Abstract: The present invention particularly relates to a newly identified murine genomic polynucleotide that encodes an ortholog of the human P2T receptor which is expressed at high levels in the central nervous system, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, as well as the production of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. The invention relates also to identifying compounds which may be agonists, antagonists and/or inhibitors of P2T, and therefore potentially useful in therapy.

Abstract: A soluble ionic complex is formed by an aqueous mixture of a benzylammonium group-containing surfactant and a polynucleic acid sequence. When the mixture forms a vesicular complex, the sequence is packaged therein. This composition is useful in pharmaceutical compositions and in methods of delivering the polynucleic acid sequence (which preferably encodes a protein or peptide) to a cell for expression. Such methods are useful in therapy, as vaccines and as gene therapy agents.

Abstract: A protein from the M. catarrhalis designated the 74 kD protein is isolated and purified. The 74 kD protein has an amino-terminal amino acid sequence which is conserved among various strains of M. catarrhalis. The protein has a molecular weight of approximately 74,9 kD as measured on a 10% SDS-PAGE gel, while its molecular weight as measured by mass spectrometry is approximately 74 kD. The 74 kD protein is used to prepare a vaccine composition which elicits a protective immune response in a mammalian host to protect the host again disease caused by M. catarrhalis.

Abstract: An original document image is irradiated with light emitted from a light source, and light reflected from or passed through the original document image is applied to a line sensor for reading the image. A maximum output value of the line sensor is determined within a linear characteristic region thereof with respect to the amount of exposure of the line sensor to the light reflected from or passed through the original document image. The amount of light emitted from the light source is regulated within the maximum output value to determine a sensitivity correcting value for the line sensor with respect to a reference object, and the sensitivity correcting value is stored as corrective data. An image signal from the line sensor is corrected with the corrective data when the original document image is read.