Abstract: Methylation of DNA can be a critical step in the introduction of DNA into P. haemolytica. A methyltransferase has been isolated and molecularly cloned for this purpose. Use of the methyltransferase has allowed construction of defined, attenuated mutants for use as vaccines to protect cattle.

Abstract: Multiple frequency sources are used to apply a time varying signal to a scanning tunneling microscope and a current or voltage passing between the electrodes of the microscope is measured by a microwave spectrum/network analyzer which detects simultaneously at the multiple input frequencies and combinations thereof. This permits multiple substances to be monitored simultaneously. By choosing appropriate frequencies of input signals to be mixed or combined before application to the sample, it is possible to measure at a difference frequency which may improve signal to noise ratio and possible to match generating and reaction potentials and relaxation times to render detection possible. When applied to an array of Coulomb blockade devices used as a current standard, accuracy of the standard can be tested and the signal-to-noise ratio can be improved in the measurements, or the thresholds of the devices can be detected.

Abstract: A sample and the tip portion of an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope are electrically enclosed within a cavity with electrically conductive walls. The dimensions of the cavity are smaller than the wavelength of a component of the AC signal applied by the probe to the sample so that the output signal detected by the probe from the sample will not be contaminated by resonant effects of the cavity.

Abstract: Devices are useful to capture or dispense target molecules and include an electric field-responsive valve unit. The valve unit includes an active control structure having at least one monomolecular layer and being up to about 10 nm thick. The active control structure is formed by a majority of molecular species with a dipolar moment greater than about 5 Debye, and operable in response to an electric field at a threshold value. A particularly preferred embodiment has the active control structure carried on a microporous membrane with pores in the nanometer range. Applications for inventive embodiments include drug delivery and target molecule capture during electrophoresis separations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are genetic markers for pig litter size, methods for identifying such markers, and methods of screening pigs to determine those more likely to produce larger litters and preferably selecting those pigs for future breeding purposes based on the ESR polymorphisms. The markers are based upon the presence or absence of certain polymorphisms in the pig estrogen receptor gene. Preferably, the polymorphism is a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of formulating a pest control agent into a sprayable gluten-based formulation. A gluten-based formulation for use in pest control is also provided. The present invention also provides a process of decreasing the population of a pest of a living organism comprising formulating a pest control agent into a sprayable gluten-based formulation and delivering the formulation to the external surface of the living organism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of formulating a pest control agent into a sprayable gluten-based formulation. A gluten-based formulation for use in pest control is also provided. The present invention also provides a process of decreasing the population of a pest of a living organism comprising formulating a pest control agent into a sprayable gluten-based formulation and delivering the formulation to the external surface of the living organism.

Abstract: Shearinines A, B and C, and 21-Isopentenylpaxilline are ascostromatal metabolites of the fungus Eupenicillium shearii. These indole alkaloid compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects and the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to coated substrates having a coating of biological macromolecules, preferably proteins, which are capable of being immobilized on a substrate surface and have a marker. These proteins usually are mutant proteins obtained by mutagenesis of the gene encoding a random positioning protein. When a mutant protein molecule is immobilized on the substrate, the marker of the mutant protein molecule is in a select spatial relationship with both the substrate and the markers of adjacent protein molecules. A substrate coated with an oriented layer of the mutant proteins exhibits improved or different properties when compared to a substrate having a randomly positioned layer of proteins thereon.

Abstract: By applying a voltage or signal and withdrawing or injecting an electron or electrons to a layer of material, it is possible to write, erase or read data electrochemically. The layer of material has at least one portion that will reversibly change between charge states in response to the applied voltage or signal and the withdrawal or injection of an electron or electrons. Alternatively, the material of the layer may be such that the portion of the layer of material will dissociate into components in response to the applied voltage or signal and injection or withdrawal of an electron or electrons. The stored data may be read using a scanning tunneling microscope by applying a voltage or signal thereto and detecting the current through, voltage across or signal reflected from the layer to detect the different charge states or structures of different portions of the layer. The signal or voltage applied can be a DC or AC signal, a signal pulse or transient or various combinations thereof.

Abstract: Multiple frequency sources are used to apply a time varying signal to a scanning tunneling microscope and a current or voltage passing between the electrodes of the microscope is measured by a microwave spectrum/network analyzer which detects simultaneously at the multiple input frequencies and combinations thereof. This permits multiple substances to be monitored simultaneously. By choosing appropriate frequencies of input signals to be mixed or combined before application to the sample, it is possible to measure at a difference frequency which may improve signal to noise ratio and possible to match generating and reaction potentials and relaxation times to render detection possible. When applied to an array of Coulomb blockade devices used as a current standard, accuracy of the standard can be tested and the signal-to-noise ratio can be improved in the measurements, or the thresholds of the devices can be detected.

Abstract: A method of introducing expressible heterologous DNA into Prevotella ruminicola is provided. The method involves conjugal transfer of a shuttle vector comprising the heterologous DNA operatively linked to a promoter functional in P. ruminicola. The invention also provides shuttle vectors for use in the method and P. ruminicola produced by the method. The invention further provides a tetracycline resistance gene of the TetQ class, or fragments thereof that confer tetracycline resistance, and a protein of the TetQ class that provides resistance to tetracycline by protecting ribosomes from tetracycline, or active fragments thereof. Finally, the invention provides a promoter functional in P. ruminicola and an engineered P. ruminicola comprising expressible foreign DNA.

Abstract: Sulpinine C, secopenitrem B and 10-oxo-11,33-dihydropenitrem B indole compounds have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus sulphureus. Aflatrem B has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, and 14-hydroxypaspalinine and 14-(N,N-dimethylvalyloxy)paspalinine have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus nomius. The indole compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Abstract: Diketopiperazine compounds designated N-methylepiamauromine, epiamauromine and cycloechinulin have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus. The compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Abstract: A hybrid DNA sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising: a first DNA sequence which encodes an amino acid sequence that allows for post-translation modification of the fusion protein; and a second DNA sequence joined end to end with the first DNA sequence and in the same reading frame, the second DNA sequence encoding a selected pThe invention described herein was made in the course of work partially funded by Grant No. 2 RO1 AI15650 from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. government may have rights in this invention.

Abstract: The present invention uses aerosol beam technology to accelerate either wet or dry aerosol particles to speeds enabling the particles to penetrate living cells. Aerosol particles suspended in an inert gas are accelerated to a very high velocity during the jet expansion of the gas as it passes from a region of higher gas pressure to a region of lower gas pressure through a small orifice. The accelerated particles are positioned to impact a preferred target, for example, a plant or animal cell or bacterial culture. When the droplets include DNA or other macromolecules, the macromolecules are introduced into the cells. The particles are constructed as droplets of a sufficiently small size so that the cells survive the penetration. Once introduced into the target cell the macromolecules can elicit biological effects. Because the method of introduction is a physical one, the biological barriers that restrict the application of other DNA transfer methods to a few plant species and a few cell types are not present.

Abstract: Sulpinine C, secopenitrem B and 10-oxo-11,33-dihydropenitrem B indole compounds have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus sulphureus. Aflatrem B has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, and 14-hydroxypaspalinine and 14-(N,N-dimethylvalyloxy)paspalinine have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus nomius. The indole compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Abstract: A diketopiperazine compound designated cycloechinulin has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus. The compound is effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Abstract: A tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid compound named "aspernomine" has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungus Aspergillus nomius. Aspernomine has the structure: ##STR1## and is effective for controlling Lepidopteran insects.

Abstract: Indole compounds named "sulphinine" and "secopenitrem" have been isolated from the sclerotia of from fungi Aspergillus sulphureus. An indole compound named "aflatrem B" has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus flavus. The compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.