Abstract: This invention relates to the protein, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis acylase (mpa) and the gene encoding mpa, which we have identified in the pathogen Mycobacterium paratuberculosis Mptb (also designated Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis MAP), and to their use in the diagnosis of Mptb/MAP infections in animals and humans, as well as their use as components of vaccines for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by Mptb/MAP. The importance of an intact uninterrupted mpa gene as a determinant of pathogenicity in Mptb/MAP is recognized and the invention also provides attenuated strains of normally pathogenic Mptb/MAP and other mycobacteria in which mpa has been inactivated, for use as vaccines.

Abstract: The invention relates to Mycobacterium tuberculosis superoxide dismutase antibodies, methods of using them for detection of M. tuberculosis, methods of testing for an inhibitor of an M. tuberculosis superoxide dismutase, and methods of detecting tuberculosis infection.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification, cloning, sequencing and characterization of the iniB, iniA and iniC genes of mycobacteria which are induced by a broad class of antibiotics that act by inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis, including the first line antituberculosis agents, isoniazid and ethambutol. The present invention provides purified and isolated iniB, iniA, iniC and iniB promoter nucleic acids which may comprise the iniBAC operon, as well as mutated forms of these nucleic acids. The present invention also provides one or more single-stranded nucleic acid probes which specifically hybridize to the iniB, iniA, iniC and iniB promoter nucleic acids, and mixtures thereof, which may be formulated in kits, and used in the diagnosis of drug-resistant mycobacterial strain. The present invention also provides methods for the screening and identification of drugs effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using induction of the iniB promoter.

Abstract: A mutated mycobacterium selected from the class consisting of mutated M. bovis-BCG, mutated M. tuberculosis, and mutated M. leprae. The mutation of M. bovis-BCG, M. tuberculosis, or M. leprae is preferably effected through an insertional mutation of a mycobacterial gene. The insertional mutagenesis may be effected, for example, through illegitimate recombination or by a mycobacterial transposon. Such mutated mycobacteria may then be transformed with an expression vector(s) containing a complement gene to the gene which is mutated, and preferably also including a heterologous gene.

Abstract: A mutated mycobacterium selected from the class consisting of mutated M.bovis-BCG, mutated M.tuberculosis, and mutated M. leprae. The mutation of M.bovis-BCG, M.tuberculosis, or M. leprae is preferably effected through an insertional mutation of a mycobacterial gene. The insertional mutagenesis may be effected, for example, through illegitimate recombination or by a mycobacterial transposon. Such mutated mycobacteria may then be transformed with an expression vector(s) containing a complement gene to the gene which is mutated, and preferably also including a heterologous gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleic acid sequence and amino acid sequence of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from mycobacteria and to expression of recombinant DHFR protein. Utilizing the recombinant protein, novel therapies and diagnostic strategies can be developed and selective antimycobacterial compositions can be designed and utilized to treat mycobacterial infections in patients. This invention includes all or portions of novel recombinant nucleic acids encoding DHFR for mycobacteria such as M. avium, to novel recombinant DHFR peptides produced by such sequences, and to vaccines, diagnostic kits, cells and therapies utilizing these peptides and nucleic acid sequences. The present invention relates to methods for using the sequences of the present invention to develop drugs specific to M. avium and other mycobacteria, to identify and sequence corresponding sequences in species other than M. avium, as well as diagnostic and treatment methods incorporating the disclosed sequences and peptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to Mycobacterium tuberculosis superoxide dismutase antibodies, methods of using them for detection of M. tuberculosis, methods of testing for an inhibitor of an M. tuberculosis superoxide dismutase, and methods of detecting tuberculosis infection.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification, cloning, sequencing and characterization of the iniB, iniA and iniC genes of mycobacteria which are induced by a broad class of antibiotics that act by inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis, including the first line antituberculosis agents, isoniazid and ethambutol. The present invention provides purified and isolated iniB, iniA, iniC and iniB promoter nucleic acids which may comprise the iniBAC operon, as well as mutated forms of these nucleic acids. The present invention also provides one or more single-stranded nucleic acid probes which specifically hybridize to the iniB, iniA, iniC and iniB promoter nucleic acids, and mixtures thereof, which may be formulated in kits, and used in the diagnosis of drug-resistant mycobacterial strain. The present invention also provides methods for the screening and identification of drugs effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using induction of the iniB promoter.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleic acid sequence and amino acid sequence of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from mycobacteria and to expression of recombinant DHFR protein. Utilizing the recombinant protein, novel therapies and diagnostic strategies can be developed and selective antimycobacterial compositions can be designed and utilized to treat mycobacterial infections in patients. This invention includes all or portions of novel recombinant nucleic acids encoding DHFR for mycobacteria such as M. avium, to novel recombinant DHFR peptides produced by such sequences, and to vaccines, diagnostic kits, cells and therapies utilizing these peptides and nucleic acid sequences. The present invention relates to methods for using the sequences of the present invention to develop drugs specific to M. avium and other mycobacteria, to identify and sequence corresponding sequences in species other than M. avium, as well as diagnostic and treatment methods incorporating the disclosed sequences and peptides.

Abstract: Exochelins can be used to prevent damage to organs for transplant from the formation or presence of the .circle-solid.OH radical. In particular, the invention is directed to the administration of exochelins to the organ prior to or coincidental with removal from a donor, storage, implantation in a recipient or in conjunction with reestablishment of flow of body fluids to the organ.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the time of response of an assay for a first bacterium, wherein: a) the first bacterium is exposed to infection by phage particles to which the first bacterium is permissive; b) the infected bacterium is treated to inactivate exogenous phage particles; c) the treated bacterium is cultivated in the presence of a second bacterium which is permissive to infection by the phage or its replicand and which has a doubling rate greater than the effective doubling rate of the first bacterium; and d) assessing the extent of plaque formation and/or of second bacterium growth in the cultivated second bacterium cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to InhA enzyme crystals and to methods of growing said crystals. This invention is further directed to the utilization of said crystals to determine the three dimensional structure of InhA enzyme utilizing heavy atom derivatives of said crystals, and to the identification and development of compounds which inhibit the biochemical activity of InhA enzyme in bacteria and plants.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward the use of desferri-Exochelins to destroy cancer cells or retard or eliminate the growth of those cancer cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant mycobacteria, particularly recombinant M. bovis BCG, which express heterologous DNA encoding a product (protein or polypeptide) of interest, such a protein or polypeptide (e.g., an antigen) against which an immune response is desired, or a cytokine.

Abstract: Exochelins can be used to prevent damage to living tissue from the formation or presence of the (.cndot.OH) radical. In particular, the invention is directed to the administration of exochelins to infarcted myocardium prior to or coincidental with reperfusion to prevent damage to myocardium from iron mediated free radical formation. Also presented is the chemical structure of exochelins and modified exochelins as well as other applications of these materials in the treatment and diagnosis of disease in mammals.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of Mycobacteria from any liquid, semi-solid or exotic source is described. The extracted Mycobacterial sample is suitable for detection by culture and amplification.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the sensitivity of MAI to different antimicrobial agents and dosages thereof is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of test tubes adapted to contain an amount of an antimicrobial agent to be tested and MAI complex organisms to be assayed and a separate paraffin coated slide adapted for placement in each of the test tubes. The growth of the MAI complex organisms on the slide can be used to determine the concentration of the antimicrobial agent necessary to resist MAI complex organism growth on the slide. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of visually demonstrating the growth of such microorganisms as fungi, yeasts, and bacteria, especially mycobacteria, identifying them, and testing them for sensitivity to antibiotics by the color change of a specific redox indicator system. A mixture of the redox indicators Methylene Blue and resazurin is added to the culture medium. Iron(III) salts mixed with K.sub.3 Fe(CN).sub.6, Iron(II) salts mixed with K.sub.4 Fe(CN).sub.6, or sodium tungstate (Na.sub.2 WO.sub.4) is added to the culture medium.

Abstract: A method of speciating and identifying MAI in a specimen comprises placing a paraffin coated slide in a receptacle containing a sterile aqueous solution inoculated with the specimen, analyzing the slide after exposure to the specimen to determine the presence or absence of atypical Mycobacteria, and after the analysis step, if atypical Mycobacteria are determined to be present, performing at least one speciation assay to ascertain if the atypical Mycobacteria are MAI. A related apparatus is also disclosed for speciating and identifying MAI in a specimen comprising a paraffin-wax coated slide, a tube having a sterile aqueous solution contained therein, the tube adapted to hold the slide, and at least one speciation assay means for performing an assay to determine the presence or absence of MAI in the specimen after the specimen is introduced into the tube holding the solution and the slide.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the sensitivity of MAI to different antimicrobial agents and dosages thereof is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of test tubes adapted to contain an amount of an antimicrobial agent to be tested and MAI complex organisms to be assayed and a separate paraffin coated slide adapted for placement in each of the test tubes. The growth of the MAI complex organisms on the slide can be used to determine the concentration of the antimicrobial agent necessary to resist MAI complex organism growth on the slide. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of speciating and identifying MAI in a specimen comprises placing a paraffin coated slide in a receptacle containing a sterile aqueous solution inoculated with the specimen, analyzing the slide after exposure to the specimen to determine the presence or absence of atypical Mycobacteria, and after the analysis step, if atypical Mycobacteria are determined to be present, performing at least one speciation assay to ascertain if the atypical Mycobacteria are MAI. A related apparatus is also disclosed for speciating and identifying MAI in a specimen comprising a paraffin-wax coated slide, a tube having a sterile aqueous solution contained therein, the tube adapted to hold the slide, and at least one speciation assay means for performing an assay to determine the presence or absence of MAI in the specimen after the specimen is introduced into the tube holding the solution and the slide.

Abstract: An interspecific antigen of Mycobacteria consists essentially of a mixture in substantially immunochemically pure form of a protein having a molecular weight of at least about 4.times.10.sup.6 Daltons and polysaccharide having a molecular weight of at least about 1.times.10.sup.6 Daltons, and has when subjected to cross-electrophoresis an immunoelectrophoretic precipitation pattern corresponding to A60-antigen of Mycobacteria bovis strain BCG. This antigen is effective for detecting the prior exposure of a subject to Mycobacterial infections by a cutaneous test.

Abstract: A 60-like antigens isolated in a one-step reaction from the bacterial cytoplasma of Mycobacteria are useful for the production of diagnostic tests.