University of Pennsylvania

Velpandi Ayyavoo

David B Weiner

Sundarasamy Mahalingam

Mamata Patel

William Valentine Williams

Thanadavarayan Nagashunmugam

David Nathan Levy

Yosef Refaeli

Thomas Kieber-Emmons

Jong J Kim

Jean D Boyer

Sundarasama Mahalingham

Bin Wang

The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules encoding attenuated, non-functional virion infectivity factor (vif) proteins. The nucleic acid molecules of the invention are inserted into recombinant expression vectors and administered to mammals in order to induce a cellular and humoral immune response to the encoded protein product.

Attenuated vif DNA immunization cassettes for genetic vaccines

Improved vaccines and methods of using the same are disclosed. Immunosuppressive compositions for treating individuals who have autoimmune diseases or transplants and methods of using the same are disclosed.

Nucleic acid expression cassette encoding an HIV polyprotein comprising the ancillary gene products Vif, Vpu, and Nef

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The present invention provides methods of identifying anti-HIV compound by contacting human Vpr Interacting Protein (hVIP), or a fragment thereof known to interact with Vpr, with Vpr, or a fragment thereof known to interact with hVIP in the presence of a test compound, and comparing the affinity of the hVIP or fragment thereof to the Vpr or fragment thereof in the presence of the test compound with the affinity of the hVIP or fragment thereof to the Vpr or fragment thereof in the absence of the test compound. The present invention also provides transgenic non-human mammals comprising a recombinant expression vector that comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes hVIP.

Cellular receptor for HIV-1 Vpr essential for G2/M phase transition of the cell cycle

Conjugated compositions comprising a fragment of HIV-1 Vpr or a non-HIV-1 Vpr protein conjugated to a therapeutic compound and methods of using the same to deliver therapeutic compounds to a cell's nucleus or for the preparation of drug delivery particles are disclosed. Functional fragments of HIV-1 Vpr and functional non-HIV-1 Vpr proteins, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting cell proliferation and methods of treating an individual who has a hyperproliferative disease are disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds that inhibit Vpr protein binding to the p6 domain of p55 or to p6 protein and kits for performing such methods are disclosed.

Functional fragments of HIV-1 Vpr protein and methods of using the same

Method of inhibiting proliferation of cells using vpr protein or nucleotide sequences that encode vpr are disclosed. Method of preventing lymphocyte activation using vpr protein or nucleotide sequences that encode vpr are disclosed. Methods of treating an individual diagnosed with or suspected of suffering from autoimmune disease, diseases characterized by proliferating cells and graft versus host disease by administering vpr protein or a functional fragment thereof, or a nucleic acid molecule that comprises a nucleotide sequence that encodes vpr protein or a functional fragment thereof are disclosed. Conjugated compositions for delivery of active agents to the nucleus of cells are disclosed.

Compositions and methods for the abrogation of cellular proliferation utilizing the human immunodeficiency virus VPR protein

The present invention is directed to substantially pure Human Vpr Interacting Protein (hVIP), and fragments thereof. Also disclosed are isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode hVIP, or a fragment thereof; nucleic acid probes and primers directed to nucleic acid molecules that encode hVIP, or a fragment thereof; oligonucleotide molecules that consist of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a portion of the nucleotide sequence that encodes hVIP; vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules encoding hVIP; recombinant expression vectors that comprise nucleic acid sequences that encode hVIP; host cells that comprise recombinant expression vectors which include nucleic acid sequences that encode hVIP; genetic therapy vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules encoding hVIP; isolated antibody which binds to an epitope on hVIP; pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and nucleic acid molecules complementary to a portion of hVIP; methods of making hVIP; and methods of inhibiting expression of hVIP oligonucleotides complementary to a portion of the nucleotide sequence that encodes hVIP.

The present invention is directed to substantially pure human Vpr Interacting Protein (hVIP), and fragments thereof. Also disclosed are isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode hVIP, or a fragment thereof; nucleic acid probes and primers directed to nucleic acid molecules that encode hVIP, or a fragment thereof; oligonucleotide molecules that consist of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a portion of the nucleotide sequence that encodes hVIP; vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules encoding hVIP; recombinant expression vectors that comprise nucleic acid sequences that encode hVIP; host cells that comprise recombinant expression vectors which include nucleic acid sequences that encode hVIP; genetic therapy vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules encoding hVIP; isolated antibody which binds to an epitope on hVIP; pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and nucleic acid molecules complementary to a portion of hVIP; methods of making hVIP; and methods of inhibiting expression of hVIP oligonucleotides complementary to a portion of the nucleotide sequence that encodes hVIP.

Cellular receptor for HIV-1 Vpr essential for G2/M phase

DNA molecules which encode rip-1 protein sequences are disclosed. Expression vectors and host cells which include the DNA molecules are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Monroeville, PA, United States of America

Velpandi Ayyavoo