Abstract: The present invention is drawn to the nucleic and amino acid sequences encoding vaginolysin (VLY) toxin from Gardnerella vaginalis, and biologically active fragments and variants thereof. The invention is also directed to anti-VLY antibodies and to their use therapeutically and in a new ELISA assay of VLY toxin. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to VLY toxoids and to vaccines that use the new VLY toxoids as immunogens.

Abstract: A method for determining if a subject with cancer or precancerous lesions or a benign tumor, will respond to treatment with an inhibitor selected from the group comprising an inhibitor of one or more enzymes in the mevalonate pathway, an inhibitor of geranylgeranyl transferase, an inhibitor of farnesyl transferase or an inhibitor of squalene synthase, by (i) obtaining a sample of the cancer cells, precancerous cells or benign tumor cells from the subject, (ii) assaying the cells in the sample for the presence of a mutated p53 gene or a mutant form of p53 protein or a biologically active fragment thereof, and (iii) if the cells have the mutated p53 gene or mutant form of the p53 protein, then determining that the subject will respond to treatment with the inhibitor or combinations thereof. Some embodiments are directed to treatment with the inhibitors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus include preparing a library of molecules that can be sequenced. The library includes multiple instances of each possible member of a k-mer. The library is sequenced to determine the relative frequency of each member of the k-mer in the library. The library is contacted with a biochemical system. A population of output molecules is sequenced to determine the relative frequency of each member of the k-mer in the population of output molecules. Each output molecule is related to a product of a process of the biochemical system and carries a k-mer related to a corresponding k-mer of a library molecule involved in the process. Effectiveness of each member of the k-mer is determined based on the relative frequency of each member of the k-mer in the population of output molecules and the relative frequency of the corresponding k-mer in the library.