1. An expression vector comprising:
(a) a DNA sequence encoding a nuclear-anchoring protein operatively linked to a heterologous promoter, said nuclear-anchoring protein comprising (i) a DNA binding domain which binds to a specific DNA sequence, and (ii) a functional domain that binds to a nuclear component, or a functional equivalent thereof; and
(b) a multimerized DNA sequence forming a binding site for the nuclear anchoring protein,
wherein said vector lacks an origin of replication that can function in a mammalian cell.
2. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear component is mitotic chromatin, the nuclear matrix, nuclear domain 10 (ND10), or nuclear domain POD.
3. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear anchoring-protein is a chromatin-anchoring protein, and said functional domain binds mitotic chromatin.
4. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein contains a hinge or linker region.
5. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is a natural protein of eukaryotic, prokaryotic, or viral origin.
6. The vector of claim 5, wherein said natural protein is of viral origin.
7. The vector of claim 5, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is a natural protein of eukaryotic origin.
8. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is that of a papilloma virus or an Epstein-Barr virus.
9. The vector of claim 8, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is the E2 protein of Bovine Papilloma Virus type 1 or Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 and the multimerized DNA sequence forming a binding site for the nuclear anchoring protein is multimerized E2 binding sites or multimerized binding sites of EBNA1, respectively.
10. The vector of claim 9, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is the E2 protein of Bovine Papilloma Virus type 1 and the multimerized DNA sequence forming a binding site for the nuclear anchoring protein is a multimerized E2 binding site.
11. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is a High Mobility Group protein.
12. The vector of claim 1, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is a non-natural protein.
13. The vector of claim 12, wherein said nuclear-anchoring protein is a recombinant protein, a fusion protein, or a protein obtained by molecular modeling techniques.
14. The vector of claim 13, wherein said recombinant protein, fusion protein, or protein obtained by molecular modeling techniques contains any combination of a DNA binding domain which binds to said specific DNA sequence and a functional domain which binds to a nuclear component, wherein said functional domain which binds to a nuclear component is that of a papilloma virus, an Epstein-Barr-Virus, or a High Mobility Group protein.
15. The vector of claim 14, wherein said recombinant protein, fusion protein, or protein obtained by molecular modeling techniques contains any combination of a DNA binding domain which binds to said specific DNA sequence and a functional domain which binds to a nuclear component, wherein said functional domain which binds to a nuclear component is that of E2 protein of Bovine Papilloma Virus type 1, Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1, or a High Mobility Group protein.
16. The vector of claim 1, wherein said vector further comprises one or more expression cassettes of a DNA sequence of interest.
17. The vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest is that of an infectious pathogen.
18. The vector of claim 17, wherein said infectious pathogen is a virus.
19. The vector of claim 18, wherein said virus is selected from the group consisting of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Herpex Simplex Virus (HSV), Hepatitis C Virus, Influenzae Virus, and Enterovirus.
20. The vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest is that of a bacterium.
21. The vector of claim 20, wherein said bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Mycoplasma pneumonia.
22. The vector of claim 20, wherein said bacterium is Salmonella.
23. The vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest is that of a fungal pathogen.
24. The vector of claim 23, wherein said fungal pathogen is Candida albigans.
25. The vector of claim 19, wherein said DNA sequence of interest is of HIV origin.
26. The vector of claim 25, wherein said DNA sequence of interest encodes a non-structural regulatory protein of HIV.
27. The vector of claim 26, wherein said non-structural regulatory protein of HIV is Nef, Tat or Rev.
28. The vector of claim 27, wherein said nonstructural regulatory protein of HIV is Nef.
29. The vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest encodes a structural protein of HIV.
30. The vector of claim 29, wherein said DNA sequence of interest is the gene encoding HIV gp120gp160.
31. The vector of claim 16, wherein a first said expression cassette comprises a DNA sequence of interest which encodes Nef, Tat or Rev, and wherein a second said expression cassette comprises a DNA sequence of interest which encodes Nef, Tat or Rev.
32. The vector of claim 16, wherein a first said expression cassette comprises a DNA sequence of interest which encodes Nef, Tat or Rev, and wherein a second said expression cassette comprises a DNA sequence of interest which encodes a structural protein of HIV.
33. The vector of claim 16, wherein the DNA sequence of interest encodes a protein associated with cancer.
34. The vector of claim 16, wherein the DNA sequence of interest encodes a protein associated with immune maturation, regulation of immune responses, or regulation of autoimmune responses.
35. The vector of claim 34, wherein said protein is APECED.
36. The vector of claim 16, wherein the DNA sequence of interest is the Aire gene.
37. The vector of claim 16, wherein the DNA sequence of interest encodes a protein that is defective in any hereditary single gene disease.
38. The vector of claim 16, wherein the DNA sequence of interest encodes a macromolecular drug.
39. The vector of claim 38, wherein the DNA sequence of interest encodes a cytokine.
40. The vector of claim 39, wherein said cytokine is an interleukin selected from the group consisting of IL1, IL2, IL4, IL6 and IL12.
41. The vector of claim 39, wherein the DNA sequence of interest encodes an interferon.
42. The vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest encodes a biologically active RNA molecule.
43. The vector of claim 42, wherein said biologically active RNA molecule is selected from the group consisting of inhibitory antisense and ribozyme molecules.
44. The vector of claim 43, wherein said inhibitory antisense or ribozyme molecules antagonize the function of an oncogene.
45. The vector of claim 16 for use as a medicament.
46. The vector of claim 16 for use as a carrier vector for a gene, genes, or a DNA sequence or DNA sequences of interest, such as a gene, genes, or a DNA sequence or DNA sequences encoding a protein or peptide of an infectious agent, a therapeutic agent, a macromolecular drug, or any combination thereof.
47. The vector of claim 16 for use as a medicament for treating inherited or acquired genetic defects.
48. The vector of claim 16 for use as a therapeutic DNA vaccine against an infectious agent.
49. The vector of claim 16 for use as a therapeutic agent.
50. A vector of claim 16 for the use for production of a protein encoded by said DNA sequence of interest in a cell or an organism.
51. A vector of claim 16 for the use for production of a therapeutic macromolecular agent in vivo.
52. A method for providing a protein to a subject, said method comprising administering to the subject the vector of claim 1, wherein said vector (i) further comprises a second DNA sequence encoding the protein to be provided to the subject, which second DNA sequence is operably linked to a second promoter, and (ii) does not encode Bovine Papilloma Virus protein E1, and wherein said subject does not express Bovine Papilloma Virus protein E1.
53. A method for inducing an immune response to a protein in a subject, said method comprising administering to the subject the vector of claim 1, wherein said vector (i) further comprises a second DNA sequence encoding said protein, which second DNA sequence is operably linked to a second promoter, and (ii) does not encode Bovine Papilloma Virus protein E1, and wherein said subject does not express Bovine Papilloma Virus protein E1.
54. A method for treating an infectious disease in a subject in need of said treatment, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of the vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest encodes a protein comprising an immunogenic epitope of an infectious agent.
55. A method for treating an inherited or acquired genetic defect in a subject in need of said treatment, said method comprising: administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of the vector of claim 16, wherein said DNA sequence of interest encodes a protein which is affected by said inherited or acquired genetic defect.
56. A method for expressing a DNA sequence in a subject, said method comprising administering the vector of claim 16 to said subject.
57. The method of claim 54, wherein said vector does not encode Bovine Papilloma Virus protein E1, and wherein said subject does not express Bovine Papilloma Virus protein E1.
58. A method for the preparation of a vector of claim 1 comprising:
(a) cultivating a host cell containing said vector; and
(b) recovering the vector.
59. The method of claim 58, further comprising before step (a) a step of transforming said host cell with said vector.
60. The method of claim 58, wherein said host cell is a prokaryotic cell.
61. The method of claim 58, wherein said host cell is an Escherichia coli.
62. A host cell, characterized by containing the vector of claim 1.
63. A host cell, characterized by containing the vector of claim 16.
64. The host cell of claim 62, wherein said host cell is a bacterial cell.
65. The host cell of claim 62, wherein said host cell is a mammalian cell.
66. A carrier vector containing the vector of claim 1.
67. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the vector of claim 16 and a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.
68. A DNA vaccine containing the vector of claim 16.
69. A DNA vaccine containing the vector of claim 17.
70. A DNA vaccine containing the vector of claim 18.
71. A DNA vaccine containing the vector of claim 20.
72. A DNA vaccine containing the vector of claim 23.
73. A gene therapeutic agent containing the vector of claim 16.
74. A method for the preparation of the DNA vaccine of claim 68, said method comprising combining the vector with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle.
75. A method for the preparation of the DNA vaccine of claim 68, said method comprising combining the vector with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle.
76. A method for the preparation of the DNA vaccine of claim 68, said method comprising combining the vector with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle.
77. A method for the preparation of the DNA vaccine of claim 68, said method comprising combining the vector with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle.
78. A method for the preparation of the DNA vaccine of claim 68, said method comprising combining the vector with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle.
79. A method for the preparation of the agent of claim 73, said method comprising combining the vector with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle.
80. The method of claim 53, wherein the subject is a mammal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
determining, using a presence device, a presence corresponding to a user associated with a mobile communications device,
obtaining information that relates to a television show,
determining an availability status associated with the user based upon the presence and the information that relates to the television show, wherein the availability status indicates if communications are to be accepted by the mobile communications device during the television show, and
transmitting the availability status to a communications network.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
determining an emotional state associated with the user.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the presence device comprises a facial recognition device, and wherein determining the emotional state comprises detecting a facial expression of the user.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network updates a status associated with the mobile communications device based upon the availability status.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the availability status comprises:
obtaining preferences associated with the user; and
determining, based upon the preferences associated with the user, the presence, and the information, the availability status.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the television show comprises a movie.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the information that relates to the television show indicates a time until a commercial.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the presence comprises determining an emotional state and viewing behavior associated with the user.
9. A method comprising:
detecting, using a device comprising a presence device and a processor, a presence corresponding to a user associated with a mobile communications device;
obtaining, by the device, information that relates to a television show;
determining, by the device, an availability status associated with the user based upon the presence and the information that relates to the television show, wherein the availability status indicates if communications are to be accepted by the mobile communications device during the television show; and
transmitting, by the device, the availability status to a communications network.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
determining, by the device, an emotional state associated with the user, wherein the presence device comprises a facial recognition device, and wherein determining the emotional state comprises detecting a facial expression of the user.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication network updates a status associated with the mobile communications device based upon the availability status.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the availability status comprises:
obtaining preferences associated with the user; and
determining, based upon the preferences associated with the user, the presence, and the information that relates to the television show, the availability status.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the television show comprises a movie.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the information that relates to the television show indicates a time until a commercial.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the presence comprises determining an emotional state and viewing behavior associated with the user.
16. A device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
detecting, using a presence device, a presence corresponding to a user associated with a mobile communications device,
obtaining information that relates to a television show,
determining an availability status associated with the user based upon the presence and the information, wherein the availability status indicates if communications are to be accepted by the mobile communications device during the television show, and
transmitting the availability status to a communications network.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
determining, by the device, an emotional state associated with the user, wherein the presence device comprises a facial recognition device, and wherein determining the emotional state comprises detecting a facial expression of the user.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein determining the availability status comprises:
obtaining preferences associated with the user; and
determining, based upon the preferences associated with the user, the presence, and the information, the availability status.
19. The device of claim 16, wherein the television show comprises a movie.
20. The device of claim 16, wherein determining the presence comprises determining an emotional state and viewing behavior associated with the user.