Abstract: Nucleotide sequences coding for Hantaan virus nucleocapsid protein and glproteins G1 and G2 can be used to produce these proteins for vaccine and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: This invention provides catalytic molecules capable of cleaving target nucleotide sequences. More specifically, the invention provides an endonuclease having nucleotide sequences which are of sufficient length to allow hybridisation to a target nucleotide sequence desired to be cleaved. The endonuclease contains a catalytic region comprising ribonucleotides and/or deoxyribonucleotides, or derivatives thereof which act to cleave a phosphodiester bond of the substrate nucleotide sequence. The catalytic region comprises nucleotides or derivatives thereof which are linked by linking groups which may comprise ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides or combinations thereof.The endonucleases of the invention are useful in the cleavage of target RNAs associated with disease in humans and animals and in the inactivation of RNA transcripts in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, as well as the cleavage of RNA transcripts in-vitro.

Abstract: An attenuated enterovirus or rhinovirus, suitable for use as a vaccine, has an attenuating mutation at least at a position which is, or corresponds with, position 471 or 484 of the genome of poliovirus type 3 Leon strain.

Abstract: An attenuated enterovirus or rhinovirus, suitable for use as a vaccine, has a reversed base pairing in the part, or in a part corresponding to the part, of the 5' non-coding region of the genome of poliovirus type 3 Leon strain shown below: ##STR1## A suitable attenuated poliovirus has the bases G and C at positions 469 and 534 respectively for a type 1 or type 2 poliovirus or at positions 472 and 537 respectively for a type 3 poliovirus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for cloning and producing the Spiroplasma sp. strain MQ1 DNA methylase by (1) introducing the Spiroplasma methylase gene into a host whereby the methylase gene is expressed; (2) fermenting the host which contains the vector encoding and expressing the Spiroplasma methylase and (3) purifying the Spiroplasma methylase from the fermented host which contains the vector encoding and expressing the Spiroplasma DNA methylase activity.

Abstract: A method of interrupting the expression of a macromolecular synthesis operon in bacteria comprising the step of binding an antisense oligonucleotide to a single stranded DNA or to a mRNA transcribed from the macromolecular synthesis operon. The antisense oligonucleotide can be either sequence specific to a unique intergenic sequence or a sequence specific to a bacterial homologous sequence. By interrupting the expression of the macromolecular synthesis operon bacterial infections can be treated. Specific antisense oligonucleotides are disclosed. The ability of the antisense oligonucleotide to bind the mRNA or single stranded DNA also allows the identification of the bacteria by using a unique intergenic antisense oligonucleotide to bind to the single stranded DNA or to the mRNA transcribed from the macromolecular synthesis operon. A method for competitively inhibiting the protein products of the MMS operon with oligonucleotides is also disclosed.

Abstract: The use of T7 bacteriophage to produce DNA length standards by enzymatically joining terminally repetitious, blunt-ended DNA has now been demonstrated. It is now possible to precisely control the formation of concatemeric DNAs thereby generating custom-made size-ranges of length standards. Furthermore, the standards thus produced are stable over time providing a highly reproducible and convenient product for the molecular biologist.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to genetically engineered expression systems which encode a recombinant Hepatitis A virus (HAV) proteins capable of forming capsid particles. By way of example baculovirus vectors were utilized in order to express recombinant HAV proteins. The recombinant baculoviruses of the invention are formed by replacing regions of the polyhedrin structural gene coding sequences with HAV DNA by recombinant DNA techniques. Additionally, the polyhedrin transcriptional initiation site is altered in these recombinant baculoviruses such that only HAV proteins and not polyhedrin protein sequences are expressed from the polyhedrin promoter. The recombinant HAV capsid particles produced in accordance with the present invention can be particularly useful as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides vectors for the efficient and position-specific integration of expressible, exogenous nucleotide sequences into cellular genomes. This invention takes advantage of the discovery of a position-specific endonuclease and position-specific insertion markers for the design of said vectors. In addition, a gene comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide possessing the biological activity of a position-specific endonuclease, wherein the biological activity of said endonuclease is the catalysis of position-specific insertion of genetic material carried between the position-specific integration markers, is disclosed.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention involves a reactive support useful for automated synthesis of oligonucleotides. The reactive support comprises a label moiety (e.g. hapten) covalently bonded via a stable bond to a trifunctional spacer. The labeled trifunctional spacer complex is covalently bonded to a solid support via a cleavable bond. One arm of the trifunctional spacer attaches the solid phase; another arm attaches the label; while the third arm provides a hydroxyl group useful for synthesizing a labeled oligonucleotide. Upon synthesis, the cleavable bond is broken, yielding the labeled oligonucleotide. Methods for labeling oligonucleotides and useful kits are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to baculovirus-expressed influenza antigens, in particular, to the influenza A membrane protein, M2, expressed from Autographa Californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). The present invention further relates to a method to increase the yield of baculovirus-expressed M2 proteins in host cells by culturing the recombinant baculovirus infected host cells with an amantadine-like drug. Other aspect of the present invention relate to the use of baculovirus-expressed M2 proteins in reproducible and routine assays for the seradiagnosis of influenza A virus infections as an alternative to the more burdensome complement fixation and hemagglutination tests.

Abstract: Double mutants of bacteriorhodopsin are mutated in the amino acid positions 85 and 96 and are expressed in Halobacteria. The mutants have an altered absorption maximum of their ground state and of their intermediate with the longest life. These mutants pump anions in place of protons.

Abstract: Non-human cell lines are disclosed which contain functional centromeres comprising human DNA sequences linked to a dominant marker gene. The centromeres are carried on stable chromosomes which carry no centromeres other than those comprising human DNA sequences. The cell lines can be used to isolate the chromosomes as well as for use in inserting genes into mammalian cells. Methods are taught for generating such cell lines from cell lines carrying dicentric chromosomes.

Abstract: Antigenic preparations active against species of bacteria naturally producing Type 4 fimbriae, such as Bacteroides nodosus which causes footrot in sheep, are produced by culturing a suitable genetically engineered aerobic or facultatively anaerobic host bacterial cell such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The host cell contains the gene encoding the fimbrial structural subunit antigens of at least one strain of the said species of bacteria and an endogenous compatible system for the morphogenetic assembly of Type 4 fimbriae and/or the genes for the morphogenetic assembly of such fimbriae derived from a Type 4 fimbriate species. The genetically engineered host cells are cultured such that nature fimbriae are produced as extracellular structures and the fimbriae are harvested, substantially free of the host cells, for use as the antigenic preparation. In preferred embodiments of the invention the natural fimbrial subunit gene is modified to enhance expression in the new host.

Abstract: A foreign gene is inserted into a viral genome under the control of promoter-regulatory regions of the genome, thus providing a vector for the expression of the foreign gene. DNA constructs, plasmid vectors containing the constructs useful for expression of the foreign gene, recombinant viruses produced with the vector, and associated methods are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention encompasses DNA compositions encoding novel chimeric glycoproteins which are useful for preparing virus specific immune responses against human respiratory syncytial virus. The DNA compositions include structural genes coding for the glycoproteins and expression and replication plasmids containing the structural genes. Host cells transformed with the above DNA compositions, vaccines made from the glycoproteins and methods for protecting humans by inoculation with said vaccines are also part of this invention.

Abstract: Vectors are described that circumvent traditional DNA cloning and subcloning procedures, and that contain a unique DNA cartridge that permits both cloning of DNA directly into DNA sequences present within the cartridge, and in vivo removal and circularization of the cartridge thereby yielding an autonomously replicating structure. Because the DNA cartridge can include a wide variety of functional DNA sequences, the cloned DNA can be subjected to a plethora of molecular biological procedures without having to remove the cloned DNA from the cartridge thereby obviating the need to perform additional subcloning techniques. A particularly useful example of this type of vector is bacteriophage lambda containing the DNA cartridge.

Abstract: A recombinant Avipoxvirus having inserted all or a part of cDNA coding for Newcastle disease virus-derived hemagglutinin neuraminidase in a genome region non-essential to proliferation of Avipoxvirus is provided. The recombinant Avipoxvirus is utilizable as vaccine for fowl.

Abstract: An attenuated enterovirus or rhinovirus, suitable for use as a vaccine, has an attenuating mutation at least at a position which is, or corresponds with, position 479 and/or 482 of poliovirus type 3 Leon strain.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a method referred to as recombination PCR (RPCR). In the method, the polymerase chain reaction is utilized to add double-stranded homologous ends to DNA. These homologous ends undergo recombination in vivo following transfection of host cells. The placement of these homologous ends, by the amplifying primers permits the rapid cloning of the desired mutant or recombinant, with a minimal number of steps and primers.