Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and a method for monitoring, in vivo, the ruminal pH of an animal. The apparatus has an external aspect at the outside of the animal, an indwelling ruminal aspect; and an intermediate aspect between the external and indwelling aspects. The indwelling aspect further has a pH sensor; and the external aspect further having a housing and a means for storing data from the pH sensor in said housing. The apparatus may further comprise a means for transmitting signals corresponding to the pH data collected and a means for receiving said signals. The method of monitoring, in vivo, the pH of the rumen of an animal includes installing any of the embodiments of the apparatus to the animal and taking a plurality of measurements of the pH from the apparatus, and transmitting signals corresponding to said measurements to a receiving device.

Abstract: A heterologous polypeptide is expressed under the control of a DNA construct containing a promoter region derived from a cyanophage or cyanobacteria promoter. In one embodiment, such a promoter region is operably linked to an operator region derived from an operator native to the host cell. In another embodiment, the operator region is positioned upstream of the promoter region.

Abstract: Aqueous somatotropin compositions are presented that contain less than about 10% of a biologically active somatotropin, water, and glycerol in an amount effective and at a pH effective to maintain the somatotropin substantially completely stable. The somatotropins in such compositions preferably retain their physical and chemical stability for at least 2 years. The somatotropin compositions also preferably have anti-microbial activity, such that, after they have been sterile-filtered, no additional anti-microbial agent is necessary to maintain the sterility of the composition.

Abstract: A method for the solubilization and/or naturation of a somatotropin involves contacting a somatotropin with a detergent composition and water under conditions effective to obtain a naturated somatotropin, wherein the detergent composition may be a C10, C12, C16 or C18 acyl glutamate, a C10, C14 or C18 alkyl sulfate, an alcohol ethoxy sulfate, lauroyl ethylenediamine-triacetic acid (LEDA), a C10 to C18 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, diphenyl disulfonate or an acyl amino acid.

Abstract: Protein suspensions comprising soluble and insoluble components are purified via flocculation with anionic polymers, such as polyacrylamides, potato starch, or modified cellulose. The procedure improves the efficiency of solid/liquid separations and can minimize or eliminate the requirement for centrifugation and/or filtration in large scale biotechnological processes. The method is particularly well suited for the purification and clarification of protein suspensions containing soluble somatotropin monomer using polyacrylamide and polysaccharide flocculants.

Abstract: A method for preparing polypeptides in bacteria with an alanine rather than a methionine at the N-terminus. The DNA sequence expressed has an alanine codon immediately following from one to about three contiguous methionine codons including a translation start signal and allows for the expression of polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of, for example, naturally occurring eucaryotic proteins such as various bovine and porcine somatotropin species.

Abstract: A method for producing recombinant peptides and proteins having a diminished retention of N-formyl-methionine by coexpressing a peptide deformylase enzyme is disclosed. Also disclosed are substantially deformylated protein compositions and transformed bacterial cells and DNA vectors useful for acheiving such deformylation.

Abstract: A method for bacterially producing IGF-I is disclosed in which Gram-negative bacteria are caused to express a gene consisting of a lamB or ompF signal sequence operatively joined to a DNA sequence encoding IGF-I and producing IGF-I which is secreted into the periplasmic space of the bacteria.

Abstract: A method for preparing polypeptides in bacteria with an alanine rather than a methionine at the N-terminus. The DNA sequence expressed has an alanine codon immediately following from one to about three contiguous methionine codons including a translation start signal and allows for the expression of polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of, for example, naturally occurring eucaryotic proteins such as various bovine and porcine somatotropin species.

Abstract: Prolonged parenteral release of a bioactive polypeptide at desirably effective levels can be achieved using novel compositions in which the polypeptide is present in a biocompatible oil in an unusually high proportion such as at least about 10% by weight. Also disclosed are certain metal-associated somatotropins that are useful for prolonged parenteral release of such somatotropins.

Abstract: Beef cattle treated with bovine somatotropin and an estrogenic agent during the final stages of growth show improved carcass weight and dressing percent when the somatotropin is administered intraperitoneally at a substantially constant rate.

Abstract: A method for bacterially producing IGF-I is disclosed in which Gram-negative bacteria are caused to express a gene consisting of a lamb or ompF signal sequence operatively joined to a DNA sequence encoding IGF-I and producing IGF-I which is secreted into the periplasmic space of the bacteria.

Abstract: Prolonged parenteral release of a bioactive somatotropin at desirably effective levels can be achieved using novel compositions in which the somatotropin is present in a biocompatible oil in an unusually high proportion such as at least about 10% by weight. Also disclosed are certain metal-associated somatotropins that are useful for prolonged parenteral release of such somatotropins.

Abstract: A syringe assembly is comprised of a plunger, a syringe barrel having a cannula collar at one end of the barrel and an interior chamber within the barrel, a hollow cannula secured within the syringe barrel collar with the cannula extending axially from the collar to its distal end, a bore extending axially through the cannula and the syringe barrel collar, a segment of the bore decreasing (e.g., tapering) in diameter as it extends in a direction from the distal end of the cannula toward the barrel interior chamber, and a sheath removably attached to the syringe barrel and covering the cannula, the sheath being affixed to a center rod extending axially from the sheath into the bore at the cannula distal end and then seating in a sealing engagement with said segment of the interior bore.

Abstract: Prolonged parenteral release of a bioactive polypeptide at desirably effective levels can be achieved using novel compositions in which the polypeptide is present in a biocompatible oil in an unusually high proportion such as at least about 10% by weight. Also disclosed are certain metal-associated somatotropins that are useful for prolonged parenteral release of such somatotropins.

Abstract: A method for preparing polypeptides in bacteria with an alanine rather than a methionine at the N-terminus. The DNA sequence expressed has an alanine codon immediately following from one to about three contiguous methionine codons including a translation start signal and allows for the expression of polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of, for example, naturally occurring eucaryotic proteins such as various bovine and porcine somatotropin species.

Abstract: Alleviation of stomach ulcers in swine which are being administered exogenous somatotropin, by administering to the swine a benzimidazole compound selected from heterocyclylalkyl(sulfinyl or thio)benzimidazoles and [benzimidazolyl(sulfinyl or thio)alkyl]anilines.

Abstract: An assay for determining the presence in bovine genetic material of a genetic marker located on the bovine somatotropin gene indicative of an inheritable trait of increased milk production is provided. The marker is a polymorphism in the gene encoding somatotropin at amino acid position 126 which results in two forms of somatotropin existing in bovine. The assay comprises analyzing a bovine to determine its genotype with respect to the somatotropin gene. Bovine with the desired marker can be selected for inclusion in breeding programs or for milking. The desired marker indicative of superior milk production is dependent upon the breed of cattle. Holstein cattle that are homozygous for the leucine forms of somatotropin are desired. Jersey cattle that are homozygous for the valine form of somatotropin are desired. A kit for performing the assay is also provided.

Abstract: An instrument for injecting implants through animal hide is comprised of an injector having a tubular body divided into two adjacent segments with a hollow interior bore extending through the segments of the body. The second segment of the body has a generally tapering configuration as it extends to the distal end of the body and is formed as a pair of laterally adjacent tines that extend longitudinally from adjacent the first body segment to the distal end of the body. One of the tines has a larger lateral width than a second of the tines at laterally adjacent cross sections of the tines, and one tine has a terminal end at the distal end of the body for making incisions through animal hide when employing the instrument in injecting implants. A push rod having a longitudinal length at least equal to the longitudinal length of the body is inserted through the interior bore of the body pushing the implant before it.

Abstract: Solid dosage forms of bioactive materials for parenteral administration such as porcine or bovine somatotropin pellets intended for subcutaneous implantation to improve food production of farm animals are coated with polyvinyl alcohol to extend the release characteristics of the material. The polyvinyl alcohol preferably has a molecular weight of from about 20,000 to 100,000, a degree of hydrolysis of at least about 98%, and is applied from an aqueous solution by spray coating to form a continuous uniform covering of from about 3 to 25 ug PVA/mm.sup.2 surface area of pellet.