Technology Description: The invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding a bovine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-I. Also, within theinvention is a soluble bovine TNF-RI which is a potent inhibitor of bovine tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a). TNF-a is apleiotropic cytokine, and is produced by activated macrophages/monocytes and lymphocytes. It is also a potent mediator ininflammatory and immune responses including the recruitment of leukocytes to injured tissues during bacterial and othermicrobial infections, and following stimulation with inflammatory substances. The invention demonstrates that solublebovine TNF-RI has therapeutic value as an inhibitor of TNF in cattle suffering from coliform mastitis, or other inflammatorydisease. The invention features a pharmaceutical composition, including one or more soluble, functional polypeptidefragments of bovine TNF-RI and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. It also provides a kit which includes at least one unitdose of the described pharmaceutical composition. Reference: Please refer to USPN 6,406,907 (Docket #0322.99), which issued opn June 18, 2002.  Foreign rights are not available. Inventors: Marcus E. Kherli, Jr. National Animal Disease Center Ames, IA 50010 (515) 663-7201 Michael J. Taylor Iowa State University Ames, IA 50010 (515) 294-4740   Eun-Kyung Lee (Same address & phone as first inventor) * Based on Provisional Patent Application 60/122,156, filed February 26, 1999.