Abstract: The present invention involves a gel strip carrier module for a gel strip that reduces the handling of the gel strip and the hands-on-time during preparation of the gel strip for isoelectric focusing. The gel carrier module includes a gel strip chamber that serves as both a rehydration and focusing chamber, and allows the sample to be applied either throughout the entire gel or in a defined zone. The gel carrier module includes a pair of electrodes near opposite ends of the chamber that the gel strip rests on, gel side facing down. The gel carrier module includes a cover with hold-down blocks or pressure blocks to assure reliable, light contact between the gel and the electrodes during focusing. A rehydration buffer is added into the chamber, and the gel strip is gently placed in the chamber, gel side down, for rehydration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing porous polysaccharide beads, comprising: (a) mixing a water-based solution of a polysaccharide under stirring with an essentially water-immiscible first organic phase to form an emulsion which separates into two continuous phases; (b) adding a second organic phase comprising an emulsifier and an organic solvent to form a three-phase system; (c) allowing the three-phase system to emulsify; and (d) decreasing the temperature below the gelling point of the polysaccharide, thereby obtaining beads having two sets of pores, said method being characterised in that the emulsifier is a water-insoluble polymer capable of stabilizing said three-phase system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chromatography column 1 in which the net 129 and/or bed support 131 is integrally joined to a net retaining means, preferably a sleeve 135 that protrudes through the column end plate 5, and/or to a net retaining circumferential ring. Different net retaining means are also presented.

Abstract: A method of comparing genomic DNA from two individuals who share a phenotype, cutting the DNA into fragments long enough to contain on average one or several polymorphisms; combining the fragments under hybridisation conditions and recovering mismatch—free heterohybrids, wherein adapters resistant to nuclease digestion are ligated to the ends of the genomic fragments. A related method uses pooled genomic DNA from individuals with a common phenotype. Another related method uses restricted nucleic acid fragments likely to contain on average less than one natural polymorphism.

Abstract: A matrix is disclosed including a core showing a system of micropores and a surface in which the micropore system has openings. The characterizing feature is that the surface is coated with a polymer (I) having such a large molecular weight that it cannot penetrate into the micropores.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a support media from a cross-linked polymerisate based on vinyl compounds, and exhibiting residual vinyl groups. The characteristic feature of the method is that the polymerisate is subjected to a heating step that preferably is carried out under reduced access of oxygen. The use of the support media is also described.

Abstract: A cassette and electrophoretic gel assembly includes a non-conductive cassette, two solid buffer reservoirs, and an agarose gel. The assembly is disposable, and the sample wells on the gel are in standard microtiter plate format. The configuration is such that the gel is continuously in electrical contact with the electrodes in operation despite the production/migration of water and other exudates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a freeze-dried vesicle containing ultrasound contrast agent containing a freeze-drying stabilizer and thermally stable at temperatures in excess of 20° C.

Abstract: Novel membrane-forming amphiphilic lipopeptides comprising one or more peptide moieties containing 2-50 aminoacyl residues and one or more hydrocarbon chains containing 5-50 carbon atoms. Such lipopeptides may be used in the formation of stabilized gas microbubble dispersions suitable for use as diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents, for example as ultrasound contrast agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 32P or 33P-labelled bisphosphonates as radiotherapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. The 32P- or 33P-labelled bisphosphonates, which are chemically identical to the unlabelled agent, are expected to target the lesion site in an identical manner, but also deliver a significant radiocytotoxic effect to the surrounding cells. This should result, given the favorable energetics of the &bgr; particle emission from the 33P nuclide, in a loss of proliferative capacity of cells associated with the tumor lesion. The relative stability and in vivo localisation of bisphosphonates makes them good candidates as 32P/33P delivery vehicles.

Abstract: A method for anchoring oligonucleotides containing multiple reaction sites to a substrate. The substrate can be glass, inorganic or organic polymer, and metal. The reactive group of the substrate can contain electophilic C═C double bonds for a nucleophilic addition, or disulfide for disulfide exchange. The multiple reactive groups contained on the oligonucleotide primer can be, for example, aminoalkyl, sulfhydryl, and thiophosphate groups. The oligonucleotide primer may take the configuration of a gairpin having a loop containing multiple reactive sites. In particular, a method for attaching an oligonucleotide primer to a glass substrate is disclosed that comprises preparing a bromoacetamide derivatized silane glass surface on a glass substrate, and reacting the bromoacetamide derivatized silane glass surface with an oligonucleotide primer containing multiple thiophosphate groups to bind the oligonucleotide primer to the glass substrate.

Abstract: The invention concerns scintillation proximity assays performed in multiwell plates where a charge coupled device is used to image the wells. Conventional phosphors emit blue light (350-450 nm) which is absorbed by yellow or brown assay components. This problem is addressed by the use of phosphors that emit radiation of longer wavelength (480-900 nm).

Abstract: An in vitro method for production of a protein (polypeptide), characterised in that the mRNA encoding the protein is translated when bound to a solid phase. By allowing for a pause at a terminating stop codon and addition of release factor the final proteon may be obtained in almost pure form. By allowing for pauses and restart at internal codons and replacement of the amino acid mixture used before a pausing with an amino acid mixture that differs with resect to labelling, region-labelled polypeptides/proteins can be accomplished. A labelled polypeptide/protein, characterised in that its amino acid sequence contains one or more regions of two or more labelled amino acid residues in sequence. In a subaspect, the polypeptide/protein has at least one amino acid that is occurring twice and this amino acid differs in labelling at at least two positions.

Abstract: To lessen the allergic or pseudoallergic side effects of radiological contrast agents, the contrast agent is preincubated in vitro with a reactive medium such as human or animal blood protein, whereupon the resultant reaction products are separated off from the contrast agent by ultrafiltration.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles the membranes whereof comprise an amphiphilic membrane-forming material, said process comprising: (i) generating a liquid dispersion of gas-containing vesicles from a mixture comprising an amphiphilic membrane forming material; (ii) lyophilizing a liquid dispersion of said gas-containing vesicles; (iii) reconstituting the lyophilized product of step (ii) with a sterile aqueous liquid to produce an aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles; and (iv) treating the aqueous dispersion product of step (iii) or the lyophilized product of step (ii) to produce a substantially aggregate-free sterile aqueous dispersion of gas-containing vesicles.

Abstract: This invention provides efficient methods for producing a covalent linkage having improved chemical stability between an amine-containing biomolecule and a solid support or hydrogel surface containing an aldehyde moiety.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for the synthesis of compounds carrying at least one phosphate group, especially polyalkylene glycol phosphate compounds, said process comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a compound containing at least one primary alcohol moiety with a diaryl- or diaralkyl-halophosphate whereby to form the corresponding diaryl- or diaralkyl-phosphate ester; (b) reductively cleaving the resulting product; and (c) if desired, repeating steps (a) and (b) with the product of step (b) whereby to produce a compound carrying two or more phosphate groups. Advantages of the process in accordance with the invention are that this avoids the production of by-products and results in products which are low in impurities. Also provided are novel diaryl- and diaralkyl-phosphate ester compounds, in particular polyethylene glycol diphenylphosphate ester and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: An improved system for running electrophoresis gels “face up” is described. The system includes a single gel capacity strip holder, two electrodes, a sample cup, and a cover. The system provides a means of separating basic proteins on any length gel strip and the cup provides a user-friendly means of successfully putting the proteins on the gel face.

Abstract: A purified recombinant thermostable DNA polymerase polymerase which exhibits at least about 80% activity at salt concentations of 50 mM and greater, at least about 70% activity at salt concentrations of 25 mM and greater, and having a processivity of about 30 nucleotides per binding event. An isolated nucleic acid that encodes the thermostable DNA polymerase, as well as a recombinant DNA vector comprising the nucleic acid and a recombinant host cell transformed with the vector, are also disclosed. A method of sequencing DNA using the DNA polymerase as well as a kit for sequencing DNA is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sliding valve having a flow line on which there may be placed a module having flow channel that can be connected and disconnected. The valve avoids the problem of liquid remaining in the flow channel of a first valve component by providing flow channel intersecting segment which intersects both components of the sliding valve so that in a module disconnecting orientation, each valve component defines separate segments of the flow channel while in the connected orientation, the valve components define a single flow channel. The construction allows for liquid flow through the valve independent of the module being in connected or disconnected position.