Abstract: The present invention relates to sustained-release formulations using alginate gel beads and methods thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

Abstract: The present invention makes possible the catalytic production of sequence specific oligonucleotides through the use of a specially designed template sequence. The reaction can be made to proceed isothermally in the presence of an excess of nucleoside triphosphates, an agent for polymerization, and a cutting agent. Because the process is catalytic with respect to the template sequence, an unlimited amount of oligonucleotide product can theoretically be generated from a single molecule of template. Where the process is initiated by the presence of a nucleic acid target sequence, the method of the present invention can be used for diagnostic purposes as an amplification method to improve sensitivity. Diagnostic sensitivity can be further enhanced by employing a cascade of these template sequences.

Abstract: The present invention provides nuclease resistant 5'-dithio-modified oligonucleotides that are useful in nucleic acid therapeutics and diagnostics. The novel modified oligonucleotides have at least one 5'-dithioate linkage, wherein both the oxygen atom at the 5'-position (5'-bridging oxygen) and at least one of the non-bridging oxygen atoms of a naturally occurring phosphodiester linkage are independently replaced with a single sulfur atom. The invention also provides a polymer-supported method for making 5'-dithio-modified and 5'-thio-modified oligonucleotides as well as novel monomeric nucleoside and nucleotide intermediates useful in the synthetic method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biologically active multimeric polypeptide molecule in which two or more monomeric subunits are linked together as a single polypeptide ("fusion multimer"). These fusion multimers are more easily and rapidly refolded than unfused multimers, because the reactions necessary to generate the biologically active multimeric form of the polypeptide proceed with first order, rather than second or higher order, reaction kinetics. Fusion multimers also eliminate the simultaneous formation of undesired polypeptide by-products during refolding. The fusion multimers of the present invention specifically include PDGF fusion dimers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

Abstract: The present invention makes possible the catalytic production of sequence specific oligonucleotides through the use of a specially designed template sequence. The reaction can be made to proceed isothermally in the presence of an excess of nucleoside triphosphates, an agent for polymerization, and a cutting agent. Because the process is catalytic with respect to the template sequence, an unlimited amount of oligonucleotide product can theoretically be generated from a single molecule of template. Where the process is initiated by the presence of a nucleic acid target sequence, the method of the present invention can be used for diagnostic purposes as an amplification method to improve sensitivity. Diagnostic sensitivity can be further enhanced by employing a cascade of these template sequences.

Abstract: The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies demonstrating specific reactivity with HIV-1 p24. One monoclonal antibody designated 31-42-19 recognizes an unique epitope on HIV-1 p24 that is not immunogenic in humans. 31-42-19 also reacts with an antigenically cross reactive epitope on HIV-2 p24. Another monoclonal antibody designated 31-90-25 recognizes an epitope within a highly immunogenic region of HIV-1 p24. The present invention also provides cell lines capable of producing these monoclonal antibodies. The invention also includes a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the detection of HIV-1 p24 in biological fluids, using a monoclonal antibody mixture. The present invention further provides methods for the use of these monoclonal antibodies for the detection of anti-HIV-1 p24 antibodies and HIV-2 p24 antigen in biological samples.