The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Ronald N Germain

Luigi Racioppi

Jay A Berzofsky

Hidemi Takahashi

Franca Ronchese-Le Gros

Bernard Moss

Gene M Shearer

Mario S Clerici

Anne Hosmalin

Charles D Pendleton

Weizhe Li

Michael Y Gerner

Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for clearing tissue that preserve cellular morphology, reporter fluorescence, and epitope labeling which allow for quantitative phenotypic analysis of intact organs. The compositions include, for example, a compound of formula R&#x2014;C(X)&#x2014;NRR, wherein Ris alkyl, haloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, amino, or alkylamino, X is O or S, and Rand Rare independently H, alkyl, or hydroxyalkyl, a salt thereof, or a combination thereof, and at least one non-ionic density gradient medium. Also disclosed are methods for clearing tissue comprising positioning a tissue in a tissue clearing composition and allowing a tissue clearing composition to permeate the tissue. Further disclosed are methods for visualizing tissue characteristics which involve fixing a tissue, staining the tissue, positioning the tissue in the tissue clearing composition and allowing the tissue clearing composition to permeate the tissue, and imaging the tissue utilizing a microscope or tissue scanning device.

Method and composition for optical clearing of tissues

The present invention concerns TCR ligands with immunomodulatory properties, as well as methods of identifying such ligands and of using such ligands to modulate T cell effector responses.

T cell receptor ligands and methods of using same

T-cell receptor ligands and methods of using same

The instant invention describes the synthesis of short peptides, corresponding to the amino acid residues of the V3 loop of the gpl6O envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 numbered 315 to 329 by Ratner (Ratner, L. et al., Nature 313, 277 (1985)) in the strain IIIB, wherein the residue corresponding to number 325 in HIV-1 IIIB is substituted by the homologous residue from another clinical isolate or strain. The invention further describes the use of said peptides in pharmaceutical compositions and an immunization protocol which elicits cytotoxic T cells reactive to a broad range of isolates of HIV-1.

Method to induce cytotoxic T Lymphocytes specific for a broad array of

The instant invention describes the synthesis of short peptides, corresponding to the amino acid residues of the V3 loop of the gp160 envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 numbered 315 to 329 by Ratner (Ratner, L. et al., Nature 313, 277 (1985)) in the strain IIIB, wherein the residue corresponding to number 325 in HIV-1 IIIB is substituted by the homologous residue from another clinical isolate or strain. The invention further describes the use of said peptides in pharmaceutical compositions and an immunization protocol which elicits cytotoxic T cells reactive to a broad range of isolates of HIV-1.

The subject invention relates to a peptide having the amino acid sequence Glu-Ile-Cys-Thr-Glu-Met-Glu-Lys-Glu-Gly-Lys-Ile-Ser-Lys-Ile-Gly-Pro or portions thereof. This peptide is derived from, or based upon, a region of a relatively conserved epitope of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The peptide may be utilized in the treatment of patients having human immunodeficiency virus or in the prevention of infection of those individuals who have been exposed to the disease, yet have not become sero-positive. The preparation containing the peptide may be administered either subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously.

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Potomac, MD, United States of America

Ronald N Germain