Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences which hybridize preferentially to the 16S or 23S rRNA or rDNA of Legionella sp., L. pneumophila, L. micdadei, a L. pneumophila, or a Legionella subset are taught. These organisms are the etiological agents of Legionnaires' disease, Pontiac fever, Pittsburgh pneumonia and other infections. The nucleic acids are useful in the detection of these pathogenic microorganisms. Probes based on these sequences and kits containing the probes are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selectively detecting Giardia lamblia in a sample. The method makes use of at least one nucleic acid probe which is a DNA or PNA sequence which hybridizes, under appropriate conditions, to the ribosomal RNA or the ribosomal DNA of Giardia lamblia but does not hybridize to the ribosomal RNA or the ribosomal DNA of other organisms (non-Giardia lamblia organisms) which may be present in a sample.

Abstract: Mutant forms of midivariant RNA are disclosed which are replicated efficiently by the enzyme Q.beta. replicase in the presence of an agent(s) which is useful for the real time, quantitative detection of the accumulating RNA products. This agent(s) also suppresses the replication of non-mutant wild type midivariant RNA. The mutant MDV RNAs, when modified by the addition of specific probe sequences, retain their replication properties in the presence of the detection agent. This method allows the replication to be monitored using a real time mode thereby providing a reliable method for monitoring the kinetics of the reaction, and determining the initial level of amplified RNA.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes are described for detecting the principle etiological agent of primary atypical pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or, optionally, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium. Said probes are complementary to ribonucleic acid sequences found in these mycoplasmas and absent from other mycoplasma, other bacterial, animal, or plant genomes. As such, these probes can detect the rRNA, rDNA, or polymerase chain reaction amplification products from these mycoplasma species. This set of probes, plus the described amplification primers, circumscribe a method for detecting the etiological agents of atypical pneumonia, and for making a clinical diagnosis of this disease. This set of probes also circumscribes a method for identification of these infectious agents in culture media enrichments inoculated from clinical samples.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid oligonucleotides which are substantially complementary to nucleic acids from Mycobacteria, and subgeneric classes thereof. More specifically, the oligonucleotides are complementary to ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and the DNA encoding rRNA (rDNA). Uses for such oligonucleotides include detection of Mycobacteria by hybridization and amplification of Mycobacterial nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes capable of hybridizing to rRNA or rDNA of Pneumocystis carinii and not to rRNA or rDNA of non-Pneumocystis are described along with methods utilizing such probes for the detection of Pneumocystis carinii in clinical samples.

Abstract: Nucleic acid fragments capable of hybridizing to rRNA of a Salmonella species and not capable of hybridizing to rRNA of Escherichia coli.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the hybridization signal of a nucleic acid hybridization assay for the DNA or RNA of a Salmonella in a sample by adding the sample to a RV growth medium under conditions sufficient to allow any Salmonella in the sample to propagate, propagating Salmonella, if any, in the medium for a time sufficient to allow the number of Salmonella to reach a predetermined titer, removing trace minerals from the medium, adding a nucleic acid probe to the medium under stringency conditions sufficient to allow the probe to preferentially hybridize with the Salmonella, if any, to form hybridization products that emit an enhanced signal, and assaying the medium to detect the enhanced signal. The method is especially suited for detecting Salmonella in food samples.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences which preferentially bind to the rRNA or rDNA of microorganisms which cause the spoilage of beer are disclosed. The beer spoilage microorganisms are predominantly of the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. The nucleic acids may be used as probes in assays to detect the presence of these microorganisms. Kits containing two or more probes are also described.

Abstract: A structural gene encoding a polypeptide with .DELTA.8-7 sterol isomerase activity is disclosed, Recombinant DNA molecules useful for transforming yeast and mutant yeast transformed with such recombinant DNA molecules are also disclosed. The structural gene is useful for modulating the accumulation of sterols in yeast comprising increasing the expression level of a structural gene encoding a polypeptide having .DELTA.8-7 sterol isomerase activity in a mutant yeast having single or double defects in the expression of sterol biosynthetic enzymes is provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for making ribozymes which can release or activate molecules including autocatalytically replicatable RNA such as MDV-1.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes are described for detecting bacteria capable of causing Lyme disease. These probes complement the ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequences unique to Borrelia spirochetes, and as such can detect the rRNA, rDNA, or polymerase chain reaction amplification products of these genes. These probes, plus the described amplification primers, can be used to detect the etiological agent of Lyme disease in human or veterinary samples, and for determining the infective potential of Ixodes ticks.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising ribonuclease treated RNA or DNA dependent RNA polymerase, and the use of same in amplification methods. The treatment of the RNA or DNA dependent RNA polymerase with ribonuclease reduces or eliminates false positives which result from the presence of an endogenous or contaminating replicatable template species in the Q.beta. replicase enzyme preparation.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes are described for detecting yeasts capable of causing cryptococcosis, specifically Cryptococcus neoformans. The preferred probes are complementary to the ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequences unique to Cryptococcus neoformans, and as such can detect the rRNA, rDNA, or polymerase chain reaction amplification products of these genes. The detection of the etiological agent of human cryptococcosis, and tests for making a clinical diagnosis of this disease utilizing specific rRNA or rDNA probes are now possible.

Abstract: A method of increasing the accumulation of squalene and specific sterols in yeast comprising increasing the expression level of a structural gene encoding a polypeptide having HMG-CoA reductase activity in a mutant yeast having single or double defects in the expression of sterol biosynthetic enzymes is provided. The expression level of a structural gene is preferably increased by transforming yeast with a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector operatively linked to an exogenous DNA segment that encodes a polypeptide having HMG-CoA reductase activity and a promoter that is suitable for driving the expression of the encoded polypeptide in the transformed yeast. The polypeptide having HMG-CoA reductase activity is preferably a truncated, active HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. Recombinant DNA molecules useful for transforming yeast and mutant yeast transformed with such recombinant DNA molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and kits are described that allow the efficient capture and detection of targets employing the dA-dT and related affinity pairs from samples potentially containing large amounts of poly(rA) and/or poly(dA).

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes capable of specifically hybridizing to rRNA of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. laridis and not to rRNA or rRNA genes of Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, E. coli or Salmonella typhimunium are described along with methods utilizing such probes for the detection of Campylobacter in clinical, food and other samples.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes capable of hybridizing to rRNA sequences of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and not to rRNA sequences of non-Neisseria gonorrhoeae are described along with methods utilizing such probes for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical and other samples.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an anaerobic process to reduce caustic requirements and to facilitate dissolution of organic acid having limited solubility by combining effluent from an anaerobic reactor having dissolved carbon dioxide with fresh feed containing the organic acid and stripping the carbon dioxide from the mixture to raise the pH.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide containing at least one cytidine analog labeled at C4 with a reporter group.