Abstract: Novel compounds carrying ligands capable of ligating to counter receptors on relevant target cells are disclosed. The compounds possess a number of advantageous features, rendering them very suitable for a wide range of applications, including use as detection systems, detection of relevant target cells as well as in various methods. In particular, novel MHC molecule constructs comprising one or more MHC molecules are disclosed. The affinity and avidity of the MHC molecules of the constructs are surprisingly high. The possibility of presenting to the target cells a plurality of MHC molecules makes the MHC molecule constructs an extremely powerful tool e.g. in the field of diagnosis. The invention relates in general to the field of therapy, including therapeutic methods and therapeutic compositions. Also comprised by the present invention is the sample-mounted use of MHC molecules, MHC molecule multimers, and MHC molecule constructs.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting chromosome aberrations is disclosed. More specifically, chromosome aberrations are detected by in situ hybridisation using at least two sets of hybridisation probes, at least one set comprising one or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to a potential aberration in a chromosome, and at least one set comprising two or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to another potential aberration in a chromosome. In particular, the method may be used for detecting chromosome aberrations in the form of breakpoints.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, kits and compositions suitable for the improved detection, quantitation and analysis of nucleic acid target sequences using probe-based hybridization assays.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting chromosome aberrations is disclosed. More specifically, chromosome aberrations are detected by in situ hybridisation using at least two sets of hybridisation probes, at least one set comprising one or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to a potential aberration in a chromosome, and at least one set comprising two or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to another potential aberration in a chromosome. In particular, the method may be used for detecting chromosome aberrations in the form of breakpoints.

Abstract: A method of controlling the temperature of a biological specimen by using induction heating. The specimen is either fixed to a carrier or is in liquid form in contact with a carrier with fixed capture probes. The carrier is removably placed in proximity to a solid support member with a conducting material, and the solid support is subjected to an oscillating magnetic field. The carrier and support member are preferably a microscope slide and a cartridge, respectively.

Abstract: Novel hybridisation assay probes and mixtures of such probes for detecting a target sequence of one or mycobacteria optionally present in a sample. The probes may suitable be directed to target sequences of mycobacterial rDNA, precursor rRNA, or rRNA, said probes being capable of forming detectable hybrids. The probes are in particular directed to mycobacterial rDNA, to precursor rRNA, or to 23S, 16S or 5S rRNA The probes are useful for detecting the organisms in test samples such as sputum, laryngeal swabs, gastric lavage, bronchial washings, biopsies, aspirates, expectorates, body fluids (spinal, pleural, pericardial, synovial, blood, pus, bone marrow), urine, tissue sections as well as food samples, soil, air and water samples, and cultures thereof.

Abstract: Novel hybridisation assay probes and mixtures of such probes for detecting a target sequence of one or mycobacteria optionally present in a sample. The probes may suitable be directed to target sequences of mycobacterial rDNA, precursor rRNA or rRNA, said probes being capable of forming detectable hybrids. The probes are in particular directed to mycobacterial rDNA, to precursor rRNA, or to 23S, 16S or 5S rRNA. The probes are useful for detecting the organisms in test samples such as sputum, laryngeal swabs, gastric lavage, bronchial washings, biopsies, aspirates, expectorates, body fluids (spinal, pleural, pericardial synovial, blood, pus, bone marrow), urine, tissue sections as well as food samples, soil, air and water samples, and cultures thereof.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which utilizes short C-terminal fragments of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato derived protein OspC. The 4 amino-terminal acids Pro-Lys-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 22) are shown to be essential in immune reactivity between sera from patients suffering from early borreliosis and various OspC derivatives and it is shown that in order to be effective as a diagnostic agent, 5 consecutive amino acid residues long homologue of a fragment identical to the 10 C-terminal amino acids of OspC (SEQ DI NO: 1). Also disclosed are vaccines utilizing the short peptides as well as methods for their preparation.

Abstract: Novel hybridisation assay probes and mixtures of such probes for detecting a target sequence of one or mycobacteria optionally present in a sample. The probes may suitable be directed to target sequences of mycobacterial rDNA, precursor rRNA, or rRNA, said probes being capable of forming detectable hybrids. The probes are in particular directed to mycobacterial rDNA, to precursor rRNA, or to 23S, 16S or 5S rRNA. The probes are useful for detecting the organisms in test samples such as sputum, laryngeal swabs, gastric lavage, bronchial washings, biopsies, aspirates, expectorates, body fluids (spinal, pleural, pericardial, synovial, blood, pus, bone marrow), urine, tissue sections as well as food samples, soil, air and water samples, and cultures thereof.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting chromosome aberrations is disclosed. More specifically, chromosome aberrations are detected by in situ hybridisation using at least two sets of hybridisation probes, at least one set comprising one or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to a potential aberration in a chromosome, and at least one set comprising two or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to another potential aberration in a chromosome. In particular, the method may be used for detecting chromosome aberrations in the form of breakpoints.

Abstract: Novel dendrimers as well as novel dendrimer complexes are disclosed. Such dendrimers and/or dendrimer complexes may be used for the detection of various components of a sample and as detection systems and signal enhancement/amplification systems. The dendrimers and dendrimer complexes may also be used for labelling various entities/compounds. Furthermore, labelling kits and detection kits comprising one or more labelled dendrimers or one or more dendrimer complexes are also one of the possible uses.

Abstract: A method for preserving cytological specimens for histological or histopathological use. A cytological sample from a biological tissue such as a tumor or a tumor cell line is dehydrated, disbursed and evenly distributed throughout a volume of molten material. The molten material is then drawn into a tubular member such as a pipette and allowed to solidify. Upon solidification, the cylindrical specimen is partially or completely extruded from the tube for further processing, including fixation, dehydration and molten paraffin infiltration and embedding as required for presentation to a sectioning device such as a microtome. Thin circular slices of the cylindrical specimen are removed from the cylindrical specimen and transferred to a slide, fixed and stained as desired. The device and method enable the production of a slide bearing a spatially homogeneous distribution of cytological material for microscopic examination.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel monomeric building blocks for labeling peptide nucleic acids and similarly constructed nucleic acid-binding oligomers possessing groups which are coupled to a nitrogen base and/or to the peptide backbone of the peptide nucleic acid. The invention furthermore relates to peptide nucleic acids which contain at least one labelled monomeric building block.

Abstract: Nucleic acid analogues provide a particularly useful tool for the preparation of complex polymeric structures of defined geometry because they are relatively stable to reaction conditions for the preparation of such structures and provide the opportunity to introduce reactive groups which would not be possible with usual nucleic acids. These supramolecular structures can be used to form fine networks in nanometer size, for the preparation of e.g., computer chips, new materials/polymers with conductivity and/or insulator properties, and robot arms in nanometer scale.

Abstract: A method for detecting nucleic acids by binding a probe P to a partial sequence S contained in the nucleic acid to produce a binding product B1, degrading the nucleic acid to produce a binding product B2 containing a partial nucleic acid F of a defined length and detecting the binding product B2 or the partial nucleic acid F a part based on its mass is particularly suitable for the parallel detection of nucleic acid of different sequences.

Abstract: Specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes for detecting a sexual transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis comprising N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units in amide linkage with the glycine nitrogen connected to naturally occurring nucleobases or non-naturally occurring nucleobases by a methylene carbonyl linker and said probes capable of hybridizing to 16S or 23S rRNA or rDNA of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis are described. PNA is a very stable molecule with very high affinity for nucleic acid allowing a PNA probe to be shorter than conventional nucleic acid probes.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods, kits and compositions suitable for the improved detection, analysis and quantitation of nucleic acid target sequences using probe based hybridization assays. The invention is more specifically directed to methods, kits and compositions suitable for suppressing the binding of detectable nucleic acid probes or detectable PNA probes to non-target nucleic acid sequences in an assay for a target nucleic acid sequence to thereby improve the reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the assay. The methods, kits and compositions of this invention are particularly well suited to the detection and analysis of nucleic acid point mutations.

Abstract: PNA probes for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis.Specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes for detecting a sexual transmitted disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis comprising N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units in amide linkage with the glycine nitrogen connected to naturally occurring nucleobases or non-naturally occurring nucleobases by a methylene carbonyl linker and said probes capable of hybridizing to 16S or 23S rRNA or rDNA of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis are described.PNA is a very stable molecule with very high affinity for nucleic acid allowing a PNA probe to be shorter than conventional nucleic acid probes.

Abstract: Methodologies for determining the presence of specific nucleic acid sequences in a sample of eucaryotic origin using in situ hybridization are described. The in situ hybridization is performed using a hybridization solution comprising at least one binding partner capable of hybridizing to the specific nucleic acid sequence to be determined so as to form hybrids and a hybrid destabilizing agent in an amount effective to decrease the melting temperature of hybrids formed between the nucleic acid and the binding partner so as to increase the specific binding and decrease the non-specific binding. The binding partner used is a polymeric strand of polymerized moieties having a non-cyclic backbone, the polymeric strand being capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid sequence to be determined. The method is particularly suitable for diagnosing different human diseases such as bacterial and viral infections, genetic diseases and neoplastic disorders.