Musc Foundation for Research Development

University of California

Jian-yun Dong

David A Schwartz

James S Norris

Yuet W Kan

Zdzislaw M Szulc

Alicja Bielawska

Yusuf A Hannun

Jacek Bielawski

David H Holman

Ahmed M El-Zawahry

John McKillop

The invention provides the compounds of formula (): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R, R, R, R, A, X, Y, a, b and n are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods for making the compounds of formula (I) and their use in treating or preventing diseases associated with cell overproliferation and dysfunctional sphingolipid signal transduction. The invention also encompasses the use of the compounds in combination with an apoptosis-signaling ligand, such as Fas ligand. Preferably, the Fas ligand is administered in the form of a gene therapy agent. 

Ceramides and apoptosis-signaling ligand

Recombinant expression vectors and methods are provided for detecting HIV and monitoring HIV drug resistance. The method comprises: taking a culture of cells; adding a recombinant viral vector into the culture to transduce the cells, the recombinant viral vector comprising a reporter sequence comprising a reporter gene whose expression is regulated by a protein specific to HIV viruses which is expressed from a genome of an HIV virus upon infection of a cell in the culture that is transduced by the recombinant viral vector, and a receptor sequence comprising CD 4 and one or more coreceptor genes, expression of the coreceptor genes facilitating productive infection of the transduced cell and enabling HIV virus which has infected the transduced cell to replicate and infect non-infected cells in the culture of the cells transduced by the recombinant viral vector; infecting the transduced cells with a sample containing HIV; adding one or more anti-HIV agents to the cell culture; and detecting a change in a level of expression of the reporter gene in cells.

Method for producing recombinant cells for detecting HIV

Methods are provided for screening natural and synthetic anti-HIV agents using recombinant cells that are rendered susceptible to productive infection of various strains, subtypes or clades of HIV from both laboratory and clinical isolates. The method comprises: taking a culture of recombinant cells in which at least one of the recombinant cells comprises a reporter sequence comprising a reporter gene whose expression is regulated by a protein specific to HIV, and a heterologous sequence which encodes CD4 and one or more additional cell surface receptors, wherein the heterologous sequence expresses CD4 and the one or more additional cell surface receptors at elevated levels as compared to the cell in the absence of expression by the heterologous sequence such that productive infection of the recombinant cell by HIV is achieved, which is defined by HIV viral replication and the infection of non-infected cells in the culture of the recombinant cells; contacting the cell culture with a sample containing HIV; adding a tester agent to the cell culture; and detecting a change in a level of expression of the reporter gene in the cells in the culture.

Compositions and methods for detecting human immunodeficiency virus

Viral vectors for use in monitoring HIV drug resistance

The present invention provides improved AAV vectors for delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids. In particular, it provides vectors for delivery of CFTR polynucleotides.

Efficient AAV vectors

Growing community of inventors

Mt. Pleasant, SC, United States of America

Jian-yun Dong