Abstract: The invention relates to unsymmetrical cyanine dyes with a cationic side chain, typically benzothiazole or benzoxazole derivatives, that exhibit enhanced fluorescence on binding with DNA or RNA, where such fluorescence can be used for evaluating the presence of nucleic acid polymers. The dyes generally have the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons; X is 0, S, or NR.sup.2, where R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons, or CR.sup.3 R.sup.4, where R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, are alkyl groups having 1-6 carbons;n=0, 1, or 2;Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1-6 carbons, or aryl, or Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 taken in combination complete a 6-membered aromatic ring;Y is HC.dbd.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a DNA marker ladder useful in Southern blot hybridizations. The ladder is made up of pooled DNA restriction endonuclease digests, where each restriction digest contains at least one fragment complementary to a probe and at least one fragment not complementary to the probe. The regions of complementarity between the probe and the complementary fragments are double-stranded segments of the fragments. The ladder is characterized by an approximately even spacing of bands, resulting from choosing fragments having an logarithmic size distribution. Kits incorporating this ladder and a probe or means for making a probe or a probe and a means for labeling a probe are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fragment, synthetic or natural, DNA or RNA, may be attached to a non-radiological label such as a fluorescent compound, a luminescent compound or a color reflective compound, by a linker. The linker is an aminoalkylphosphoramide. The linker may contain a number of methyl units selected to adjust the mobility of the arrangement of the tagged fragment in a polyacrylamide gel during electro-phoresis. A unique color may be attached to each for the four bases. The color coded bases may be separated in a single lane of the ployacrylamide gel. Because the mobility of each arrangement has been adjusted the normal one base spacing will be produced. The sequence of the target may be read directly by manually observing the color sequence or by an automatic reader. The tagging of natural fragments may be used to tag a preselected gene, in the application of Southern and Northern bloting diagnostic procedures, as a diagnostic tool to hunt/detect selected DNA and to label probes to detect ribosonal RNA of pathogens.

Abstract: A method for detecting Brucella infection in an animal which is reliable, rapid, and able to identify species and biovars of Brucella. The detection method includes the amplification of the omp2 gene locus of Brucella and analysis of restriction digestion fragments specific to Brucella and to individual species and groups of biovars of Brucella.

Abstract: A composition for preservation of wood and wood-based materials, comprising 0.001%-5% by weight of 1-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole, 0.001%-3% by weight, of at least one of cyano-(4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl)-methyl-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimeth ylcyclopropylcarboxylate, ((pentafluorophenyl)-methyl)-1R,3R-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyc lopropylcarboxylate, methylbisthiocyanate, and N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenyl-N'-(fluorodichloromethyltolyl-N'-(dichlorofluoromet hylthio)sulfamide and suspending agent comprising at least one of a diluent, an emulsifier, and a wetting agent, is provided together with a process for preparing such compositions.

Abstract: A DNA sequencing system and method are described to detect the presence of radiant energy emitted from different excited reporter dye-labeled species (DNA fragments) following separation in time and/or space, and the identity of the species which emit radiant energy closely spaced in wavelength. Functions of the emitted energy are obtained which vary over the wavelengths of the closely spaced spectra in different senses and the functions ratioed, whereby the ratio is indicative of the identity of the DNA fragments.The emitting portion of the reporter-labeled DNA fragment is preferably one of a family of fluorescent dyes based on 9-carboxyethyl-6-hydroxy-3-oxo-3H-xanthene. These xanthene dyes are covalently attached to the DNA fragments through the carboxylic acid functionality, preferably via an amide linkage. The dyes may be protected by including an alkoxy group at the 9-position. A spacer may be inserted between the dye and the amine.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for assessing the reliability of DNA sizing measurements performed on DNA samples. DNA sizing control standards are disclosed wherein each standard contains a unique set of DNA restriction fragments composed of coding fragments and measuring fragments of known sizes. Methods for constructing the fragments which can be used in making the DNA sizing control standards are disclosed. Kits comprising the DNA sizing control standards of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Processes and kits therefor for detection of water-borne pathogens and indicator organisms in water samples by recovering cells of the pathogens or indicator organisms from a water sample, lysing the cells to recover undegraded DNA, amplifying a target gene sequence of a target gene present in cells of the pathogens or indicator organisms by polymerase chain reaction amplification and detecting the presence of amplified target gene sequence to determine the presence or absence of pathogens or indicator organism in the test sample.

Abstract: A sequence directed reagent is constructed by conjugating a methyl silyloxy aromatic derivative to a hexamethylamino linker attached to either the 5' or 3' terminus of an oligonucleotide. Annealing this modified fragment of DNA to its complementary sequence allows for target modification subsequent to ionic activation. The product of this reaction is a covalent crosslink between the reagent and target strands resulting from an alkylation of DNA by the activated silyloxy aromatic derivative. In a preferred embodiment, a nitrophenyl group is attached to the methyl group of the silyloxy aromatic derivative. This reagent is similarly linked to an oligonucleotide probe. Activation of this probe linked alkylating agent by an ionic signal, (X) which may naturally occur, or may be introduced into the media containing the target molecule, such as by the introduction of a salt (MX).

Abstract: Assay for detection of a form of diamine oxidase which is present only in amniotic fluid and, more especially, for detection of amniotic membrane rupture by detection of the amniotic fluid diamine oxidase. The assay includes the steps of detecting the amniotic fluid diamine oxidase and distinguishing that from another form of diamine oxidase found in serum. The assay may be carried out on a sample of vaginal fluid from a pregnant female wherein the sample is subjected to the assay to detect the leakage or presence of amniotic fluid diamine oxidase. Purified forms of amniotic fluid diamine oxidase and serum diamine oxidase which is different from amniotic fluid diamine oxidase and found in serum are also described, together with a method of purifying both forms of diamine oxidase.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for detecting the effects of cell affecting agents on living cells. The method steps include providing living cells that are retained in a micro flow chamber. The micro flow chamber is adapted for either continuous or intermittent flow of solutions or suspensions in intimate contact with the cells. The solutions or suspensions, which contain a cell affecting agent, are then flowed in intimate contact with the cells and at least one effect of the cell affecting agent on the cells is measured by an appropriate detecting means, which is operatively associated with the micro flow chamber.

Abstract: The present invention describes the formation of RecA protein catalyzed double-stranded probe:duplex linear target DNA complexes that are stable to deproteinization. The uses of this stable probe:target complex in diagnostic/DNA detection systems in in vitro and in situ DNA hybridization reactions is discussed. The probe:target complexes are also useful for diagnostic application in RecA protein facilitated DNA amplification reactions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of the Acyl-Peptide Hydrolase-encoding sequences in the detection of cancer.

Abstract: This invention provides cationic emulsions of bituminous binders of the bitumen/polymer type, formed by a dispersion of an organic phase of the binder in an aqueous phase containing a cationic nitrogenous emulsifier and a mineral or organic acid, the acid being in appropriate quantity so that the pH of the aqueous phase is comprised between 3 and 9. The aqueous phase also contains an agent consisting of at least one water-soluble sequestering salt of polyfunctional nitrogenized carboxylic acid, particularly a salt of alkaline metal or of amine of mono- and di (hydroxy-2 ethyl) glycine and optionally a water-soluble thickening agent. To obtain the emulsions, which are usable for road applications, the emulsifying agent, the sequestering agent and optionally the thickening agent may be used in the form of a premixture containing the agents and called cationic emulsifying system.

Abstract: A method for attaching a reactive amine- or sulfhydryl-containing compound to polymeric particles using dication ether salts is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and compounds useful for this method are described for enzyme-amplified signal detection in analytical assays requiring extremely high detection sensitivity which uses a substrate capable of being transformed by an enzyme from a compound which does not form a luminescent lanthanide chelate into a product which forms a luminescent lanthanide chelate. The method in which a substrate not capable of forming a highly luminescent lanthanide chelate is enzymatically altered to produce a product which forms a highly luminescent lanthanide chelate and hence is particularly useful in time-resolved luminescence analysis as required in many different heterogeneous or homogeneous assay formats is described herein.

Abstract: L-Fucose dehydrogenase having the following Physicochemical properties (1) and (2):(1) Action and substrate specificityIt withdraws hydrogen from L-fucose and converts into L-fuconolactone and at the same time, reduces coenzyme NADP.sup.+ to NADPH.(2) pH and stable pH rangeWhen Tris-imidazole-sodium acetate buffer solution is used, the optimum pH is in a range of 9.0 to 10.0 and the stable pH range is between 8.0 and 10.5.The L-fucose dehydrogenase utilizing NADP.sup.+ as coenzyme can be obtained by culturing L-fucose dehydrogenase-producing strain belonging to the genus Pseudomonas in a medium and collecting formed L-fucose dehydrogenase from the culture.L-Fucose can be quantitatively determined by reacting a sample containing L-fucose with L-fucose dehydrogenase requiring NADP.sup.+ as coenzyme and assaying NADPH produced.

Abstract: A single system reagent for the determination of lipase, formulated as an emulsion comprising a lipase-active fatty acid source; a first lipase activator comprising colipase; a second lipase activator; a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor; a first emulsion stabilizer comprising Triton X100; a second emulsion stabilizer; a buffer; and an anti-precipitant.

Abstract: An ink is described, comprising an amine having a boiling point of between about 120.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., an acrylic binder selected to render the ink filterable, a direct dye or acid dye substituted with at least 3 amino groups, and water.

Abstract: A process for the encapsulation of oligonucleotides in liposomes includes the suspending of liposomes containing a divalent cation in a solution containing an oligonucleotide and having an osmolarity of a less than that of the internal aqueous phase.