Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: The present invention relates, e.g., to a method for isolating a DNA molecule of interest in a form suitable for sequencing at least a portion of the DNA by a high throughput sequencing method, comprising (a) digesting a double-stranded (ds) DNA molecule with two different restriction enzymes, A and B, to generate a ds form of the DNA molecule of interest, which is bounded by the two restriction enzyme cleavage products, and (b) attaching to each end of the DNA molecule of interest an adaptor molecule which comprises at one end a restriction enzyme cleavage site that is compatible with the restriction enzyme A or the restriction enzyme B cleavage product, and which also comprises a sequence and/or element that allows the DNA of interest to be sequenced with a high throughput sequencing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates, e.g., to a method for amplifying the genome of a single virus particle from a mixture of virus particles, comprising (a) subjecting the mixture of virus particles to flow cytometry and identifying a sorted sample that putatively contains a single virus particle, (b) imbedding the sorted sample comprising the putative single viral particle in a solid matrix (e.g., low melting agarose); (c) visualizing the embedded virus particle (e.g., by EFM and/or confocal microscopy) to confirm that a single particle is embedded; and (d) exposing the nucleic acid from the visualized, embedded single, discrete viral particle (e.g., by alkali treatment) and amplifying the genomic viral nucleic acid in situ (e.g., by MDA).

Abstract: The present invention relates, e.g., to a minimal set of protein-coding genes which provides the information required for replication of a free-living organism in a rich bacterial culture medium, wherein (1) the gene set does not comprise the 101 genes listed in Table 2; and/or wherein (2) the gene set comprises the 381 protein-coding genes listed in Table 3 and, optionally, one of more of: a set of three genes encoding ABC transporters for phosphate import (genes MG410, MG411 and MG412; or genes MG289, MG290 and MG291); the lipoprotein-encoding gene MG185 or MG260; and/or the glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase gene MG293 or MG385.

Abstract: The present invention relates, e.g., to an in vitro method, using isolated protein reagents, for joining two double-stranded (ds) DNA molecules of interest, wherein the distal region of the first DNA molecule and the proximal region of the second DNA molecule share a region of sequence identity, comprising (a) chewing back the DNA molecules with an enzyme having an exonuclease activity, to yield single-stranded overhanging portions of each DNA molecule which contain a sufficient length of the region of sequence identity to hybridize specifically to each other; (b) specifically annealing the single-stranded overhangs; and (c) repairing single-stranded gaps in the annealed DNA molecules and sealing the nicks thus formed (ligating the nicked DNA molecules). The region of sequence identity generally comprises at least 20 non-palindromic nucleotides (nt), e.g., at least about 40 non-palindromic nt.