Abstract: A centrifugation support for a receptacle (15) where the support comprises a strip (11) formed of a flexible plastics material, the strip (11) having a width corresponding to a substantial portion of the height of the receptacle (15) and a length sufficient to be wrapped around the receptacle (15) with the end portions (13 and 14) overlapping, wherein the overlapping surfaces of the end portions (13 and 14) which abut each other when the strip (11) is wrapped around the receptacle (15) have a blocking characteristic and the remainder of the surface of the strip (11) is substantially tack free.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward non-pathogenic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains containing deletions in the nef gene and U3 region of the long terminal repeat (LTR). A blood donor infected with HIV-1 and a cohort of six blood or blood product recipients infected from this donor were identified. These individuals, who remained free of HIV-1-related disease with stable and normal CD4.sup.+ lymphocyte counts 10 to 14 years after infection, were termed long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs). The molecular characterization of HIV-1 sequences obtained from either virus isolates or patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of LTNPs identified similar deletions in the nef gene and in the region of overlap of nef and the U3 region of the LTR. Full-length sequencing of one isolate genome and amplification of selected HIV-1 genome regions from other cohort members revealed no other abnormalities of obvious functional significance.

Abstract: A method of detecting a gene and quantifying its copy number using a PCR based assay is described. A set (i.e. three primers) of PCR primers is used in a single reaction wherein the first primer is specific for a first gene and the second primer is specific for a second gene which second gene is closely related to the first gene, while the third primer is common to both the first and second genes. From the results obtained the presence or absence of the second gene can be determined, as well as, its copy number.