Abstract: Isolated peptide sequences and proteins containing these sequences are provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria. The peptide sequences have been shown to be highly conserved motifs in the surface proteins of Gram-positive bacteria, and these consensus sequences include amino acid sequences such as LPXTG (SEQ ID NO:13), ALKTGKIDIIISGMTSTPERKK (SEQ ID NO:14), VEGAVVEKPVAEAYLKQN (SEQ ID NO:15), and EYAGVDIDLAKKIAK (SEQ ID NO:16). By virtue of the highly conserved regions, the sequences and the proteins including these sequences can be utilized to generate antibodies which can recognize these highly conserved motifs and the proteins containing them and thus be useful in the treatment or prevention of a wide range of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of streptokinase using a genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli which overproduces streptokinase intracellularly and more particularly, the overall process disclosed herein, concerns with an improvement in the fermentative production of streptokinase using an optimized growth medium mainly comprised of simple salts and trace-elements; thus, in principal, the present process constitutes an improved and more economical means for the production of streptokinase which may be useful in thrombolytic therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns lactic acid bacteria strains capable of regulating the production of NO and inflammatory cytokines by enterocytes, depending on the inflammatory condition of said enterocytes. The strains can also be incorporated in food supplements such as fermented dairy products used for regulating inflammatory response and non-specific immunity.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and compositions for producing oocysts. The oocysts produced according to the invention find use in the manufacture of vaccines. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of Eimeria oocysts. Vaccines containing Eimeria oocysts, sporocysts and/or sporozoites produced according to the present invention may be used to immunize birds against coccidiosis either in ovo or post hatch.

Abstract: In a method for producing a target substance by using a microorganism comprising culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the target substance in a medium to produce and accumulate the target substance in the medium or cells of the microorganism and collecting the target substance from the medium or the cells of the microorganism, there are used, as the microorganism, a microorganism to which a methanol dehydrogenase gene is introduced, of which activities of hexulose phosphate synthase and phosphohexuloisomerase are enhanced and which is modified so that an ability to utilize methanol should be imparted or enhanced, and there is used a medium containing methanol as a carbon source.

Abstract: A microscale binding assay, analyte binding array, and kits are disclosed, which exploit the mass action law to harvest analyte from a liquid sample. This is achieved by fabrication of sorbent zones having up to ten times the binding capacity per unit area generally obtained on polystyrene microtiter plates. The resulting arrays substantially deplete the liquid solution of analyte during incubation. Accordingly, the assays respond to total mass of analyte in the sample, not analyte concentration. This approach, coupled with direct fluorescence detection in the NIR, yields maximal signal intensity and low background for optimal sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assay for the identification of agents which can modulate TOR-mediated phosphorylation of substrate proteins. The assays of the invention utilize substrate proteins whose amino acid sequence contains the Ser/Thr motif recognized by TOR. Naturally occurring TOR which may be used in the methods of the invention include TOR isolated from a variety of species, particularly mammalian tissues.

Abstract: A invention concerns a novel method for preparing a polypeptide soluble in an aqueous solvent in the absence of detergent, and polypeptides obtainable by said method. The invention also concerns the use of said polypeptides, in particular for preparing medicines or vaccines, for fighting against bacterial and viral infections or cancers.

Abstract: A selective adsorption material made by the process comprising: a) non-cavalently or reversibly-covalently binding a print molecule to at least two styrene, acrylate or silica monomers, each of which monomers brinds to said print molecule by means of a different functional group; b) immobilizing said bound monomers by being polymerized to each other in the presence of an effective amount of cross-linker; and c) removing said print molecule from said polymer by extraction to leave a cavity in said polymer which is stereo-tailored to a biological molecule of interest; and wherein said print molecule is the biological molecule of interest.

Abstract: Purified and isolated nucleic acid is provided which encodes a transferrin receptor protein of a strain of Haemophilus or a fragment or an analog of the transferrin receptor protein. The nucleic acid sequence may be used to produce peptides free of contaminants derived from bacteria normally containing the Tbp1 or Tbp2 proteins for purposes of diagnostics and medical treatment. Furthermore, the nucleic acid molecule may be used in the diagnosis of infection. Also provided are recombinant Tbp1 or Tbp2 and methods for purification of the same. Live vectors expressing epitopes of transferrin receptor protein for vaccination are provided.

Abstract: The invention features methods and compositions for treatment or prevention of infection by, or disease caused by infection with, Staphylococcus spp., particularly S. aureus.

Abstract: A pretreatment kit and a pretreatment kit for saliva in identification and quantitative determination of mutans streptococci by immunochromatography utilizing an antigen-antibody reaction, which can remove aggregation caused by mucin and chain formation of mutans streptococci in saliva in a simple operation and can efficiently flow out a complex of a labeled antibody and mutans streptococci from a porous membrane retaining the labeled antibody, contains (A) a 0.01 to 10 mol/L aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, (B) a 0.01 to 3 mol/L aqueous solution of tartaric acid and/or citric acid, and (C) a nonionic surface active agent and/or an amphoteric surface active agent, in which the component (C) is mixed with the components (A) and/or (B), or is provided separately, and at least one substance selected from the particular metallic salts is contained in at least one of the components (A), (B) and (C) in an amount of 5 to 25% by weight.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the level of an analyte in the blood of an individual based on determination of the level of the same analyte in non-blood sample (e.g. urine, saliva and hair) obtained from the individual. The non-blood sample contains red blood cells and the volume of the blood in the sample together with the amount of the analyte in the sample are the basis for calculating the level of the analyte in the individual's blood. Kits for carrying out the above method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel vaccines for the prevention or attenuation of infection by Streptococcus pneunoniae. The invention further relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding antigenic polypeptides of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antigenic polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention additionally relates to diagnostic methods for detecting Streptococcus nucleic acids, polypeptides and antibodies in a biological sample.

Abstract: A nucleic acid-bound polypeptide produced by binding a nucleic acid to a polypeptide, a method of producing the nucleic acid-bound polypeptide, and applications of the nucleic acid-bound polypeptide, including immunoassays for an antigen or antibody, such as an agglutination immunoassay are provided.

Abstract: A method for the evaluation of a material to determine whether the material is susceptible to bacterial contamination or colonization comprising providing bacteria which are modified to produce a first detectable signal, exposing the material being evaluated to the bacteria and determining whether the first signal is present determining whether the first signal is present on the material or within the material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing closed bacterial ghosts by means of vesicle membrane fusion and to the bacterial ghosts which can be obtained in this way. Active compounds, e.g. genetic material, cell components, pharmaceutical and agricultural active compounds and also markers or dyes can be packaged in the closed bacterial ghosts. Metabolic functions and, where appropriate, the ability of the cells to proliferate can be restored on packaging genetic material in the bacterial ghosts. The closed ghosts can be used in medicine, in the agricultural sphere and in biotechnology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel amylolytic enzymes having improved characteristics for the use in starch degradation, in textile or paper desizing and in household detergent compositions. The disclosed ?-amylases show surprisingly improved properties with respect to the activity level and the combination of thermostability and a higher activity level. These improved properties make them more suitable for the use under more acidic or more alkaline conditions. The improved properties allow also the reduction of the Calcium concentration under application conditions without a loss of performance of the enzyme.

Abstract: The CAMP factor gene of Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) is described, as well as the recombinant production of CAMP factor therefrom. Also disclosed are chimeric CAMP factor constructs, including CAMP factor epitopes from more than one bacterial species. The CAMP factors and chimeras including the same can be used in immunogenic compositions for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections.

Abstract: A novel peptide obtained from Haemophilus paragallinarum has been found useful for preventing avian infectious coryza. This polypeptide induces production of hemagglutination-inhibition antibody and prevents infection and onset of avian infectious coryza. The invention further provides a gene coding for the polypeptide, a recombinant vector for expression of this gene, a host transformed with this vector, a process for preparing the polypeptide in a host, a vaccine for avian infectious coryza comprising the polypeptide as an active ingredient, a monoclonal antibody obtained using the polypeptide as an immunogen, and a diagnostic agent and a therapeutic agent for avian infectious coryza using the peptide and the antibody.