Abstract: The GapC plasmin binding protein genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae (S. dysgalactiae), Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae), Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis), Streptococcus parauberis (S. parauberis), and Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae) are described, as well as the recombinant production of the GapC proteins therefrom. Also described is the use of the GapC proteins from those species in vaccine compositions to prevent or treat bacterial infections in general, and mastitis in particular.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of bovine adenovirus sequence(s) essential for encapsidation and E1 transcriptional control regions. The present invention provides adenovirus expression systems, host cells and compositions comprising adenovirus vectors which comprise one or more BAV sequence(s) essential for encapsidation, as well as helper virus which express BAV sequences essential for encapsidation. The present invention also provides helper vectors comprising a BAV sequence essential for encapsidation which is used in a helper virus for propagating recombinant adenovirus. The present invention also provides adenovirus expression systems, host cells and compositions comprising adenovirus vectors which comprise modifications in BAV E1 transcriptional control regions. The present invention also provides methods for making adenovirus vectors comprising BAV sequence(s) essential for encapsidation as well as modifications in BAV E1 transcriptional control regions.

Abstract: The recombinant production of Gap4, a chimeric GapC plasmin binding protein comprising the entire amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus dysgalactiae GapC protein in addition to unique amino acid sequences from the Streptococcus parauberis and Streptococcus agalactiae GapC proteins, is described. Also described is the use of Gap4 chimeric GapC protein in vaccine compositions to prevent or treat streptococcal infections in general and mastitis in particular.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to lentil plants having increased resistance to an imidaizolinone herbicide. One such plant described herein is the RH44 lentil variety. The present invention also includes seeds produced by these lentil plants and methods of controlling weeds in the vicinity of these lentil plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides for selection of bovine animals that will display phenotypes associated with increased rates of growth. These phenotypes include hot carcass weight, average daily gain, shipping weight, end of test rib eye area, and adjusted weaning weight which is a measure of post-natal growth, based on the knowledge of their CRH, POMC and MC4R genotypes. The predictive value comes from the discovery that certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes are linked to higher growth rate phenotypes. Specifically, the phenotypes that correlated with specific SNP's are end-of-test rib-eye area, adjusted weaning weight, average daily gain, shipping weight and hot carcass weight. The invention also provides novel kits that can be used in making the determination of these genotypes.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel nucleic acids, novel polypeptide sequences encoded by these nucleic acids, methods for production thereof, and uses thereof, for a novel ELR-CXC chemokine receptor antagonist.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for culturing circovirus and in particular, porcine circovirus. The present invention provides compositions and methods for culturing porcine circovirus in mammalian cells expressing mammalian adenovirus E1 function.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymers comprising metal-containing nucleic acid duplexes. Methods of using the metal-containing nucleic acid duplexes to provoke physiological responses in a host animal are provided, such as immunological methods that produce antibodies in the host.

Abstract: Methods for using cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor genes, or anti-sense constructs complementary to such genes, to modify the growth and development of plant cells and organs are disclosed. Also provided are methods of modifying the development of plant cells and plants by transforming plant cells with nucleic acids encoding cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor polypeptides, or anti-sense constructs complementary to such nucleic acids, to produce transformed plant cells, and then culturing the plant cells or regenerating a plant under conditions wherein the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, or the anti-sense construct, is expressed. A variety of CDK inhibitor genes, and corresponding anti-sense constructs, are disclosed for use in a variety of plants. The nucleic acid encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor may be operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter. Other provided aspects are modified transgenic plants and plant tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates novel live bovine adenovirus (BAV) expression vector systems in which part or all of one or both of the early region 1 (E1) and early region 3 (E3) genes are deleted and replaced by a foreign gene or fragment thereof and novel recombinant mammalian cell lines stably transformed with BAV E1 sequences, and therefore, express E1 gene products capable of allowing replication therein of a bovine adenovirus having an E1 deletion replaced by a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a foreign gene or fragment thereof and their use in production of (antigenic) polypeptides or fragments thereof for the purpose of live recombinant virus or subunit vaccine or for other therapies.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the displacement of visco-elastoplastic media below a surface thereof comprises an upper plate mounted such that a displacement force exerted on the top surface thereof will move the upper plate a displacement distance downward toward a base. Guides maintain the upper plate and the base in alignment such that movement is along a displacement axis. A calibrated bias element exerts a calibrated bias force resisting movement of the upper plate toward the base. A displacement measuring device measures the displacement distance, and is operative to generate a movement signal corresponding to the displacement distance. A data acquisition system is operative to receive and record the movement signal, and calculate the displacement force exerted on the top surface of the upper plate required to move the upper plate the displacement distance against the calibrated bias force.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment and prevention of microbial infection, such as infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are disclosed, as are adjuvants for use with vaccines against such microbes. The methods use porcine ?-defensins, such as porcine ?-defensin-1 and are particularly useful for treating or preventing infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, such as pertussis.

Abstract: Novel compounds of formula (I) are described wherein: R1=(CH2)mCH3 where m is 0 or an integer in the range from 1 to 16, or an alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, or alkyl sulfinyl group having from 2 to 17 carbon atoms; R2=H, CH3 or CH2CH3; R3=H or CH3; R4H or CH3; R5=lower alkyl having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n is an integer in the range from 1 to 3, and X is carboxyl (COOH) or carbalkoxy (COOR5), cyano (C?N), phosphonic acid (PO3H2), phosphonate ester (PO3[R5]2) or 5-tetrazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Preferably, the compounds are optically pure enantiomers of the R— or S—configuration in which R3=R4=R5=H, R2=CH3 and R1 is a saturated aliphatic chain of one to five carbon atoms.

Abstract: Methods of nucleic acid immunization comprising the in utero delivery of nucleic acid molecules that encode one or more selected antigens to a vertebrate fetus are disclosed.

Abstract: The CAMP factor gene of Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) is described, as well as the recombinant production of CAMP factor therefrom. Also disclosed are chimeric CAMP factor constructs, including CAMP factor epitopes from more than one bacterial species. The CAMP factors and chimeras including the same can be used in immunogenic compositions for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formula I are described: wherein: R1=(CH2)mCH3 where m is 0 or an integer in the range from 1 to 16, or an alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, or alkyl sulfinyl group having from 2 to 17 carbon atoms, R2=H, CH3 or CH2CH3 R3=H or CH3 R4=H or CH3 R5=lower alkyl having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms n is an integer in the range from 1 to 3, and X is carboxyl (COOH) or carbalkoxy (COOR5), cyano (C?N), phosphonic acid (PO3H2), phosphonate ester (PO3[R5]2) or 5-tetrazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Preferably, the compounds are optically pure enantiomers of the R- or S-configuration in which R3=R4=R5=H, R2=CH3 and R1 is a saturated aliphatic chain of one to five carbon atoms. The compounds are useful as cellular rescue agents.

Abstract: The recombinant production of Gap4, a chimeric GapC plasmin binding protein comprising the entire amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus dysgalactiae GapC protein in addition to unique amino acid sequences from the Streptococcus parauberis and Streptococcus agalactiae GapC proteins, is described. Also described is the use of Gap4 chimeric GapC protein in vaccine compositions to prevent or treat streptococcal infections in general and mastitis in particular.

Abstract: The CAMP factor gene of Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) is described, as well as the recombinant production of CAMP factor therefrom. CAMP factors can be used in vaccine compositions for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections.

Abstract: Cloning and expression of genes encoding H. somnus transferrin-binding proteins are described. The transferrin-binding proteins can be used in vaccine compositions for the prevention and treatment of H. somnus infections, as well as in diagnostic methods for determining the presence of H. somnus infections.

Abstract: The recombinant production of Gap4, a chimeric GapC plasmin binding protein comprising the entire amino acid sequence of the Streptococcus dysgalactiae GapC protein in addition to unique amino acid sequences from the Streptococcus parauberis and Streptococcus agalactiae GapC proteins, is described. Also described is the use of Gap4 chimeric GapC protein in vaccine compositions to prevent or treat streptococcal infections in general and mastitis in particular.