Abstract: A vaccine for treating melanoma, comprising at least one melanoma antigen and a viral-like particle comprising potato virus A coat protein. Use of vaccine for treating melanoma, including protein and DNA vaccines, based on potato virus A coat protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the method for predicting the pharmacoresponse of antidepressants in patients diagnosed with major depression and panic disorder. According to the invention, SNP (rs41271330) in the coding region of the BMP5 gene together with the markers in linkage disequilibrium with this SNP could be used as predictors of SSRI treatment efficacy. The knowledge obtained by using the method disclosed in present invention has potential to increase the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in patients with major depression and panic disorder. The invention also provides a kit for detecting individual who are likely to respond to antidepressant treatment.

Abstract: Novel applications of electroactive polymer materials, particularly of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). Such applications include manipulators with combined electromechanical and electroactive actuators. Applications are particularly suitable in low gravity environment.

Abstract: Viral vectors are potential tools for eliminating the viability of eukaryotic cells in anti-cancer therapies since they can efficiently destroy the cancer cells and trigger an immune response against tumours. Typically viruses are not specific to cancer cells and all methods known in art aiming to the construction of cancer-specific viruses suffer from serious problems. The present invention presents a universal method to overcome these problems and is usable for any DNA virus replicating in nucleus or for any layered vector of RNA viruses. In this method the viral gene expression and/or replication will be blocked by the introduction of one or more aberrantly spliced introns into crucial gene expression units of the virus or vector. Lethal effect of these mutations is reverted in a controlled manner by the delivery of splice-switch oligonucleotide (s) correcting the introduced defects and restoring the biological functionality of the virus or vector, including cytolytic properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to fluorescent probes for identification of compounds binding to protein kinases, for measurement of the affinity of inhibitors of protein kinases, and determination of the active concentration of protein kinases binding to the probe. Bisubstrate-analog character of the probe enables the simultaneous evaluation of inhibitors targeted to both ATP binding site and/or substrate protein/peptide binding domain of the kinase. High affinity of the probe (Kd=1.0 nM towards cAMP-dependent protein kinase) affords the application of the enzymes at low concentration which leads to the substantial decrease of the consumption of the kinase. Due to the ability of the conjugates of oligo(D-arginine) with a ATP binding site targeted inhibitors of this invention to bind with high affinity to a wide spectrum of (basophilic) kinases, a single Fluorescent probe is applicable for assessment of inhibitory potency of compounds towards a great number of protein kinases.

Abstract: Method of preparation of surface coating of variable transmittance and an electro-optical layered appliance including the same comprises dispersing of liquid crystal microdroplets in hydrolyzable and polymerizable precursors and applying obtained mixture on a surface by spraying. Applying the material to the surface by spraying is intrinsically related to the synthesis processes because the properties of the surrounding environment (i.e. content of water and acidity, UV radiation) and the chemical reactions that take place during spraying have considerable influence on the properties (i.e. driving voltage, thickness of obtained layer). Obtained layered appliance comprises of a matrix material with dispersed microdroplets of liquid crystal obtained by the described method, electrically conductive transparent electrodes with contacts, a dielectric material, substrate and covering layers.

Abstract: The subjects of the current invention are compounds, which exhibit arginase inhibiting activity (including difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and L-norvaline, but not limited to them), and which can be used as therapeutically active agents for the treatment and prevention of depression and/or depression-related conditions. Other subjects of the present invention are the use of said arginase inhibiting compounds as therapeutically active agents for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for human and veterinary application, pharmaceutical composition comprising said arginase inhibiting compound and a method for treatment and prevention of depression and/or depression-related conditions. Also, a method for identifying compounds suitable for use as therapeutically active agents for treatment and/or prevention of depression and/or depression-related conditions is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for creating an alphavirus-based genomic library, comprising a) ligation of foreign sequence (s) from an expression library or a random library into plasmids containing cloned alphaviral cDNA, b) multiplication of the obtained plasmid constructs in bacterial cells, c) direct transfection of the obtained plasmid constructs into mammalian or arthropod cells, characterized in that the sequence of an intron or sequences of introns are inserted into the respective genome of an alphavirus or into the cDNA of an expression vector based on an alphavirus, —the sequence of a viral subgenomic promoter, which is larger than minimal functional promoter is inserted immediately to the 3? end of the sequences coding the structural proteins of the named alphavirus, —and ribozyme sequence is inserted for creating correct 3? ends of the alphavirus.

Abstract: A device that can be attached to a fin of a suf board or similar water craft. The device contains an opening (13) for receiving the fin (3). The device is made of elastic material and the area of the device is at least 1.5 times larger than the area of the fin of the surfboard or similar water craft. In one embodiment, the area of the device is 1.5 to 5 times larger that the area of the fin. In another embodiment, the area of the device is about 3 times larger than the area of the fin. The device may be equipped with clamping means for securely fixing the device to the fin.

Abstract: Novel applications of electroactive polymer materials, particularly of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). Such applications include manipulators with combined electromechanical and electroactive actuators. Applications are particularly suitable in low gravity environment.

Abstract: The strain of micro-organism Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 is a novel anti-microbial and anti-oxidative probiotic. It has a high anti-microbial effect on Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and moderate activity against Helicobacter pylori strains. The strain of micro-organism possesses Mn-superoxide dismutase and both its lysates and intact cells have high anti-oxidative activity, increasing the glutathione red-ox ratio in blood sera and able to capture toxic hydroxyl radicals. The strain of micro-organism could be used as a probiotic for the production of functional food (yoghurt, cheese) and non-comestibles (tablets, capsules) for the prophylaxis of intestinal and uroinfections, both for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, caused by prolonged oxidative stress.

Abstract: Thermophilic microorganism Bacillus coagulans strain SIM-7 DSM 14043 for the production of L(+)-lactate from fermentable sugars, including dextrines and starch. The temperature of cultivation is 53–65° C. being the optimal. The final concentration of L(+)-lactate in fermentation is 12% with the yield of 95%. The cultivation of this strain of microorganism is possible without the high-temperature sterilization of equipment and media. Using cereal flour as the source of fermentable sugars, the need of the strain of the microorganism for mineral and nitrogen salts will be covered by the compounds present in the cereals.

Abstract: Thermophilic microorganism Bacillus coagulans strain SIM-7 DSM 14043 for the production of L(+)-lactate from fermentable sugars, including dextrines and starch. The temperature of cultivation is 53-65° C. being the optimal. The final concentration of L(+)-lactate in fermentation is 12% with the yield of 95%. The cultivation of this strain of microorganism is possible without the high-temperature sterilization of equipment and media. Using cereal flour as the source of fermentable sugars, the need of the strain of the microorganism for mineral and nitrogen salts will be covered by the compounds present in the cereals.

Abstract: The method and device for recording mechanical oscillations in soft biological tissues consists of the following: biological tissue is mechanically influenced by means of the testing end (6) of the device and its mechanical responses are subsequently recorded as a graph representing the evoked oscillations. Prior to that, an inflexible plane means (12) is fastened onto the biological tissue in order to designate the area under investigation and connect the testing end with the tissue, causing no harm to the latter. After that the testing end will be inflexibly connected with the inflexible plane means for the time period it takes to influence the tissue mechanically and record its mechanical response.