Available Technologies

ADDITIONAL FILTERS

292 available technologies

Gene and Mutations Causative for Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

This invention relates generally to a method of identifying an individual having an increased susceptibility to developing Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (FPPH), as well as to a method for diagnosing an individual suffering from FPPH. The invention also relates to a method of identifying an individual having an increased susceptibility to developing (non-familial) Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH), as well as to a method for diagnosing an individual suffering from PPH.

Olfactory Genes from the Malaria Mosquito

This technology facilitates the discovery and design of novel agents for either repelling or otherwise controlling insects that have important economic or medical significance. In particular, mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting a number of diseases, including malaria, West Nile, dengue and yellow fevers. The Zwiebel laboratory has identified human odorants and the protein receptors in mosquitoes that allow female mosquitoes to identify their hosts when they need blood to satisfy their reproductive needs. With funding from the Gates Foundation's Grand Challenge in Global Health initiative, the Zwiebel laboratory, along with collaborators at Yale, Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and researchers in Africa, developed biological and behavioral assays to screen and test numerous agents as potential repellants and attractants for the Anopholes gambiae mosquito.
These methods have been applied to include agricultural pests, disease vectors and nuisance insects (important for many tourist-based economies).

New Gene Involved in Male Fertility

It is estimated that approximately 30% of men have reduced fertility and 2% are totally infertile. Despite these large numbers relatively little is know about the molecular bases of male infertility. On the flip side of male infertility is the need for male contraception. Currently there are no reversible, convenient male contraceptives available. In order to develop male contraceptives and acquire a greater understanding of male fertility there is a need to develop animal models to study the molecular basis and pathways that regulate and control male fertility. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a model mouse system to study male fertility. There research focuses on the epididymus, which is the area that spermatozoa acquire the ability to move and fertilize. For this region to be functional tissue and cell specific gene regulation must occur. These investigators have discovered one such gene regulated within this area, mEP17. These researchers can fuse either mouse or human EP17 or just the regulatory regions of either EP17 to reporter genes and the resulting fusion can be used to screen for substances that regulate this gene and affect male fertility. This system becomes a powerful tool to identify drugs which affect this gene and be potential male contraceptives. In addition polypeptides generated to this gene may be used as vaccines for male contraceptives.

Method to Detect PDE Inhibitor Binding

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) is an enzyme which degrades cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in smooth muscle cells. The common known drug Viagra is similar in molecular structure to cGMP and acts as a competitive binding agent of PDE5. Thus in the presence of Viagra unbound cGMP levels increase which results in smooth muscle relaxation or vasodilation leading to an increased inflow of blood. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a method for assaying compounds which bind PDEs. Not only will this method be useful in identify other PDE inhibitors but due to the high affinity of this system this method could be used to identify and isolate PDEs from various crude tissue fractions.

The tag-A Gene and Methods for Detecting Predisposition to Peptic Ulceration and Gastric Carcinoma

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding an approximately 120-128 kilodalton antigen of Helicobacter pylori, or an antigenic fragment thereof, wherein the antigen is associated with peptic ulceration. The present invention also provides methods of detecting the presence of a Helicobacter pylori strain possessing the 120-128 kilodalton antigen in a subject, comprising the steps of contacting an antibody-containing sample from the subject with a detectable amount of the tagA antigen or antigenic fragment of the present invention and detecting the reaction of the antigen or fragment and the antibody. A mutant H. pylori not expressing a functional tagA antigen is also provided.

Use of Dexatromethorphan; Sodium Benzoate, Phenylacetate and Phenylbuterate to Treat Autism Associated with Increased Levels of Glutamine and Glycine.

A method of treating autism in a patient. The method includes administering to the patient an effective amount of a glutamine level reducing agent, a glycine level reducing agent or combinations thereof. Representative glutamine level reducing agents are phenylbutyrate and phenylacetate, and a representative glycine level reducing agent is sodium benzoate. Optionally, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist can also be administered to the patient. A representative N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist is dextromethorphan.

Novel Cancer Antigen Delivery System with Enhanced Immune Response

Vanderbilt scientists have modified the currently used tuberculosis vaccine, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), so that it accesses the immune system in a manner that produces favorable cellular immune responses. The Vanderbilt vaccine, called pro-apoptotic BCG (paBCG)

Lipoxygenase Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Isolated and purified lipoxygenase proteins and nucleic acids are described. Particularly, a novel human 15(S) lipoxygenase (15-Lox-2) protein and cDNA and a cDNA for mouse 8S-lipoxygenase are described. Recombinant host cells, recombinant nucleic acids and recombinant proteins are also described, along with methods of producing each. Isolated and purified antibodies to 15-Lox-2 and 8-Lox, and methods of producing the same, are also described.

Human CEGP-2 cDNA

This invention is directed to cloning and characterization of BVES (blood vessel/epicardial substance), a cDNA expressed in developing and adult heart and skeletal muscle cells in chick, mouse and human. Also provided are applications of BVES as a marker for cardiovascular or skeletal muscle diseases.

Guava (Psidium Guajava) 13-Hydroperoxide Lyase and Uses Thereof

This invention relates to fatty acid 13-hydroperoxide lyase protein from guava (Psidium guajava) and the gene encoding the protein. Expression systems for recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase and methods of using recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase for the production of green notes are provided.

Recombinase-Deficient Helicobacter Pylori and Related Methods

An isolated nucleic acid encoding the Helicobacter pylori recombinase comprising the nucleotide sequence defined in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NO:1 is provided. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid that selectively hybridizes with the nucleic acid of claim 1 under stringent conditions and has at least 70% complementarity with the segment of the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 to which it hybridizes. Also provided is a mutant strain of H. pylori that does not express a functional recombinase (recA.sup.- mutant). An immunogenic amount of the recA.sup.- mutant H. pylori in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is provided. A method of immunizing a subject against infection by H. pylori comprises administering to the subject an immunogenic amount of mutant H. pylori in a carrier for the mutant.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Chlamydia Pneumoniae

The technology provides a method for diagnosis of MS by detection of Chlamydia and treatment of MS by total eradication of Chlamydia. This technology provides for eradication of Chlamydia by a novel treatment of combining various anti-chlamydial agents directed at different phases of the chlamydial life cycle.

A Novel Biodegradable Cationic Liposome for Intravenous and Intratracheal Gene Delivery

The present invention relates to synthetic cationic lipids, liposome formulations and the use of such compounds to introduce functional bioactive agents into cultured cells.

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