Abstract: Described herein are nucleic acid modules for cloning, expression and tagging of eukaryotic membrane proteins. The nucleic acid modules include a receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signal sequence, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a tag and a multiple cloning sequence (MCS). Any membrane protein of interest can be cloned into the MCS for expression in cells. The nucleic acid modules can encode any type of tag, such as an epitope tag or affinity tag. The nucleic acid modules disclosed herein can be used to express any type of membrane protein and are particularly suited to the expression and tagging of Type I and Type III membrane proteins.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving encapsidation of transgene RNA using retroviral packaging and transfer vectors. An HIV-2 transfer vector, which includes the transgene, is introduced into a packaging cell that is also transfected with (or stably expresses) an HIV-2 derived packaging vector or a combination of packaging vectors. The packaging vector has mutations in packaging signal sequences that are both upstream and downstream of the 5? splice donor site. The upstream mutation can be a functional deletion of a signal sequence located between the 5? LTR and the 5? splice donor site, while the downstream mutation can be a functional deletion of a signal sequence located between the 5? splice donor site and an initiation codon of the gag gene on the HIV-2 genome. It can also be composed of a combination of two or more partial vectors. A transfer vector, which is introduced into the packaging cell line, has a mutation that renders its splice donor site non-functional.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a method of identifying ligands and antagonists of ligands. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of identifying ligands and antagonists of ligands which bind to cloned G.sub.s - or G.sub.i -coupled receptors. The present invention also relates to a cell that comprises a recombinant cyclic AMP sensitive reporter construct.

Abstract: A panel of monoclonal antibody (Mab) producing hybridomas directed against various antigens of Bordetella pertussis are disclosed herein. The hybridomas and the antigens that the resulting monoclonals are directed against include: (1) BPG10F8C3 and BPE8D8B1--lipooligosaccharide A (LOS A), serotype 1; (2) BPD5, BPE6, and BPF2--fimbriae, serotype 2; (3) BPE3, BPE8 and BPD8--69 kDa nonfimbrial protein, serotype 3; and (4) BPB7, BPC10, BPD4, BPD6, BPD9, and BPF5--fimbriae, serotype 6.