Abstract: The present invention relates to identification of a novel, de novo priming activity of hepatitis C virus replicase. This activity can be used to screen for anti-HCV replicase compounds, or to characterize the biological relevance of lead compounds that have already been identified.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing the electroosmotic flow rate available for a silica surface. In the method, there is provided an electrophoretic channel which is defined by one or more silica surfaces. The surface(s) are contacted with an alkaline aqueous solution containing a solubilized silicate-monovalent metal complex in an amount effective to increase the acidity of the silica surface(s), as evidenced by a reduction in the average bulk pKa of the surface(s). The achieved increase in acidity is greater than would be obtained using an otherwise identical solution lacking said silicate. In one preferred embodiment, the monovalent metal used in the solution is Li+, Na+, or K+. Also disclosed is a method for increasing the acidity of a silica surface, by contacting the surface with an alkaline aqueous solution of the type noted above.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the selective covalent modification of nucleic acids with redox active moieties such as transition metal complexes. Electron donor and electron acceptor moieties are covalently bound to the ribose-phosphate backbone of a nucleic acid at predetermined positions. The resulting complexes represent a series of new derivatives that are bimolecular templates capable of transferring electrons over very large distances at extremely fast rates. These complexes possess unique structural features which enable the use of an entirely new class of bioconductors and photoactive probes.

Abstract: Methods for preventing inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis by pyrophosphate are disclosed. More specifically, the present invention concerns inhibiting or preventing pyrophosphorolysis in sequencing and amplification of nucleic acid molecules. According to the present invention, an enzyme which is a pentosyltransferase, a phosphotransferase with an alcohol group as acceptor, a nucleotidyltransferase, or a carboxy-lyase is added to the reaction which serves to remove pyrophosphate from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arthropod esterase proteins; to arthropod esterase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such esterase proteins; to antibodies raised against such esterase proteins; and to other compounds that inhibit arthropod esterase activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from hematophagous arthropod infestation.

Abstract: A process for making substantially water- and dust-free anionic surfactant granules of high bulk density involving: (a) providing a starting material containing a water-containing paste of a monoglyceride (ether) sulfate having a solids content of at least 20% by weight, based on the weight of the paste; (b) providing a horizontally mounted thin-layer evaporator with rotating internals; (c) providing a negative temperature gradient within the evaporator; (d) passing air into the evaporator in countercurrent to the flow of starting material; and (e) simultaneously drying and granulating the starting material by passing it through the evaporator to form anionic surfactant granules having a residual water content of below 2% by weight.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel class of 3′-modified, pro-fluorescent nucleotides. The invention also pertains to methods for using such nucleotides.

Abstract: A printable tape of a thermoplastic material for use in cash registers to improve the efficiency of the check out process and enhance the post consumer recyclability of the plastic bags used by the stores. The tape comprises a thermoplastic material, typically polyethylene or polypropylene, a pigment to provide sufficient opacity such that printing on the printable media is readable and a sufficient amount of a matting agent to improve the printability of the printable media.

Abstract: A novel gamma retinoic acid receptor is disclosed. The novel receptor is encoded for by cDNA carried on plasmid pGEM-hRAR&ggr;, which has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection for patent purposes. Chimeric receptor proteins are also disclosed. The chimera contain at least one functional domain from the new gamma retinoic acid receptor.

Abstract: Devices and techniques for hybridization of nucleic acids and for determining the sequence of nucleic acids. Arrays of nucleic acids are formed by techniques, preferably high resolution, light-directed techniques. Positions of hybridization of a target nucleic acid are determined by, e.g., epifluorescence microscopy. Devices and techniques are proposed to determine the sequence of a target nucleic acid more efficiently and more quickly through such synthesis and detection techniques.

Abstract: Immortalized human cornea). epithelial cell line capable of becoming stratified, and capable of expressing (1) metabolic markers specific for non-immortalized human epithelial cells such as vimentin, cytokeratins, connections between the cells, cytochrome P450s, a glutathione-S-transferase, Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, aldehyde reductase and catalase; (2) metabolic differentiation markers specific for non-immortalized human cornea). epithelial cells such as the cytokeratin of 64 kfl, the glutathione-stransferase hGST 5.8, and the profile of cytokines and growth factors comprising the compounds TNF&agr;, IL-1&bgr;, IL-1&agr;, IL-6, IL-8, GM CSF-&bgr;, IL-ra, TGF-&bgr;1, TGF-&bgr;2, TGF&agr;, EGF, PDGF-&bgr;; (3) and markers specific for an inflammatory reaction such as collagenase I, the bradykinin, histamine and PAF receptors, and the system for transduction of an inflammatory signal by the phosphoinositides.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of a paraffinophilic organism in a body specimen involves introducing portions of the body specimen into a plurality of receptacles (50-57) which contain a sterile broth and antibiotics. Subsequently, one paraffin coated slide (18) is introduced into each receptacle. After observing organism growth on the paraffin coated slides, at least one slide is subjected to an alcohol-acid fastness test to determine whether the organism is an alcohol-acid fast, an acid-fast organism or a non-acid-fast/non-alcohol-acid fast organism. If it is determined that an alcohol-acid fast organism is present on the first slide, a tellurite reduction assay is performed on a second slide to determine the possibility of a presence of paraffinophilic organism on the second slide.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly efficient, rapid, and cost effective method of linking nucleic acid components in a predetermined order to produce a nucleic acid multicomponent construct. The invention further provides nucleic acid components, each nucleic acid component comprising a double stranded nucleic acid molecule having at least one single stranded 5′ or 3′ terminal sequence, the terminal sequence having sufficient complementarity to either a terminal sequence in a separate nucleic acid component or to a sequence in a linking nucleic acid molecule so as to allow for specific annealing of complementary sequences and linkage of the components in a predetermined order. Kits containing reagents required to practice the method of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally concerns the use of amino acid denaturants for denaturing or separating double stranded nucleic acid molecules. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for the rapid isolation and recovery of a desired target DNA or RNA molecules from a mixture or library containing such molecules. The method involves the use of haptenylated probes and amino acid denaturants to select the desired molecules and eliminate the undesired library members from a sample. The invention also provides a method in which larger or full-length nucleic acid molecules can be isolated from the subpopulation of desired molecules.

Abstract: A method of analysing a nucleic acid by mass spectrometry comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a negatively charged non-phosphate sugar-sugar linkage; (2) eliminating the charge from all, or up to all but ten, of the sugar-sugar linkages of the said nucleic acid molecule; (3) introducing the said nucleic acid molecule in which the charge has been wholly or partly eliminated as said into a mass spectrometer; and (4) determining the mass of the said nucleic acid molecule. Preferably, the nucleic acid has no or one charge. A method of preparing a nucleic acid molecule containing no or up to ten negative charges and no or up to ten positive charges comprising the steps of (1) synthesizing a nucleic acid with a phosphorothioate linkage or a phosphoroselenoate linkage between sugar residues, and (2) reacting the said nucleic acid with an alkylating agent so as to eliminate the charge on the said phosphorothioate linkage or said phosphoroselenoate linkage.

Abstract: Devices and techniques for hybridization of nucleic acids and for determining the sequence of nucleic acids. Arrays of nucleic acids are formed by techniques, preferably high resolution, light-directed techniques. Positions of hybridization of a target nucleic acid are determined by, e.g., epifluorescence microscopy. Devices and techniques are proposed to determine the sequence of a target nucleic acid more efficiently and more quickly through such synthesis and detection techniques.

Abstract: A stable complex, we refer to as a PD-Loop, between double stranded nucleic acid and a nucleobase polymer is assembled with the aid of strand invading peptide nucleic acid (PNA). The PD-Loop can be used in the detection, analysis, quantitation and even in the affinity capture of the duplex nucleic acid. Alternatively, the PD-Loop can be used to initiate polymerase extension of a primer to thereby facilitate sequencing of the double stranded nucleic acid even in the presence of large excesses of unrelated double stranded nucleic acid. As an additional feature, the PD-Loop can also be used to generate a construct comprised of a double stranded nucleic acid through which is threaded a single stranded closed circular nucleic acid wherein the closed circular nucleic acid can be used in a signal amplification methodology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting microorganisms by use of preserved amino acid sequences on a 1,2-dioxygenase gene; a method of identifying microorganisms by use of a nucleotide sequence coding for an amino acid sequence intervened between preserved amino acid sequences on a 1,2-dioxygenase gene; and a method of monitoring biological degradation of crude oil wherein the multiplication of aromatic-degrading bacteria degrading aromatic compounds contained in crude oil is detected using nucleotide sequences coding for preserved amino acid on a 1,2-dioxygenase gene. According to the present invention, microorganisms having a 1,2-dioxygenase gene can be detected easily and rapidly. In addition, aromatic-degrading bacteria can be identified easily, rapidly and accurately without using any conventional biological examinations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to solid supports having metallic surfaces comprising blocking moieties and modified nucleic acids, which exhibit excellent characteristics in hybridization assays, in a stable, reproducible, rapid manner. In an additional aspect, the invention provides methods utilizing the solid supports to hybridize probe nucleic acid to target nucleic acid and methods for detecting the hybridization complex.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compositions enriched for telomerase and methods of preparing the same.