Abstract: A method of chemical milling which includes the following steps: (i) suspending an extrusion or casting formed from metal in an etching solution wherein initially the extrusion or casting is fully submerged in the etching solution by virtue of its weight and which thereafter is rendered buoyant by metal being removed from the extrusion or casting by the etching solution wherein the casting or extrusion is supported by a non-buoyant support which maintains the casting or extrusion in a fully submerged condition throughout its immersion in the etching solution; and (ii) withdrawing the extrusion or casting from the etching solution when required. The invention also refers to chemical milling apparatus for use in the abovementioned method as well as the non-buoyant support per se.

Abstract: Specific primers that amplify a portion of the 3'-noncoding regions of dengue virus types 1, 2, 3 and 4, and a method of using these primers in a rapid reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for specific detection of dengue viruses, but not other flaviviruses, is disclosed.

Abstract: Peptides are used to define epitopes that stimulate HLA-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against hepatitis B virus antigens. The peptides are derived from regions of HBV polymerase, and are particularly useful in treating or preventing HBV infection, including methods for stimulating the immune response of chronically infected individuals to respond to HBV antigens.

Abstract: An assay and sample mixture for the enumeration of fluorescently stained target components of a whole blood sample by an imaging instrument. The sample preparation method ensures that the amount of target components per unit of volume of the whole blood sample is preserved by elimination of certain non-quantitative preparation steps while producing an even hematocrit layer within a scan capillary. Typical target components include white blood cells that express certain surface antigens, such as CD-4 and CD-8 proteins. To inhibit aggregation of the red blood cells, a reagent is added to an aliquot of whole blood sample. The aliquot of whole blood is mixed and with a preselected amount of a fluorescent dye and ligand complex which tags the target components.

Abstract: A silicon wafer is held in an airtight chamber by a silicon wafer holder. The silicon wafer holder is cooled by a cooler. High purity nitric acid is stored in a storage container disposed in the airtight container. The storage container is heated by a heater, thereby producing nitric acid gas. The nitric acid gas is condensed on the surface of the silicon wafer so that a thin film is formed. Thus, the surface of the silicon wafer is rendered hydrophilic. Thereafter, high purity hydrofluoric acid is dropped on high purity nitric acid in the storage container by an acid dropper, thereby producing hydrofluoric acid gas. By introducing the hydrofluoric acid gas into the thin film formed on the surface of the silicon wafer, an etching is performed while maintaining the surface of the silicon wafer in a good condition.

Abstract: Hepatitis GB Virus (HGBV) synthetic peptides useful for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, kits for using the HGBV nucleic acid or amino acid sequences and antibodies which specifically bind to HGBV. Also provided are methods for producing antibodies, polyclonal or monoclonal, from the HGBV peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant polypeptides derived from CMV glycoprotein gB and truncated fragments thereof which contain at least one epitope which is immunologically identifiable with one encoded by the CMV genome. The complete characterization of the gB protein, including the identity of glycoprotein gp55, permits the production of polypeptides which are useful as standards or reagents in diagnostic tests and/or as components of vaccines. This invention provides recombinant polypeptides and recombinant polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides wherein a neutralizing epitope of gB is localized within gp55.

Abstract: Methods and materials for producing hepatitis virus HBe antigenic proteins useful in immunoassays without the necessity of maintaining these proteins in denaturing environments are disclosed. Assay methods and materials utilizing these HBe proteins are also provided.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex of mammalian skeletal muscle and a method of isolating said complex. The components of the complex and methods of separating and isolating said components also pertain to the invention. In addition, the invention further relates to a method of diagnosing muscular dystrophy by detecting and quantifying the loss of a non-dystrophin component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex with said loss being indicative of muscular dystrophy.

Abstract: The three amino acid sequence TCP (threonine-crysteineproline) has been found, in wheat glutenin, to correspond to good bread-making qualities in wheat flour. This sequence, and 32 nine amino acid sequences containing it, can be detected by amino acid analysis of the glutenin, by specific monoclonal antibodies or by analysis (e.g. nucleotide sequence analysis or hybridization assays) of the wheat genome.

Abstract: Apo E polypeptides capable of mimicking apolipoprotein E are described that are useful to prepare diagnostic antibodies, and for use in diagnostic systems and methods for detecting apo E antigens in vascular body fluids.