Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma or prostate cancer in a tissue sample. The method does not involve visual examination of morphology. The method comprises providing a sample from the subject and assaying for the presence, or absence or reduced level of expression of a novel gene, hereinafter referred to as the “DESC1 gene”. The method comprises isolating RNA, preferably mRNA from tissue samples, and detecting the mRNA which encodes all or part of DESC1 protein. Preferably the detection comprises amplifying the mRNA, preferably by reverse transcriptase-PCR using primers specific to a region in the DESC1 gene; and detecting the presence or absence of the amplified product to determine whether DESC1 mRNA is present or absent in the tissue sample.

Abstract: Four yeasts (NRRL Y-30213, NRRL Y-30214, NRRL Y-30215, and NRRL Y-30216) and 1 bacterium (NRRL B-30212) have been identified as being superior antagonists capable of suppressing Fusarium head blight (head scab) in cereals, particularly in wheat and barley. Fusarium head blight is primarily caused by the fungus Gibberella zeae (anamorph=Fusarium graminearum).