Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide multimer comprising a first polypeptide having associated therewith a label and a second polypeptide, wherein a) at least one of the polypeptides is susceptible to protease digestion; b) association of the polypeptides to form a multimer is detectable via a signal emitted by the label; and c) digestion of at least one polypeptide results in dissociation of the multimer and modulation of the signal emitted by the label, and The method of detecting or monitoring the activity of a protease enzyme based on such a multimer.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel platinum-based compounds for labeling biomolecules. Platinum based labeling compounds according to the invention irreversibly attach to a target biomolecule via coordination of a platinum (II) metal center with N or S atoms on the target biomolecule. The invention relates to the novel compounds themselves, methods of making the platinum-based labeling compounds, probes labeled with such compounds, methods of making such labeled probes, and kits comprising the novel platinum-based labeling compounds and/or probes labeled with them. The invention also relates to methods of using probes labeled with platinum-based labeling compounds of the invention, particularly array and microarray hybridization methods.

Abstract: We describe a method for monitoring the activity of an enzyme, the method comprising the steps of: providing a binding domain which includes a site for enzymatic modification; providing a binding partner which binds to the binding domain in a manner which is dependent upon modification of the site. The binding domain is contacted with the enzyme; and binding of the binding domain to the binding partner is detected as an indication of the activity of the enzyme. One of the binding domain and binding partner comprises a polypeptide and the other of the binding domain and binding partner comprises a nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; (b) expressing the genetic elements to produce their respective gene products within the microcapsules; (c) sorting the genetic elements which produce the gene product having the desired activity using a change in the optical properties of the genetic elements. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for nucleic acid PCR mutagenesis using novel error-prone DNA polymerases and a PCR enhancing factor. The invention also relates to compositions and methods for nucleic mutagenesis with two or more DNA polymerases lacking or exhibiting reduced exonuclease activity. The invention further relates to kit format of said compositions for PCR mutagenesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying a nucleotide at a predetermined location on a target polynucleotide. The method involves single nucleotide extension reaction comprising an oligonucleotide primer comprising a first sequence and a second sequence or a tag. The method may further comprises a probe which hybridizes to the second sequence or an anti-tag molecule which interacts with the tag, where the hybridization or interaction causes a detectable signal transfer which is indicative of the identity of the nucleotide base at the predetermined location. The invention further provides compositions and kits for performing the subject method of the invention.

Abstract: A peptide has an amino acid sequence having more than 80% homology with the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO:4. A nucleic acid molecule has more than 80% homology with one of the nucleic sequences listed as SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:3. Ligands, anti-ligands, cells vectors relating to the peptide and/or nucleic acid molecule are also used.

Abstract: Bioadhesive Compositions which comprise a hydrophobic polymer wherein the concentration of the polymer at the surface of the adhesive is greater than its concentration in the bulk of the adhesive are described; and biomedical electrodes, fixation products and wound dressings containing them.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new receptor having a preference for pyrimidine nucleotides, preferably UTP, or purine nucleotides and UDP, and which has an amino acid sequence having more than 60% homology with the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence or absence of a target microbe in a liquid water sample, the method consisting of a) combining a liquid water sample and a powdered medium having at least one nutrient indicator, the nutrient indicator being selected from the group consisting of: orthonitrophenyl-B-D-glucuronide; B-napthalamide-B-D-glucuronide; &agr;-napthol-B-D-glucuronide; and methylumbelliferyl-B-D-glucuronide, to form a mixture; b) incubating the mixture for a time sufficient to produce a detectable color signal indicative of the presence or absence of a target microbe; and c) observing the signal to determine the presence or absence of the target microbe in said sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting autoimmune disease in a mammal, comprising providing a biological sample from a mammal and detecting proteasome activity, wherein a reduction in proteasome activity from a basal state is indicative of autoimmune disease. In addition, the invention encompasses a method of treating an autoimmune disease in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal suspected of suffering from an autoimmune disease an agent which restores NF&kgr;B activity in an amount and for a time sufficient to result in normal NF&kgr;B activity in the mammal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating an excessive immune response including an aberrant/enhanced Th1 response by administering a helminthic parasite preparation in an amount sufficient to reduce the excessive immune response in an individual. This invention is generally directed to autoimmune diseases which involve an excessive immune response or an aberrant/enhanced Th1 response. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both known as IBD. While the present invention discloses specific information about the treatment of IBD, the disclosure is in no way limiting. Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematosis, sarcoidosis and multiple sclerosis can be treated by the methods and compositions disclosed therein.

Abstract: Proteins with anti-angiogenic properties are disclosed, and methods of using those proteins to inhibit angiogenesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunologically cryptic peptides; methods for their identification in individuals and populations and their use in diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions such as asthma and allergy, and their use in screening for therapeutic activity. Such cryptic peptides are identified by a method which includes the steps of: 1) exposing T cells with the peptide in a primary challenge; 2) measuring the reactivity of T cells with the peptide in the primary challenge of step 1); 3) exposing pre-challenged T cells with the peptide in a secondary challenge, wherein the pre-challenged T cells are obtainable by exposign the T cells to the protein; and measuring the reactivity of the pre-challenged T cells with the peptide in the secondary challenge of step 3), and the peptide is a cryptic peptide if T-cell reactivity is observable in the secondary challenge but not in the primary challenge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in a liquid sample, the method comprising: providing a powdered medium having one or more nutrient indicators and ingredients to support the growth of the target microbe, the one or more nutrient indicators being operable to alter a detectable characteristic in a medium/sample mixture when metabolized by the target microbes so as to confirm the presence or absence of target microbes in the sample, wherein the medium lacks a gelling agent and the medium is free of target microbes before mixing with a sample; providing a liquid sample; combining the powdered medium and the liquid sample to form a medium/sample mixture; and observing the mixture for the presence or absence of a detectable characteristic wherein the presence of the detectable characteristic results from a target microbe metabolizing a nutrient-indicator.

Abstract: A flexible heating cover assembly for an apparatus for heating samples of biological material with substantial temperature uniformity includes a housing having a plurality of engageable enclosure components; a resistive heater having a plurality of heater element areas; a heater backing plate providing stability to the resistive heater; a force distribution system that distributes a force over the heater backing plate; and a support plate providing stiffness for the force distribution system, wherein the arrangement of the resistive heater, the heater backing plate, the force distribution system and the support plate provide substantial temperature uniformity among a plurality of sample tubes for receiving samples of biological material. The flexible heating cover assembly improves the uniformity, efficiency, quality, reliability and controllability of the thermal response during thermal cycling of the biological material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical signal transmission system with phase modulation and the implementation method. The system adds a phase modulator in the optical signal-emitting module. The optical pulses after intensity modulation and a high-speed data stream are input to the phase modulator synchronously, where the optical pulses are modulated in phase according to the high-speed data stream into high-speed optical signals with chattering. According to the invention, the phase modulator added in the optical signal-emitting module modulates optical signals in phase, which has been modulated in intensity. Appropriate chattering modulation can depress effectively the non-linear effect in the transmission of optical pulses through the interaction between chromatic dispersion and non-linear effects. Thus, the power input of individual channels is increased effectively, and the passive relay regeneration distance is extended.

Abstract: The invention relates to fluorescent dyes. More particularly, the invention relates to fluorescent cyanine dyes, and especially to water soluble fluorescent cyanine dyes that contain additional sites for attachment to biomolecules. The invention provides a group of novel, water soluble fluorescent cyanine dyes that have distinct fluorescence characteristics that permit their use in any assay or method suited to water soluble fluorescent dyes, and especially to assays requiring a plurality of distinguishable fluorescent markers. The invention further relates to nucleotides, nucleosides, polynucleotides and polypeptides labeled with novel fluorescent cyanine dyes according to the invention, and methods of using them.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an inhibitor of the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase SHIP2 protein or its encoding nucleotide sequence identified by SEQ ID NO. 1 or of SHIP2 mRNA expression. The present invention is also related to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the inhibitor and an adequate pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and to a non-human knock-out mammal comprising homozygously or heterozygously a partial or total deletion in its genome of the inositol polyphoshate 5-phosphatase SHIP2 nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of transfer of a gene of interest from a first vector to a product vector comprising contacting a first and second vector in vitro with a site-specific recombinase so as to generate a co-integrate vector comprising the components of the first and second vector, and introducing the co-integrate vector to a prokaryotic host cell so as to generate a product vector by rolling circle replication, comprising the gene of interest.