Abstract: DNA mutation binding proteins alone and as chimeric proteins with nucleases are used with solid supports to detect DNA sequence variations, DNA mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms. The solid supports may be flow cytometry beads, DNA chips, glass slides or DNA dips sticks. DNA molecules are coupled to solid supports to form DNA-support complexes. Labeled DNA is used with unlabeled DNA mutation binding proteins such at TthMutS to detect DNA sequence variations, DNA mutations and single nucleotide length polymorphisms by binding which gives an increase in signal. Unlabeled DNA is utilized with labeled chimeras to detect DNA sequence variations, DNA mutations and single nucleotide length polymorphisms by nuclease activity of the chimera which gives a decrease in signal.

Abstract: New compositions and methods for treating patients suffering from hepatitis-C, AIDS, aberrant apoptosis which include N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl(&bgr;-1-4)-N-Acetyl-muramyl-L-ananyl-D-isoglutamine (GMDP) of at least 98% purity and provided either alone, as an active ingredient of blastolysine, or in combination with an aminosugar such as N-acetyl-glucosamine(NAG). The high purity GMDP has a decreased amount immunogenic impurities and demonstrates cell protection as opposed to solely immunostimulatory effects, while a synergistic cell protective effect is exhibited when GMDP in combined with NAG. The new compositions modulate FasL mediated apoptosis while simultaneously stimulating TNF-&agr; production and further selectively inhibiting TNF-&agr; receptor p55 (TNFR1), providing a treatment for patients suffering from hepatitis-C, AIDS or aberrant apoptosis.