Abstract: .alpha.-Amylase activity can be determined rapidly and precisely by using as a substrate a modified oligosaccharide wherein a benzyloxymethyl group or a halomethyl group is bonded to the C.sub.6 position of non-reducing-end glucose residue and the reducing-end glucose residue is bonded to a group which exhibits an optically measurable change upon cleavage. Processes for producing such a compound are also disclosed.

Abstract: Denaturing agents used to pretreat test samples for immunoassays are neutralized and deactivated by the addition of a treatment agent which is a combination of a buffering agent in acid form and an agent for converting the sulfhydryl groups of the denaturing agents to a non-active form such as disulfides or alkylthio groups. The treatment agent serves this function without having sufficient denaturing activity by itself to interfere with subsequent steps of the assay procedure. Also disclosed is a protocol for a vitamin B.sub.12 assay which involves a sequential rather than competitive binding of the B.sub.12 with excess intrinsic factor followed by the binding of excess enzyme-labeled B.sub.12 to any remaining intrinsic and immobilizing such intrinsic factor on a solid phase. Various problems associated with B.sub.12 assays are avoided by this technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the immunological determination of basal membrane low-density heparan sulfate-proteoglycan in body fluids, and to the preparation or obtaining of a low-density heparan sulfate-proteoglycan suitable for this purpose, and of the corresponding highly specific antibodies.

Abstract: A method for identifying compounds useful for treating patients with amyloidosis is disclosed. Compounds are screened according to the present invention to determine their ability to modulate the affinity between amyloid protein and proteins of the extracellular matrix.

Abstract: A method for rapidly lysing liposomes having transition temperatures in the range of 35.degree. C. to 65.degree. C. is provided. Such liposomes are treated with a surfactant including polyethyleneglycol mono-n-alkyl ethers such as C.sub.12 H.sub.25 O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n H where n=9-10, a nine mole ethylene oxide adduct of a blend of n-dodecanol, n-tetradecanol and n-hexadecanol, or other appropriate polyethyleneglycol mono-n-alkyl ether capable of causing rapid lysis. The method is applicable to fluorescence immunoassay procedures.

Abstract: In a solid phase homogeneous or heterogeneous assay for detection or quantitation of an analyte in a biological fluid, use of a combination of unconjugated binding reagent and carrier-conjugated binding reagent immobilized on the solid phase provides enhanced assay performance.

Abstract: A strain of influenza virus, especially human influenza type A or B, for use in formulating a vaccine is selected by a process which comprises isolating candidate influenza viruses in embryonated hens' eggs, determining whether they have antigenic similarities to strains which are the same except that they have been isolated and grown exclusively in animal cells, that is to say whether they are "cell-like", and selecting at least one such cell-like strain or a reassortant thereof having its HA and NA genes for the vaccine.

Abstract: A new dot enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with a conserved portion of the envelope protein of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as antigen has been designed for use in areas with few laboratory facilities and by personnel with little laboratory experience. Sera were tested in 263 subjects who had AIDS or AIDS-related complex or were at -risk or not-at-risk of AIDS from the USA, Africa, and Asia/Oceania. The dot EIA was 100% sensitive in the American subjects, and there were only 2 false negatives in the others, both of which were negative by commerical EIA. The test is simple to perform, economical, rapid (30 min), and stable.

Abstract: The influx of leukocytes into the lung and other organs during sepsis or other infectious or non-infectious trauma can be inhibited by the administration of anti-CD18 monoclonal antibodies. Such inhibition results in a prevention and/or diminishment of organ damage in inflammations and especially in endotoxic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Abstract: The invention relates to highly purified aminopeptidases derived from Streptomycetes which are heat stable. There is further provided assay for the detection and quantitative determination of Neutral Endopeptidase 24.11 and Neutral Proteinase 24.4. A specific aminopeptidase is one derived from Streptomyces griseus, which is a calcium activated metalloprotein.

Abstract: A rotary fluid manipulator utilizable as a diagnostic device includes a porous body having fluid passages defined therein by fluid blocking means in the porosities of the body such as openings or slots in the body or compaction of areas of the porous body to define fluid passages therebetween. Various substances or binding partners such as receptors, immunoassay or other assay test materials and test specimens can be deposited on the porous body to permit various types of tests to be made by rotation of the manipulator to cause conjunctive centrifugal and wicking induced flow of fluids deposited thereupon.

Abstract: The present invention discloses, a bispecific monoclonal antibody to an ansamitocin derivative and a target antigen, particularly tumor-associated antigen, which can carry an anasamitocin derivative in a stable and inactive form at other sites than the target and release the active-form ansamitocin derivative at the target site, so that an anticancer agent having excellent durability and selectivity with little adverse action can be prepared using the bispecific monoclonal antibody and ansamitocin derivatives.

Abstract: A method and article for the identification of colonies of microbes involves the use of a reconstitutable dry culture medium plate in combination with a transfer membrane. Microbe-specific antigen can be extracted from the surface of the growth medium of the plate and its presence determined, e.g., by immunoassay.

Abstract: Novel autonomously replicating biological particles resembling bacteria and having most surprising properties were discovered from cell culture sera and other biological samples alleged to be sterile according to the current testing methods. These slowly growing agents named Nanobacteria are smaller than any known cell-walled bacteria. They pass through sterile filters, even with pore sizes smaller than their diameter. They cannot be cultured on any standard microbiological media. With the isolation and detection methods provided here they are commonly detectable in animal or human serum. This patent holds for methods of their culture, detection, purification, and elimination and described the necessary reagents for that.Autonomously replicating particles can be cultured in RPMI 1640, or in DMEM, or in other cell culture media. Optimal growth can be obtained by supplementing the culture medium with 10-20% sterile fetal bovine serum.

Abstract: A fast-acting and portable diagnostic kit for detecting diamines in biological fluids is in the form of a diamine oxidase and a chromogenic system to detect the presence of hydrogen peroxide resulting from oxidation of such diamines. The kit may especially be used to detect cadaverine or putrescine or a mixture thereof, for example in a vaginal secretion, in order to detect Gardnerella-related bacterial vaginosis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the quantitative determination of 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenisne dinucleotide (NADH) in solution. The method comprises contacting the NADH-containing solution with an activated carbon electrode, maintaining the carbon electrode at a controlled, fixed potential effective to cause oxidation of NADH at the electrode surface, and measuring the current output from the carbon electrode, wherein there is used a noble metal containing preferably a platinized or palladized activated carbon electrode comprising a porous, heterogeneous, resin-bonded layer of activated carbon or graphite particles comprising the finely divided noble metal preadsorbed thereon and bonded together with a natural or synthetic resin binder, preferably a hydrophobic resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: An immunoassay which is capable of simultaneously detecting any desired number of antigens of one infectious agent, or combinations of antigens of several infectious agents, or any desired number of immunoglobulins of one infectious agent, or combinations of immunoglobulins of several infectious agents on a single solid support. A test sample is contacted with a solid support on which one or more antigens are immobilized as discrete test sites. Antigen-antibody complexes are formed and detected on the solid support.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the detection of cellular pathology by means of an immunoassay to determine the presence of stable breakdown products, termed BDP's or BDP1 and BDP2, of the cytoskeleton component spectrin. In one aspect of the invention, the components from a sample of spectrin-containing cells are physically separated, as by exposure to an electric field, in such a way that BDP and spectrin are separated. Antibodies reactive with BDP are then contacted with the separated sample, and their binding to that portion of the sample containing any BDP determined. In another aspect of the invention, an assay, such as an ELISA assay, is performed to detect total spectrin immunoreactivity as an indication of cellular death or degradation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of assaying a target substance. In the method of the present invention, a complex of the target substance and a substance labelled with peroxidase is fixed to a hydrophobic membrane. Then hydrogen peroxide, an aromatic primary amine and a phenolic compound are contacted with the peroxidase on the membrane to generate and deposit color on the hydrophobic membrane. The deposited color is then measured so as to assay the target substance.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula DNB-TZ(P2) (P3) X, wherein TZ is a tetrazolium ring, DNB is 5-(2,4-dinitrophenyl), X is halide and P2 and P3 are each independently halophenyl, nitrophenyl or phenyl. The compound INDT 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) tetrazolium bromide exhibits facile reduction to insoluble chromophoric formazan compared to the chromagen INT. INDT differs structurally from INT 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride by having 2,4-dinitrophenyl instead of phenyl at the 5-position on the tetrazolium ring. The compounds, including INDT, are useful as chromagens for histological staining, as well as in enzyme-amplified staining as a part of immunological or hybridization assays.