Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of gene trap vector (enhanced gene trap vectors, eGTV) for efficiently identifying silent or weakly expressed target genes in mammalian genomes, methods of their production and methods for identifying and mutating target genes by using the enhanced gene trap vectors. The gene trap vectors of the present invention can also be used for inducing the expression of silent genes and enhancing the expression of weakly expressed genes. The use of the enhanced gene trap vectors for creating transgenic organisms to identify gene function and to validate pharmaceutical compounds prior to clinical applications is a further aspect of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modified lymphoid cell having gene conversion fully or partially replaced by hypermutation, wherein said cell has no deleterious mutations in genes encoding paralogues and analogues of the RAD51 protein, and wherein said cell is capable of directed and selective genetic diversification of a target nucleic acid by hypermutation or a combination of hypermutation and gene conversion. The invention also relates to a method for diversifying any transgenic target gene in said cell. Preferably, the target gene is integrated into the immunoglobulin light or heavy chain locus by targeted integration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a newly discovered gene named KASPP for Kinase Associated with Parkinsonism with Pleiomorphic Pathology or alternatively named LRRK2 for Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2, its production, biochemical characterization and use for the detection and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson disease (PD) including, without limitation, sporadic PD, Alzheimer disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other synucleinopathies and/or tauopathy as well as several polymorphisms and mutations in the KASPP/LRRK2 gene segregated with PD.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel class of gene trap vector (enhanced gene trap vectors, eGTV) for efficiently identifying silent or weakly expressed target genes in mammalian genomes, methods of their production and methods for identifying and mutating target genes by using the enhanced gene trap vectors. The gene trap vectors of the present invention can also be used for inducing the expression of silent genes and enhancing the expression of weakly expressed genes. The use of the enhanced gene trap vectors for creating transgenic organisms to identify gene function and to validate pharmaceutical compounds prior to clinical applications is a further aspect of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a MVA mutant and its use in the immunotherapy and vaccination against numerous diseases, in particular in the prevention and therapy of cancer and infectious diseases.

Abstract: A method for mass-spectrometric detection of compounds in a gas flow includes: alternatingly forming first and a second beams by switching between electron pulses/pulse trains and photon pulses/pulse trains, the photon pulses/pulse trains being generated by an excimer lamp, and the switching between the electron pulses/pulse trains and the photon pulses/pulse trains occurring at a switching frequency above 50 Hz; disposing the gas flow in an ionization region crossed by the first and second beams so as to ionize volume units in the gas flow so as to form ions of the compounds; deflecting the ions in an effective region of an electric field to a mass-spectrometric device; and sensing the ions with a mass-spectrometric process of the mass-spectrometric device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retroviral vector undergoing promoter conversion comprising a 5?LTR region of the structure U3-R-U5; one or more sequences selected from coding and non-coding sequences; and a 3?LTR region comprising a completely or partially deleted U3 region wherein said deleted U3 region is replaced by a polylinker sequence, followed by the R and U5 region. The retroviral vector undergoes promoter conversion and is useful as a gene transfer vehicle for targeted gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention refers to inventive fusion proteins, to a method for detecting protein-protein-interactions in living cells and cell lysates using these inventive fusion proteins. The present invention also refers to a screening method for identifying compounds suitable to modify, i.e. inhibit or enhance, protein-protein-interaction using these fusion proteins. Additionally a method for detecting cells is disclosed comprising an unknown protein that interacts with a known protein. Along with the inventive fusion proteins used for these methods encoding nucleic acids, corresponding vectors and host cells transfected accordingly are disclosed herewith.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an affinity marker comprising a FLAG-domain, which contains at least one FLAG-tag, and a Streptavidin-binding domain (Strep-domain), which contains at least two Strep-tags, a protein containing this affinity marker, a nucleic acid which codes for it, a vector or a cell containing the affinity marker, method for the purification of a protein produced in a cell using this affinity marker, and the use of the affinity marker for the purification of a protein produced in a cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reporter gene construct for the detection of the HIV Rev and HIV Tat proteins. Furthermore, the invention relates to a functionality test method for Rev and Rev fusion proteins prepared in a recombinant manner, a method of screening for sequences of different origin for their activity as an instability element, a method of screening for sequences which cause the transport out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm by binding to cellular or other viral shuttle proteins, as well as to a method for the detection of HIV-infected cells. The reporter gene construct according to the present invention, after it has been introduced into cells, in the presence of HIV Rev and HIV Tat proteins results in the formation of reporter proteins which may be used for quantitative/qualitative detection of the HIV Rev and HIV Tat proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of culturing plant material comprising a layer of floatable granular substrate in a culturing vessel, plant material and culture medium. Also, the invention provides a culturing kit comprising various combinations of floatable granular substrate with plant material, culturing solution and a culturing vessel, adapted to the specific requirements of hobby, science or industrial uses.

Abstract: In a method and device for determining the moisture content and conductivity in the ground and in bulk materials, a capacitive sensor is disposed in the ground or the bulk material, the sensor is charged from a constant external voltage supply with a given initial current from a given first voltage threshold value to a given second voltage threshold value and either a voltage/time diagram is determined or a first charging time required for charging the sensor from the first to the second voltage threshold values by the constant external voltage supply is determined and a second charging time is determined wherein either the initial current and/or at least one of the two voltage threshold values are altered and the water content and the conductivity are determined by verification of the two charging times or of the voltage/time diagram.

Abstract: Multiple myeloma is treated by deletion mutants of the gp130 protein of the IL-3 receptor. These mutants inhibit the binding of Hck tyrosine kinase and the growth of tumor cells, particularly myeloma cells.

Abstract: A method for the identification and/or quantification of GBP-1 or fragments of this protein in the culture supernatant of a tissue sample, a body fluid sample or a sample from a cell culture supernatant is described.