Abstract: The invention concerns a method of culturing, propagating and replicating in vitro viruses of the Togaviridae and Flaviviridae families which consists in: providing at least a fraction of LVP's obtained from serum or plasma of a patient infected with a least a virus of the Togaviridae and Flaviviridae families; contacting said fraction, for a predetermined time interval in an appropriate culture medium, with permissive cells having an endocytosis path relayed by at least one receptor of the lipoproteins and modulated inter alia by an activating agent selected among an unsaturated fatty acid or an unsaturated fatty acid derivative comprising 16 to 20 carbon atoms or their mixture. The invention also concerns the uses of viral particles and polypeptides obtained by said method.

Abstract: A search method in a biological sample containing an HIV 2 viral strain for possible resistance of said strain to treatment by an anti-protease agent, and nucleotide probes for the implementation thereof. According to methods known per se, the presence of at least one mutation at certain, specified, particular positions of the proteinic sequence of the protease of said viral strain from a biological sample taken from a patient contaminated by HIV 2 is searched. If said mutation is observed, the existence of a resistance to said anti-protease agent is assumed in the patient.

Abstract: A search method in a biological sample containing an HIV 2 viral strain for possible resistance of said strain to treatment by an anti-protease agent, and nucleotide probes for the implementation thereof. According to methods known per se, the presence of at least one mutation at certain, specified, particular positions of the proteinic sequence of the protease of said viral strain from a biological sample taken from a patient contaminated by HIV 2 is searched. If said mutation is observed, the existence of a resistance to said anti-protease agent is assumed in the patient.

Abstract: The invention concerns a genomic retroviral nucleic material, in an isolated or purified state, at least partially functional or non-functional, wherein the genome comprises a reference nucleotide sequence selected from the group including sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, their complementary sequences, and their equivalent sequences, in particular, nucleotide sequences having, for every series of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 70% and preferably at least 90% homology with the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15. The invention also concerns the application of this material.

Abstract: A method for aqueous phase nucleic acid isolation from a sample, comprising a step of nucleic acid adsorption on a particulate substrate, is disclosed. The method comprises an adsorption reagent preparation step (a) that includes a sol consisting of a aqueous continuous phase and a dispersed particulate substrate phase including a functionalized particulate polymer prepared by polymerizing (1) a first water-soluble acrylamide or acrylamide derivative monomer, (2) at least one cross-linking agent and (3) at least one second water-soluble, cationic and functional monomer, said polymer having a predetermined lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) of 25-45° C.

Abstract: A method and compound for detecting and identifying and/or quantifying a deaminase enzymatic activity of a microorganism, according to which an inoculum suspected of containing a microorganism with a deaminase activity is brought into contact with a culture medium for microorganisms, wherein the culture medium comprises at least one detection agent for demonstrating, by forming a colored product with a revealing agent, a deaminase enzymatic activity; said detection agent being an L-amino acid of following general formula (I): in which R represents an organic radical containing a cyclic ring, said cyclic ring being substituted with 1 to 3 substituents that are identical or different and each of which limits the diffusion in the culture medium of the &agr;-keto acid produced by the deamination of the at least one detection agent, as compared to where each of said substituents is not present.

Abstract: The invention concerns an endogenic nucleic fragment, such as an isolated retrovirus, integrated in the human DNA genome, the fragment being characterized in that it comprises, or consists of, at least part of the gag gene of an endogenetic retrovirus associated with an autoimmune disease or pregnancy failure or pregnancy pathologies, said part at least coding, directly and indirectly, for an expression product, or the complement of the fragment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleotide fragment of a LTR-RU5 region comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes the expression of a protein, wherein said protein comprises a peptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, and a complementary nucleotide fragment; a probe and a primer hybridizing with said fragment; a protein encoded by said fragment; an antibody directed against said protein; and a process for detecting the presence of MSRV-1 retrovirus using a probe or an antibody of the invention.

Abstract: Methods of detecting Mycobacterium species using oligonucleotides to amplify in vitro 16S rRNA sequences or DNA encoding 16S rRNA sequences for many species in the genus Mycobacterium are disclosed. Amplification oligonucleotides for in vitro amplification of 16S rRNA sequences or DNA encoding 16S rRNA sequences from many Mycobacterium species are disclosed. Kits containing oligonucleotides useful for in vitro amplification of 16S rRNA sequences or DNA encoding 16S rRNA sequences from many Mycobacterium species are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a lysis method for a biological sample comprising at least one micro-organism of the bacteria type, for releasing a nucleic material of interest belonging to said micro-organism, which consists in: providing in a container a biological sample in liquid medium; providing in said container at least one particulate material, relatively hard, and substantially inert with respect to the nucleic material; submitting the biological sample and particulate material mixture to a movement. The invention is characterised in that in combination, the selected movement is of the vortex type, and satisfies the following conditions: the particulate material consists of beads with diameter between 90 and 150 &mgr;m; and the apparent volume of the beads (Vb) and the volume of the liquid sample (Ve) are linked by the relationship Ve=&agr;. Vb, with &agr; ranging between 1.4 and 10 when the container is tubular in shape, and &agr; is not more than 2.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for fixing a biological molecule, associated with a specific binding site, on the surface of a support made of silica or metal oxide. The invention also concerns a surface functionalized by the method and the use of such a surface. The method is characterized in that it consists in: functionalizing the surface by cleaning, using at least a solvent or an oxygen plasma or any other process for forming alcohol groups on the support surface, to make it hydrophilic; contacting the biological molecule on said functionalized surface; and functionalizing the support by fixing the biological molecule specific binding site on at least one of the support alcohol groups. The invention is particularly useful in the field of biomedical diagnosis.

Abstract: Compounds of formula X—NH—R, in which X represents an optionally substituted indol-3-yl group and R represents the acyl residue of an amino acid or of a peptide, enabling the detection of peptidase activity in a micro-organism culture medium, including a gelled medium, by forming a stain or fluorescence in the medium.

Abstract: An oligopeptides comprising the following sequence Thr Gln Cys His Cys Gly Lys Cys (SEQ ID NO: 5) may be used as an antigenic compound capable of being recognized by anti-ovary antibodies and as an immunogenic compound capable of inducing the production of anti-ovary antibodies. In addition, the oligopeptides may be used to detect and/or quantify anti-ovary antibodies.

Abstract: The invention provides viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis for use in methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for lysis (1) of micro-organism to release at least one intracellular biological constituent, comprising a container (2) wherein are present a biological sample, in liquid medium, containing the micro-organism to be lyzed, and a material in the form of particles, relatively hard and inert with respect to the sample. The invention also concerns a grinding method. The material in the form of particles comprises at least two types of grinding means into different dimensions: at least large dimension magnetic means (3) automatically controlled by a magnetic field; and at least small dimension means (4) actuated by the large dimension grinding means (3). The invention is useful for separating biological constituents.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for decontaminating a contaminated hollow metal needle having electrical wires attached to the needle which heat cleaning fluid dispensed into the needle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for isolating a target biological material contained in a sample, which consists in providing a capture phase comprising an organic molecule having at least a reactive function and at least a protein material capable of recognizing or binding, specifically and directly or indirectly, with the target biological material, said protein material having a specific covalent binding site with the organic molecule reactive function, consisting of at least a tag comprising at least six contiguous lysine, or lysine derivative residues, the method consists in contacting said target biological material with at least the capture phase; and detecting the target biological material fixed on the capture phase: The invention also concerns the capture and detection phases, and a reagent containing them.

Abstract: Viral material, in the isolated or purified state, in which the genome comprises a nucleotide sequence chosen from the group including sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, their complementary sequences and their equivalent sequences, in particular nucleotide sequences displaying, for any succession of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 50% and preferably at least 70% homology with the said sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, respectively, and their complementary sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature-stable labeling reagent of formula: 1

Abstract: Oligopeptides containing one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-5 may be used as antigenic compounds to recognize anti-ovary antibodies. The oligopeptides may also be used as immunogenic compounds to induce the production of anti-ovary antibodies.