43336 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 156 / Wednesday, August 13, 1997 / Notices

comprising a pyrrolidinyl ring,

compositions and methods for treatment

of Central Nervous System (CNS)

dysfunctions, neurotoxic damage, or

neurodegenerative diseases. These

compounds are particularly useful for

treating neurotoxic injury which follows

periods of hypoxia, anoxia or ischemia

associated with stroke, cardiac arrest or

perinatal asphyxia. In addition these

compounds are also useful as

antipsychotics and anticonvulsives.

Unlike other tissues which can

survive extended periods of hypoxia,

brain tissue is particularly sensitive to

deprivation of oxygen or energy.

Permanent damage to neurons can occur

during brief periods of hypoxia, anoxia

or ischemia. Neurotoxic injury is known

to be caused or accelerated by certain

excitatory amino acids (EAA) found

naturally in the CNS. Compounds as

described herein block the action of

EEA synaptic receptors and thus can

prevent neurotoxic injury.

Treatment of CNS disorders and

diseases such as cerebral ischemia,

psychotic disorders, convulsions and

parkinsonism, as well as prevention of

neurotoxic damage and

neurodegenerative diseases, may be

accomplished by administration of a

therapeutically-effective amount of a

compound of a class described herein.

Severe Renal Glomerular Disease in

Mice Homozygous for Targeted

Disruption of Uteroglobin Gene: A

Model for Human Hereditary

Glomerulopathies

AB Mukherjee, Z Zhang (NICHD)

OTT Reference No. E–164–96/0

Licensing Contact: David Sadowski;

phone: 301/496–7735 ext. 288; e-mail:

DS27A@NIH.GOV

Uteroglobin (UG) is a protein fraction

of pregnant uterine fluid which can

induce and regulate blastocystic

development and also possesses

important anti-inflammatory properties.

This invention describes a novel

physiological function of UG, which is

its role in preventing severe fibronectin

(Fn) deposit-associated renal glomerular

disease. Uteroglobin binds to Fn thereby

inhibiting the formation of Fn-Fn

aggregates and Fn-collagen aggregates,

thus preventing the disease. Uteroglobin

knockout mice (UG-/-) were generated

by targeted disruption of the UG gene.

These mice developed glomerular

disease, became cachectic and died

within 4–5 weeks after birth.

This mouse could potentially be a

valuable model system for the study and

treatment of glomerular disease.

A description of this research may be

found in Science, vol. 276, pp. 1408–

1412, 1997.

A Method for Producing Retrovirus

RNA Packaging Cassettes Amplified in

the Cytoplasm by Autocatalytic

Togavirus Vectors

R Morgan, J Wahlfors, K Xanthopoulos

(NHGRI)

OTT Reference No. E–135–96/0 filed 25

Sep 96

Licensing Contact: Larry Tiffany; phone:

301/496–7056 ext. 206; e-mail:

LT10X@NIH.GOV

Retroviral vectors are currently the

most advanced system available for

mammalian gene therapy. The major

obstacle with the previous methods is

that the transfer of complex or large

genomic elements is virtually

impossible. This technology obviates

the need for the retrovirus DNA

provirus stage of the life cycle via

retroviral RNA vectors. Specifically, this

invention utilizes Togaviruses,

especially the Semliki Forest virus

(SFV), to produce recombinant

retroviral vector RNA in the cytoplasm

of a retrovirus packaging cell. Using the

SFV system, a retroviral cassette with a

heterologous gene is cloned into an SFV

expression vector. This in vitro

transcribed RNA vector is used to

transduce packaging cells. The retroviral

RNA vector is amplified in the

cytoplasm using the SFV system, and

packaged into infectious viral particles.

This system represents a means by

which large fragments of viral RNA, or

complex gene structures, can be

transferred via retroviral vectors. An

additional advantage is that by using the

SFV production system, it is able to

produce high titers of retrovirus

particles, due to its self-amplification

capabilities.

Potential areas of application include:

ex vivo and in vivo gene therapy for

infectious (e.g., HIV) and noninfectious

(e.g., cancer, birth defects) disease;

untranslated genomic regions of DNA

may be important for regulation of gene

expression.

Dated: August 5, 1997.

Barbara M. McGarey,

Deputy Director, Office of Technology

Transfer.

[FR Doc. 97–21401 Filed 8–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

National Eye Institute

Notice of the meeting of the National

Advisory Eye Council Pursuant to Pub.

L. 92–463, notice is hereby given of the

meeting of the National Advisory Eye

Council (NAEC) on September 11–12,

1997, Executive Plaza North, Conference

Room G, 6130 Executive Boulevard,

Bethesda, Maryland.

The NAEC meeting will be open to

the public on September 11, from 8:30

a.m. until approximately 11:30 a.m.

Following opening remarks by the

Director, NEI, there will be

presentations by the staff of the Institute

and discussions concerning Institute

programs and policies. Attendance by

the public at the open session will be

limited to space available.

In accordance with provisions set

forth in sec. 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6),

Title 5, U.S.C. and sec. 10(d) of Pub. L.

92–463, the meeting of the NAEC will

be closed to the public on September 11

from approximately 11:30 a.m. until

adjournment at approximately 5:00 p.m.

for the review, discussion, and

evaluation of individual grant

applications. These applications and the

discussions could reveal confidential

trade secrets or commercial property

such as patentable material, and

personal information concerning

individuals associated with the

applications, the disclosure of which

would constitute a clearly unwarranted

invasion of personal privacy.

Ms. Lois DeNinno, Council Assistant,

National Eye Institute, EPS, Suite 350,

6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC–7164,

Bethesda, Maryland 20892–7164, (301)

496–9110, will provide a summary of

the meeting, roster of committee

members, and substantive program

information upon request. Individuals

who plan to attend and need special

assistance, such as sign language

interpretation or other reasonable

accommodations, should contact Ms.

DeNinno in advance of the meeting.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistant

Program No. 93.867, Vision Research:

National Institutes of Health)

Dated: August 7, 1997.

LaVerne Y. Stringfield,

Committee Management Officer, NIH.

[FR Doc. 97–21423 Filed 8–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M