Abstract: The present invention relates to rodenticides, methods of killing a rodent comprising administering to said rodent, a lethal dose of an isolated Yersinia murine toxin polypeptide or an isolated antigenic analogue thereof, and methods of manufacturing novel rodenticides.

Abstract: A shaped charge casing 1 designed to be nested to reduce overall volume, which benefits storage or carriage. A lid portion 5 is connected at 8 to a body portion 9 by means of a screw thread. A shaped charge liner 12 can be positioned onto lip 11. The lid portion 5 and body portion 9 can be separated to allow filling or unpacking of explosive material.

Abstract: A dielectric material (14) for a capacitor comprising a first material and a second material, the first material being a polymer and the second material comprising particles. The particles are dispersed within the polymer, and are selected to have a relative permittivity higher than that of the polymer, characterized in that the diameter of the particles is in the nanometer range and the particles are geometrically controlled to a predetermined shape.

Abstract: There is provided an electrical pulse splitter (EPS) for an explosives system (10), the explosives system comprising an electrical pulse generator (EPG), the electrical pulse splitter (EPS), and first and second explosive charges (Ch1, Ch2) having respective first and second electrical initiators (D1, D2), The electrical pulse splitter (EPS) is configured to receive a primary electrical pulse from the electrical pulse generator (EPG), and to output first and second electrical pulses to the first and second electrical initiators (Ch1, Ch2) respectively. The second electrical pulse is output a length of time after the first electrical pulse is output, and the electrical pulse splitter is powered by the primary electrical pulse.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making HOF.RCN and using it to oxidise organic substrates in a quick and safe way. The process comprises passing diluted fluorine through a conduit and RCN in water through another conduit into a microreactor to form HOF.RCN and reacting this with an organic substrates.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: This invention describes the synthesis and use of novel energetic poly(phosphazene) materials suitable for binding high explosives. These materials may also be used as explosives in their own right. The materials possess high energy density and are highly amenable to chemical modification thereby allowing for modification to the physical properties of the material. In particular the tacky and rubbery nature of these materials makes them ideal for use as binder and co-binder materials.

Abstract: This invention describes the synthesis and use of novel energetic poly(phosphazene) materials suitable for binding high explosives. These materials may also be used as explosives in their own right. The materials possess high energy density and are highly amenable to chemical modification thereby allowing for modification to the physical properties of the material. In particular the tacky and rubbery nature of these materials makes them ideal for use as binder and co-binder materials.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising: performing nucleic acid amplification on the sample in the presence of (a) a DNA duplex binding agent, (b) a nucleic acid polymerase and (c) a reagent comprising an amplification primer which can hybridize to said target sequence when in single stranded form and which is connected at its 5? end to a probe which carries a label by way of a chemical linking group, said labeled probe being of a sequence which is similar to that of the said target nucleic acid sequence, such that it can hybridize to a complementary region in an amplification product, and wherein the label is able to absorb fluorescence from or donate fluorescent energy to the DNA duplex binding agent; and monitoring fluorescence of said sample.

Abstract: The use of (i) an antibody specific for Yersinia pestis F1-antigen, or a binding fragment thereof, or (ii) an antibody specific for Yersinia pestis V-antigen, or a binding fragment thereof, or a combination of (i) and (ii), in the production of a medicament for the treatment of infection by Yersinia pestis. It has been found that such treatments are effective therapies for Yersinia pestis infection. In addition, the combination produces a synergistic effect when used prophylactically.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the method comprising (a) amplifying the target nucleic acid so that the product of the amplification reaction includes a purine rich region, (b) contacting the sample during the amplification with a peptide nucleic acid able to bind to at least a portion of the target sequence; and (c) detecting the presence of triplex DNA structures. The detection is suitably effected directly, for example using a surface plasmon resonance detector.

Abstract: A method of enhancing expression of a desired protein at mucosal effector sites, the method including placing the protein to be expressed under the control of a promoter having SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment or variant of any of these that has promoter activity, and causing expression in mucosal cells. Constructs used in the methods, as well as suitable recombinant gut-colonising microorganisms such as a Salmonella spp., are also described. Such organisms are useful in the preparation of vaccines.

Abstract: Substituted-4-quinolones of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR6R7, wherein each of R6 and R7 is independently selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R6 and R7 together with the N atom to which they are attached form a saturated heterocyclic group selected from piperidino, piperazino and morpholino; R2 is a group selected from H, —OH, halo, —CHO, —CO2H and CONHR8 wherein R8 is H or a 1-6C alkyl; each of R3, R4 and R5 is independently selected form H, —CH3, —OCH3 and halo; or a non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, have use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease of a living animal body, including a human, which disease is responsive to the activity of an immunosuppressant.

Abstract: A photomultiplier tube circuit with reduced power consumption comprising a photomultiplier tube having a plurality of dynodes, charging circuitry for providing charge to the plurality of dynodes and an oscillator for providing a high voltage supply to the charging circuitry characterised in that the photomultiplier tube circuit further comprises means for sampling the voltage of at least one of the dynodes and a switching means for switching the oscillator on and off with respect to the at least one dynode voltage sampled.

Abstract: A method for conducting a nucleic acid amplification reaction, said method comprising forming an amplification reaction mixture in the presence of sufficient of a pyrophosphate salt to prevent primer extension taking place, digesting said pyrophosphate salt with a pyrophosphatase enzyme (PPase), and subjecting said reaction mixture to conditions such that an amplification reaction may proceed. This can be used as a “hot start” amplification. Particular novel pyrophosphatase enzymes for use in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: This invention describes an improved method and apparatus for the analysis of fluid borne particles and which is especially suitable for the detection of airborne biological particles. In one aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for the detection of fluid borne particles which comprises a zone through which a fluid to be analyzed flows in use, a source of illumination to illuminate/irradiate fluid borne particles present in said zone, and a detector to detect light from the particles as an indicator of the presence or characteristics of the particles, wherein the apparatus comprises an integrating sphere and the zone is within the integrating sphere. The apparatus is highly sensitive and can be used for detecting airborne particles even where the particles are present at very low particle concentrations in the air.

Abstract: A composition having immunosuppressant activity comprises at least one compound of the formula (I) in which R is an acyl group of the formula (II) wherein one of R1 and R2 is H and the other is selected from OR4, SR4 and NHR4, wherein R4 is H or 1-6C alkyl, or R1 and R2 together with the carbon atom to which they are joined form a keto group, and R3 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 8 to 11 carbon atoms and is optionally substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR5R6 wherein each of R5 and R6 is selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R5 and R6 together with the N atom form a morpholino or piperazino group, or any enantiomer thereof; and at least one compound of the formula (III): wherein R7 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more su

Abstract: A recombinant microorganism comprises an asporogenic Bacillus subtilis strain in which a gene encoding a protease enzyme has been downregulated or inactivated. In particular sigma factorspoIIAC is inactivated such that the strain is asporogenic. These strains are particularly useful as expression vehicles for proteins such as protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis.

Abstract: A respirator (1) comprises an inner, oronasal, mask (2) enclosed within an outer, face sealing, mask (3) so as to define a cavity (4) therewith, a screw-threaded air inlet (5) for conducting inhaling air to the interior of the inner mask (2), a filter canister (7) for filtering the inhaling air, and an air outlet (8) for conducting exhaled air from the interior (6) of the inner mask (2). In normal operation, air is inhaled and exhaled solely through the inner mask (2) and so substantially no air pressure differential exists between the ambient atmosphere (9) and the cavity (4) which will allow ambient air to enter the cavity.