Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a vaccine composition against enteric infection caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli bacteria in humans. E. coli strains selected from different known strains each having the ability of expressing a certain type of colonization factor antigens are grown in a liquid culture medium. Finally formalin-killed E. coli strain having substantially preserved antigenic and hemagglutinating properties of said certain type of colonization factor antigens, is mixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or diluent. Further disclosed is a method of preventing an enteric infection caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli bacteria in humans, whereby a vaccine composition comprising inactivated E. coli strain is administered to a human being for the prevention of said infection.

Abstract: A method for detecting a bacterium for measurement, including the steps of: allowing a bacteriophage to bind to the bacterium, the bacteriophage being capable of specifically binding to the bacterium and growing in the bacterium, whereby a gene within the bacteriophage which expresses a light-emission protein is introduced into the bacterium so that a protein is produced within the bacterium as a product of the gene; and providing an external factor in a non-invasive manner from outside of the bacterium, thereby causing only the actually-present bacterium to emit light in a specific manner.

Abstract: Disclosed are amino acid sequences of polypeptides reacting with antibodies to Helicobacter pylori (HP), DNAs coding therefor, vectors containing said DNAs, transformants containing said vectors, a method for preparing said polypeptides by cultivating said transformants, and anti-HP antibody assaying reagents and HP gene detecting reagents comprising said polypeptides, thereby enabling specific, quantitative inspection of HP.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing monoclonal antibodies that are highly specific for (1) unique epitopes of Campylobacter jejuni (Cj) only and (2) epitopes conserved between Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli (Cc) outer membranes; to specific monoclonal antibodies made by the methods of the instant invention; and uses thereof The invention is drawn further to immunogens comprising the outer membrane complexes of Cj and Cc.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA molecule coding for a protein expressed by a Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, comprising the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or a homologous sequence, or a partial or homologous sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 coding for a polypeptide fragment comprising at least 15 amino acid residues, is described. Further, a protein expressed by such a bacterium or a polypeptide fragment comprising at least 15 amino acid residues, comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 binds IgG and apolipoprotein H. Examples of the polypeptide fragments comprise the SEQ ID NO:3 through 6. These proteins and polypeptide fragments may be coupled to an inert carrier or matrix. Vectors comprising such a DNA molecule or the corresponding RNA molecule, and antibodies specifically binding to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:6, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of harvesting rare cells from blood products and/or obtaining products of the rare cells. The method includes contacting a blood product containing rare cells with a porous medium, and selectively retaining rare cells of interest on the porous medium. The porous medium can be contacted with an elution fluid wherein a population of the rare cells is eluted from the porous medium. Rare cells selectively retained on the porous medium can be cultured on the porous medium, and products of the rare cells can be obtained.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding avian beta-defensin is provided. Further provided are compositions comprising an avian beta-defensin, or portions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for diagnosing a patient at risk to thrombocytopenia induced by administration of a GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, which comprises combining i) a plasma sample of the patient; ii) detectable monoclonal antibody which recognizes induced binding sites formed on the GP IIb/IIIa receptor following association of a fibrinogen receptor antagonist with the GP IIb/IIIa receptor; and iii) GP IIb/IIIa receptor:GP IIb/III receptor antagonist complex, and determining association of the detectable monoclonal antibody with the complex in the presence of the plasma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnosis aids and processes for detecting pregnancy in ruminants based on the relaxin-like factor detectable in ruminants. Antibodies against the relaxin-like factor from ruminants as well as against fragments and/or active derivatives of the same with the same immunogenicity are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved specific binding assay methods, kits and devices utilizing chromatographically mobile specific binding reagents labelled with colloidal particles. Specific binding reagents labelled with colloidal particles such as gold and selenium may be subjected to rapid chromatographic solvent transport on chromatographic media by means of selected solvents and chromatographic transport facilitating agents. Further, impregnation of solid substrate materials with labile protein materials including colloidal particle and enzyme labelled reagents in the presence of meta-soluble proteins provides for the rapid resolubilization of such materials which have been dried onto such substrate materials.

Abstract: A chimeric protein comprising a Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin (PE) moiety linked to a myelin basic protein (MBP) moiety is disclosed. The MBP moiety is selected from the group comprising: (a) MBP; (b) amino acids 69-88 of guinea-pig myelin basic protein or an antigenic portion thereof; (c) amino acids 84-102 of human myelin basic protein or an antigenic portion thereof; (d) amino acids 143-168 of human myelin basic protein or an antigenic portion thereof; and (e) an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids have been deleted, added, substituted or mutated in the amino acid sequences of (a), (b), (c) or (d), the modified sequence of (e) retaining at least 75% homology with the amino acid sequences of (a), (b), (c) or (d), respectively. Each of the MBP moieties of (b), (c) and (d) are linked to the PE moiety by a pentapeptide linker repeated 1-3 times. The chimeric protein is useful in treating autoimmune diseases, and especially multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to vaccines which are suitable for the prevention of clostridial diseases of sheep (and lambs), providing an effective immunity for up to a year or more following a single injection or dose.

Abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, expresses on its surface a decorin binding protein, DbpA and DbpB. Lysine residues necessary for DbpA binding to decorin and DbpA peptides containing these critical residues essential for decorin binding are disclosed. It is further disclosed that vaccination using peptides incorporating these critical binding domains of DbpA can confer a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to DbpA and reduce the number of B. burgdorferi organisms present in infected animals.

Abstract: A novel approach to Borrelia vaccine formulation taking into account serological, genotypic and epidemiological information by which OspC proteins from different strains of B burgdorferi are grouped together. OspC antigens are chosen in order to constitute a representative sample of such groupings, so that the resulting vaccine provides the greatest cross-protectivity with the fewest number of antigens.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation for use in the treatment of prevention of Helicobacter infection in a mammalian host, comprises the catalase enzyme of Helicobacter bacterial, particularly the catalase enzyme of H. pylori or H. felis, or an immunogenic fragment thereof.

Abstract: A stable chicken hybridoma secreting a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that detects the conoid structure of Eimeria acervulina (E. acervulina) sporozoites has been developed. The hybridoma is made by fusing a thymidine kinase (TK)-deficient chicken myeloma with spleen cells from chickens immunized with sporozoite antigen. The monoclonal antibody recognizes sporozoite proteins on the conoid of the anterior tip of E. acervulina sporozoites. The monoclonal antibody has been shown to inhibit the invasion of sporozoites into CD8+ T cells in vitro thereby indicating its role in the recognition of host cells during the invasion process following infection with Eimeria parasites.

Abstract: A method of detecting cardiac ischemia by detecting elevated levels of serum free fatty acids in serum unbound to serum albumin (FFAu) compared to an average FAAu level in individuals without cardiac ischemia, wherein the detection method uses a free fatty acid binding protein derivatized with a fluorescent moiety, is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are 23 genes, termed “GEP” genes, found in Streptococcus pneumonia, which are located within operons that are essential for survival. Also disclosed is a related essential gene found in Bacillus subtilis. These genes and the polypeptides that they encode, as well as homologs thereof, can be used to identify antibacterial agents for treating bacterial infections such as streptococcal pneumonia.

Abstract: The present invention provides specific antibodies obtained from eggs laid by hens which have been immunized against urease of Helicobacter pylori as an antigen, and specific antibodies obtained from eggs laid by hens which have been immunized against flagella of Helicobacter pylori as an antigen. These antibodies are useful for the prevention or treatment of gastritis, gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers caused by infection of Helicobacter pylori . At least one organism selected from lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcuses, yeasts, and Baillus can be used along with the antibodies.

Abstract: A process for the determination of H. Pylori in a fecal specimen comprising (a) dispersing a fecal specimen suspected of carrying H. pylori in a sample diluent; (b) contacting the fecal specimen in the diluent with a first polyclonal antibody for H. pylori antigen to form a complex of the antibody and the antigen; (c) separating said specimen and said complex; (d) exposing the complex to a second polyclonal antibody for said antigen and a portion of the antibody reacting with said complex, one of said first and second antibody being bound to a solid carrier and the other being labeled with a detecting agent; and (e) determining the amount of the labeled antibody and in turn determining the presence of H. pylori antigen in said fecal specimen.