Available Technologies

ADDITIONAL FILTERS

295 available technologies

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.

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.

BMP-15 Compositions

Purified BMP-15-related proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. DNA molecules encoding the BMP-15-related proteins are also disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and cartilage and/or other connective tissue defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

Vehicle Mounted Crash Impact Attenuator

Model Uses PA1-1 Inhibitors

A method of testing a candidate composition for PAI-1 inhibition activity is disclosed. The method includes the steps of obtaining a transgenic non-human warm blooded vertebrate animal having incorporated into its genome a PAI-1 gene encoding a biologically active PAI-1 polypeptide, the PAI-1 gene being present in the genome in a copy number effective to confer over-expression in the transgenic non-human animal of the PAI-1 polypeptide; administering the composition to the transgenic non-human animal; and observing the transgenic non-human animal for determination of a change in the transgenic non-human animal indicative of inhibition of the activity of PAI-1. A transgenic non-human animal useful in such a method is also disclosed, as is a PAI-1 transgene construct encoding a biologically active PAI-1 polypeptide useful for preparing the transgenic non-human animal.

Featured Video

CTTC: Moving Innovation Forward.

To watch more videos like this one, visit CTTC's YouTube Channel.

CTTC on Twitter