Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA sequencing method comprising: (1) a step of fragmentation of a sample DNA and amplifying each fragment to obtain a first DNA fragment; (2) a step of obtaining from the first DNA fragment a second DNA fragment substantially complementary to the sample DNA at least at the 3' terminus thereof; and (3) a step of performing an extension reaction of complementary strand, using the sample DNA as a template to produce a third DNA fragment containing a base sequence complementary to the second DNA fragment and having a size longer than that of the second DNA fragment, and using the third DNA fragment as a template for sequencing of the sample DNA. DNA sequencing can be proceeded efficiently with extremely low redundancy.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for screening nucleic acids for polymorphisms by analyzing amplified target nucleic acids using mass spectrometric techniques and to procedures for improving mass resolution and mass accuracy of these methods of detecting polymorphisms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a chimeric crystal protein comprising CryIF and CryIAc. Bacillus thuringiensis isolates comprising said protein and a method of controlling lepidopterans are also included in the present invention.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits directed to detection of the myxozoan parasite Myxobolus spp., for example, M. cerebralis. The method comprises contacting an aquatic sample with a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid segment capable of selectively hybridizing to the 18S ribosomal nucleic acids of Myxobolus cerebralis to form a hybridization complex. Detection of the hybridization complexes indicates the presence of Myxobolus cerebralis in the sample.

Abstract: Acrylamidase enzymes are provided which have acrylamidase activity at pH 4.0 which is at least 50% of their acrylamidase activity at pH 7.0. Such enzymes can be produced by the novel microorganisms Rhodococcus strains NCIMB 40889 and NCIMB 40755. Such enzymes and microorganisms can be used for reducing free acrylamide in polyacrylamides which are produced at low pH and in particular cationic and substantially non-ionic polyacrylamides.

Abstract: Procedures and compositions for forming and stabilizing non stable branch migrated oligo- and polydeoxynucleotides utilizing a displacer which is either single stranded or partially double stranded and hybridized to a linker strand. The displacer may contain one or more modified nucleotides.

Abstract: The invention relates to insect viruses and plants which express an exogenous polypeptide derived from spiders of the genus Atrax or Hadronyche, which polypeptide is toxic to insects. The polypeptide has a molecular weight of approximately 4000 amu,) containing 36-37 Gino acids, and is capable of forming three intrachain disulfide bridges. Polyiucleotides which encode the polypeptide, insectidoidal compositions and methods of controlling insect infestation of crops are also included.

Abstract: Amplification and/or expression of nucleic acids is carried out in a medium immobilized by using an organic and/or inorganic solid matrix penetrating the medium and having a porous, fibrous, reticulated, coiled, capillary, lamellar or folded texture and which includes the components of a cell-free enzyme system of exponential amplification of nucleic acids and/or components of a cell-free enzyme system of nucleic acid expression. In this medium, the progeny of each molecule (clone) and the expression products remain in the same zone of the reaction volume where the matrix molecule was initially located. The method permits cloning of nucleic acids in vitro as well as detection of solitary nuleic acid molecules in the sample studied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purification of viral RNA from a biological sample. The method involves lysing the virus envelope to liberate the RNA and passing the lysate through a porous hydrophilic PVDF filter to capture the viral RNA. The filter with bound RNA is then washed to remove proteins, lipids and other contaminants. The RNA is released from the filter using a low ionic strength ribonuclease (RNase) free solution to form a solution containing purified viral RNA. From this solution the RNA is recovered. The invention is also compatible with purification of nucleic acids from other types of samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant cDNA sequence encoding the regulatory p85.alpha. subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), a method of detecting a mutation in the gene encoding the regulatory p85.alpha. subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, as well as a diagnostic composition and a test kit for use in the method.

Abstract: Compound microsatellites used as self-anchoring primers for screening genomes to detect polymorphisms are provided. The preferred compound microsatellite primers are perfect compound dinucleotide primers wherein the adjacent dinucleotide pairs contain a common nucleotide which is in-phase across the compound junction. In a useful embodiment, these in-phase compound primers have been adapted to other known screening assays including variations of the AFLP assays.

Abstract: Sets of fluorescent energy transfer labels and methods for their use in multi component analysis, particularly nucleic acid enzymatic sequencing, are provided. In the subject sets, at least two of the labels are energy transfer labels comprising a common donor and acceptor fluorophore in energy transfer relationship separated by different distances and capable of providing distinguishable fluorescence emission patterns upon excitation at a common wavelength. The subject labels find particular use in a variety of multi-component analysis applications, such as probes in FISH and multi array analyses, as well as primers in nucleic acid enzymatic sequencing applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for determining a predisposition for and diagnosing the existence of a degenerative disease or a cancer and also products and processes for treating and obtaining treatments for such a degenerative disease or a cancer. The invention has particular application in the use of information concerning the elucidation of DNA and amino acid sequence structure relating to human and mouse ubiquitin conjugating enzymes.

Abstract: A novel process is presented for the detection of known mutations and polymorphisms in DNA. This process, termed glycosylase mediated polymorphism detection (GMPD) involves amplification of the target DNA using three normal dNTPs and a fourth modified dNTP, whose base is a substrate for a specific DNA-glycosylase once incorporated into the DNA.

Abstract: Improved homogenous diagnostic assay methods and labels for detecting an analyte in a medium when the analyte is a member of a specific binding pair. The methods and labels provide procedures for reducing background and increasing sensitivity. The binding partner of the analyte is labeled with a substance, the stability of which detectably changes whenever said analyte is bound as a member of the specific binding pair. In a closely related system, the analyte is labeled with a substance susceptible to differential degradation depending on whether or not the analyte is bound as a member of its specific binding pair. After incubation and selective degradation or chemical or biochemical alteration, the amount of analyte bound is detected by measuring either the stability change or the extent of degradation of the label.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for testing the developmental status in pancreatic cells of a mammal. The present invention further relates to applications in the medical field that directly arise from the method of the invention. Additionally, the present invention relates to transgenic mammals comprising at least one inactivated Pax4 allele and optionally at least one inactivated Pax6 allele.

Abstract: A method of identifying a nucleic acid sequence in a biological sample comprises using a pair of universal oligonucleotide primers to amplify the nucleic acid sequence and characterizing the amplification reaction products. Preferred universal primers are derived from conserved regions of cold shock or Y-box proteins and hybridize to the genes that code for the peptide sequences GXVKWFNXXKGFGFI and GPXAXNVTXX.

Abstract: Methods for assessing a patient's predisposition for developing prostate cancer are disclosed. PCR assays using primers for apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes and primers for known prostate cancer molecular markers such as PSA are applied to biological samples. ApoE4/E4 homozygosity coupled with elevated PSA or other prostate cancer marker levels in the blood, indicate the likelihood that prostate cancer is present.

Abstract: Method of detecting a protozoan parasite in a sample containing the parasite, the method comprising the steps of: (a) adding to the sample a pair of flanking oligonucleotide primers, at least one flanking primer being specific for and each being complementary to an opposite strand of a double stranded DNA molecule encoding the ITS1 of the protozoan parasite and flanking a region of the ITS1; (b) further adding to the sample a pair of nested oligonucleotide primers, each nested primer being specific for and complementary to an opposite strand of the DNA encoding the ITS1 of the protozoan parasite, the nested primers being complementary to the region of the ITS1 spanned by the flanking primers; (c) providing buffers, reagents, nucleotides and a thermostable DNA polymerase to the sample to form a reaction mixture; (d) heating the sample to a temperature such that the double stranded DNA encoding the ITS1 of the protozoan parasite denatures to form single stranded DNA molecules; (e) cooling the denatured sample t

Abstract: A method of diagnosing prostate micrometastasis is provided by the present invention whereby nucleic acids from a tissue sample from a patient are isolated, nucleic acids from the tissue sample specific for prostate cancer are amplified, or a signal generated by hybridization of a probe specific to a prostate cancer specific nucleic acid is amplified; and detection of amplified nucleic acids is indicative of micrometastasis of prostate cancer.