Abstract: A submersible biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality in situ includes a submersible chamber constructed of a di-electric material and sized to allow suitable signals from one or more aquatic organisms to be received by eliminating cross-talk between cells while allowing ambient conditions to be maintained inside the chamber. The aquatic organism exhibits ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality which manifest as electrical signals picked up by electrodes and communicated to a pre-amplifier that conditions the signals for communication to a land-based amplifier and/or controller that is used to interpret the signals to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism.

Abstract: In this application are described filovirus-like particles for both Ebola and Marburg and their use as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent as well as a filovirus vaccine. Also described is the association of Ebola and Marburg with lipid rafts during assembly and budding, and the requirement of functional rafts for entry of filoviruses into cells.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a sterile intravenous or intramuscular formulation of artesunic acid and the formulation are the subject of this invention. First the artesunic acid powder is sterilized with ethylene oxide and placed into a sterile container. The contained sterilized powder is then dissolved in sterile sodium phosphate buffered solution to produce an injectable intravenous or intramuscular formulation. The sodium phosphate dissolves and dilutes the artesunic acid powder without caking or frothing resulting in an improved drug product. The invention also relates to the formulation and a method of treating a patient with either uncomplicated or severe and complicated malaria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids encoding B. mallei and B. pseudomallei AHL synthases and LuxR transcriptional regulators, and methods for use, as well as describes the construction, characterization and use of avirulent strains of B. mallei and methods of use.

Abstract: Immunoliposomes and use thereof in highly specific and sensitive nucleic acid amplification assays relying on amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences released from encapsulation within a liposome after a receptor on the liposome couples with a targeted analyte/antigen immobilized on a select surface. The immunoliposome nucleic acid amplification assay permits both quantitative and qualitative analyte detection.

Abstract: A personal water and additive apparatus includes a first container; a manifold having a water passageway and an additive passageway, the water passageway and additive passageway intersecting to form a single mixing passageway; a first tube connecting the first container to the water passageway of the manifold, the combination of the first tube and the water passageway defining a water channel; a second container; a second tube connecting the second container to the additive passageway of the manifold, the combination of the second tube and the additive passageway defining an additive channel; an outlet tube having one end connected to the mixing passageway of the manifold; a check valve disposed in the water channel; and a flow regulator that controls flow in at least one of the water passageway and the additive passageway.

Abstract: Using the nontoxic PA protein from B. anthracis, a method and composition for use in inducing an immune response which is protective against anthrax in subjects is described.

Abstract: The in vivo and in vitro use of Invaplex to transport materials, including functional proteins and biologically active nucleic acids, across eukaryotic cell membranes. The eukaryotic cells include a variety of cell types, e.g. insect, reptile, fish, mammal and tumor cells. The suitable materials for transport include biochemicals such as reporter molecules, antibiotics, biopharmaceuticals and carbohydrates including polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, polynucleotides, such as DNA and RNA, and glycoproteins and proteins including antigens, enzymes, antibodies, receptors and hormones. In addition, Invaplex enhances the immune response to DNA vaccines and also can function by itself as a vaccine against shigellosis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are antigens that stimulate protective antibodies against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Also disclosed herein are proteins encoded by cssA and cssB genes as well as constructs containing the genes and methods of using thereof.

Abstract: The invention is a method for assessing whether or not reproductive health effects are present in terrestrial ecological receptors inhabiting contaminated sites. Adult male rodents are concurrently trapped at the contaminated site of interest and at a matched non-contaminated reference location. In at least some embodiments, the sperm analysis can be corroborated with additional data to further increase the accuracy of the comparison. For a given small rodent species, three sperm parameters, all of which are barometers of reproductive success (a high concern ecological risk assessment toxicological endpoint), are compared in the animals trapped at the contaminated site and the animals trapped at the reference location. Where one or more of the sperm parameter thresholds are exceeded in the site rodents, and the difference is found to be statistically significant, the interpretation is that site terrestrial receptors are being reproductively compromised.

Abstract: Methods for the diagnosis of visceral, cutaneous and canine leishmaniasis in a subject suspected of being infected with the parasitic protozoa Leishmania is disclosed. Disclosed are antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of antibodies to Leishmania parasite soluble antigens and antigen-capture ELISAs for the detection of Leishmania parasite soluble antigens in host samples. Also disclosed are immunodiagnostic kits for the detection of Leishmania parasite circulating antigens or IgM and IgG antibodies in a sample from subject having visceral, cutaneous or canine leishmaniasis. In these methods and kits, detection may be done photometrically or visually. The methods and kits also allow the visualization of Leishmania amastigotes or promastigotes in a sample.

Abstract: This invention is directed to oral-intestinal vaccines and their use against diseases caused by enteropathogenic organisms using antigens encapsulated within biodegradable-biocompatible microspheres.

Abstract: In this application is the expression and purification of a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) MSP-142. The method of the present invention produces a highly purified protein which retains folding and disulfide bridging of the native molecule. The recombinant MSP-142 is useful as a diagnostic reagent, for use in antibody production, and as a vaccine.

Abstract: Immunoliposomes and use thereof in highly specific and sensitive nucleic acid amplification assays relying on amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences released from encapsulation within a liposome after a receptor on the liposome couples with a targeted analyte/antigen immobilized on a select surface. The immunoliposome nucleic acid amplification assay permits both quantitative and qualitative analyte detection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pharmacophore model for inhibiting Botulinum neurotoxin A metalloprotease activity which comprises a first plane A, a second plane B, a first hydrophobic moiety C, a second hydrophobic moiety D and a positive ionizable substituent E. The pharmacophore model may further comprise a heteroatom in the first plane A. In some embodiments, the distance between the center of the first plane A and the center of the second plane B is about 6.5 to about 9.5 ?. In some embodiments, the distance between the center of the first hydrophobic moiety C and the center of the second hydrophobic moiety D is about 8.0 to about 16.0 ?. In some embodiments, the distance between the center of the first plane to the center of the first hydrophobic moiety C is about 3.0 to about 5.0 ?. In some embodiments, the distance between the center of the second plane to the center of the second hydrophobic moiety C is about 3.0 to about 5.0 ?.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of kintoplastid infections by administering a pharmaceutical composition containing an extract from the plant Artemisia annua. The invention also relates to isolated, semi-synthetic and synthetic artemisinins that show improved efficacy in treating kinetoplastid infections. This invention also relates to a method of treating kintoplastid infections with artelinic acid and artemisinins and where Artelinic acid is administered orally.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody to a consensus peptide of the formula: VEKNITVTASVDPTIDLLQADGSALPSAVALTYSPA. (SEQ ID NO:1) The monoclonal antibody of the invention binds exclusively to the sequence SAVALTYS (SEQ ID NO:2) and has use as a diagnostic and for prophylaxis against illness arising from E. coli which produce the CS4-CFA/I family of proteins and for treatment of disease arising therefrom.

Abstract: In this application is described the expression and purification of a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum (FVO) MSP-142. The method of the present invention produces a highly purified protein that retains folding and disulfide bridging of the native molecule. The recombinant MSP-142 is useful as a diagnostic reagent, for use in antibody production, and as a vaccine.

Abstract: In this application is described the production of recombinant, chimeric, humanized antibodies specific for both BoNt/A and BoNT/B. The humanized antibodies were converted from a mouse anti-BoNT/A/B Fab fragment into a whole human IgG1 antibody. The antibodies are useful in assays for detecting human exposure to BoNT/A and BoNT/B.

Abstract: In a solvent extraction process for preparing microspheres of a biodegradable polymer, the improvement comprising: preparing a homogenized antigen-sucrose matrix and adding a solvent to the sucrose-antigen matrix to form a solution; preparing a solution of a biodegradable polymer by adding a solvent to the polymer; adding the biodegradable polymer solution to the antigen-sucrose solution; adding an oil to the polymer-sucrose-antigen solution to form an emulsion having a controlled viscosity that corresponds to a predetermined average particle size of distributions of microspheres of biodegradable polymers; centrifuging the emulsion of controlled viscosity and removing the supernatant to obtain microspheres of a predetermined range of particle size distributions of from about 0.5 to about 7.0 micrometers.