Abstract: A method for diagnosing an HIV-2 (LAV-II) infection and a kit containing reagents for the same is disclosed. These reagents include cDNA probes which are capable of hybridizing to at least a portion of the genome of HIV-2. In one embodiment, the DNA probes are capable of hybridizing to the entire genome of HIV-2. These reagents also include polypeptides encoded by some of these DNA sequences.

Abstract: Nucleotide vector composition containing such vector and vaccine for immunization against hepatitis. Nucleotide vector comprising at least one gene or one complementary DNA coding for at least a portion of a virus, and a promoter providing for the expression of such gene in muscle cells. The gene may be the S gene of the hepatitis B virus. A nucleotide vector composition when administered to even chronic HBV carriers is capable of breaking T cell tolerance to the surface antigens of hepatitis B virus. A vaccine preparation containing said bare DNA is injected into the host previously treated with a substance capable of inducing a coagulating necrosis of the muscle fibers.

Abstract: The molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human retrovirus, designated lymphadenopathy-associated virus, or LAV, is disclosed. LAV was originally isolated from a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). A cloned LAV complementary DNA (cDNA) was used to screen a library of recombinant phages constructed from the genomic DNA of LAV-infected T lymphocytes. The nucleotide sequence of an insert obtained from the recombinant phage clone &lgr;J19 was ascertained through M13 shotgun cloning and the dideoxy chain termination sequencing method. The env coding region was identified and peptides obtained therefrom. These peptides correspond to amino acids 239-294, 273-317, 300-327, 334-381, 397-424, and 466-500 of the LAV env. These peptides provide suitable diagnostic reagents for the detection LAV-specific antibodies and for the generation of LAV-specific immunological reagents.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences from Bacillus bacteria, which control the expression of other DNA sequences in a cell host.

Abstract: The invention discloses proteins having &bgr;(1-3)glucanosyltransferase type activities. These proteins can be used for detecting the antifungal activity of molecules.

Abstract: The invention concerns an oligonucleotide capable of being specifically hybridized with the ribosomal RNA (RNAr) or with the corresponding gene (ADNr) of the Escherichia coli genomic species (including all the Shigella genomic species except for serotype 13 S. boydii/Escherichia fergusonii genomic species. The invention also concerns a method for detecting and displaying the bacteria of said species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation of a new gene, des, which encodes a M. tuberculosis protein named DES. The des gene appears to be conserved among different Mycobacteria species. The amino acid sequence of the DES protein contains two sets of motifs that are characteristic of the active sites of enzymes from the class II diiron-oxo protein family. Among this family of proteins, DES shares significant homology with soluble stearoyl-ACP desaturases. DES is a highly antigenic protein, which is recognized by human sera from patients infected with M. tuberculosis and M. leprae but not by sera from tuberculous cattle. Thus, the DES protein provides a useful tool for the serodiagnostic analysis of tuberculosis.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a process for aligning a macromolecule (macromolecules) on the surface S of a support, characterized in that the triple line S/A/B (meniscus) resulting from the contact between a solvent A and the surface S and a medium B is caused to move on the said surface S, the said macromolecules having a part, especially an end, anchored on the surface S, the other part, especially the other end, being in solution in the solvent A. The subject of the present invention is also a process for detecting, measuring the intramolecular distance of, separating and/or assaying a macromolecule in a sample in which a process of alignment according to the invention is used.

Abstract: KAL protein is identified as the active agent in a therapeutic composition for treatment of injury to nerve tissue, including spinal cord tissue, as well as support of treatment for renal grafts. Additionally, therapeutic treatment of renal injury, and kidney transplantation and renal surgery, is effected by administration of KAL protein. The therapeutic agent may be administered locally, or intravenously. Retinal disorders may be similarly treated.

Abstract: Reagents and methods for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus are provided. The reagents contain an antibody that binds to a capsular polysaccharide of type 5 of Staphylococcus aureus, and can be used in methods for detection of oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus that escapes detection by agglutination in the presence of fibrinogen and antibodies directed against protein A of Staphylococcus.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing an HIV-2 (LAV-II) infection and a kit containing reagents for the same is disclosed. These reagents include cDNA probes which are capable of hybridizing to at least a portion of the genome of HIV-2. In one embodiment, the DNA probes are capable of hybridizing to the entire genome of HIV-2. These reagents also include polypeptides encoded by some of these DNA sequences.

Abstract: KAL protein is identified the active agent in a therapeutic composition for treatment of injury to nerve tissue, including spinal cord tissue, as well as support of treatment for renal grafts. Additionally, therapeutic treatment of renal injury, and kidney transplantation and renal surgery, is effected by administration of KAL protein. The therapeutic agent may be administered locally, or intravenously. Retinal disorders may be similarly treated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding a modulator of NF-&kgr;B, and to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and the polypeptides encoded thereby, wherein the polypeptides are involved in the response to NF-&kgr;B-activating stimuli, including HTLV-1 Tax, LPS, PMA and IL-1. The invention also relates to antibodies to the modulator of NF-&kgr;B, methods of detecting modulator of NF-&kgr;B using the antibodies, methods of treatment associated with NF-&kgr;B activation and to methods of identifying compounds which modulate the activity of the modulator of NF-&kgr;B.

Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein having a molecular weight of 28,799 Da, and hybrid protein containing at least portions of its sequence.

Abstract: An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognised by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

Abstract: A method of inducing an immune response by applying an immune response inducing effective amount of a lipopeptide to a mucosal membrane of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for selecting a prey polypeptide that is able to interact with a bait polypeptide of interest, to a prey polynucleotide encoding the prey polypepetide as well as to prey polypeptide itself. The invention also concerns plasmids used for performing the method of the invention as well as prokaryotic or eukaryotic recombinant host organisms containing such plasmids and also a collection of said recombinant host organisms consisitng in a DNA library, such as a collection of recombinant haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Finally, the invention is also directed to a technical medium containing the whole information concerning the interaction between metabolically related bait and prey polypeptides and/or polynucleotides coding for bait and prey polypeptides.

Abstract: A previously isolated hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration in a 147 bp cellular DNA fragment linked to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was used as a probe to clone the corresponding complementary DNA from a human liver cDNA library. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the overall structure of the cellular gene, which has been named hap, is similar to that of the DNA-binding hormone receptors. Six out of seven hepatoma and hepatoma-derived cell-lines express a 2.5 kb hap mRNA species which is undetectable in normal adult and fetal livers, but present in all nonhepactic tissues analyzed. Low stringency hybridization experiments revealed the existence of hap related genes in the human genome. The cloned DNA sequence is useful in the preparation of pure hap protein and as a probe in the detection and isolation of complementary DNA and RNA sequences. The hap protein is a retinoic acid (RA) receptor identified as RAR-&bgr;.

Abstract: Chlamydia spp. are strictly intracellular pathogens that grow inside a vacuole, called an inclusion. They possess genes encoding proteins homologous to components of type III secretion machineries which, in other bacterial pathogens, are involved in delivery of bacterial proteins within or through the membrane of eukaryotic host cells. Inc proteins are chlamydial proteins that are associated with the membrane of the inclusion and are characterized by the presence of a large hydrophobic domain in their amino acid sequence. To investigate whether some Chlamydia proteins, especially Inc proteins and other proteins exhibiting a similar hydropathic profile, might be secreted, the inventors used an heterologous secretion system, namely a type III system. Chimeras were constructed by fusing the N-terminal part of these proteins with a reporter, the Cya protein of Bordetella pertussis, and expressed in various strains of Shigella flexneri.

Abstract: A process for providing a recombinant, heterologous gene in the genome of a eukaryotic cell is provided. In particular, heterologous DNA is inserted into a recipient gene of the eukaryotic cell by homologous recombination. Moreover, a transgenic or chimeric animal comprising cells with DNA inserted into its genome by homologous recombination is disclosed. Further, the method of making these transgenic animal is taught.