amino acid in a protein or peptide. ADP-ribosylation leads to a peptide/protein with altered biochemical or pharmacological properties. Mammalians proteins catalyze reactions similar to the bacterial toxins.