Abstract: An evaluating method of a testing element having an immobilized antigen or antibody on an immobilizing carrier thereof, which immobilized antigen or antibody has yet to react with another antigen or antibody, which involves contacting the testing element with a solution containing an antibody or antigen reactive with the immobilized antigen or antibody, specifically binding a labelling compound to the reactive antibody or antigen to thereby cause a color-developing reaction of the labelling compound, and determining an amount of the antigen or antibody immobilized on the testing element as a function of a level of produced color. Using this evaluation method, a quantitative determination of the immobilized antigen or antibody can be carried out, and thus the performance of the testing element for antigens or antibodies can be evaluated.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and protein compositions are provided from B. pertussis which may find use in diagnosis, prevention and therapy of whooping cough. Particularly, an open reading frame encoding filamentous hemagglutinin precursors provided, with the intact protein for the filamentous hemagglutinin portion thereof, can be expressed in a wide variety of hosts, for use in the production of antibodies, for immunodiagnosis or therapy, or as vaccines for prophylactic purposes.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a vaccine comprised of fimbrin, a filamentous protein derived from the bacterial surface appendages of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae is useful in studying, preventing or reducing the severity of, otitis media. The gene sequence of the DNA coding for fimbrin and the amino acid sequence of fimbrin have also been determined. Vectors containing DNA coding for fimbrin have also been developed, and transformants have been prepared which contain such vectors and which express such DNA and provide a source of pure fimbrin.

Abstract: An isolated and purified analog of Haemophilus influenzae Hin47 protein has a decreased protease activity which is less than about 10% of that of natural Hin47 protein and preferably substantially the same immunogenic properties as natural Hin47 protein. An isolated an purified nucleic acid molecule encoding the Hin47 analog may be provided in a recombinant plasmid which may be introduced into a cell which is grown to produce the Hin47 analog. Immunogenic compositions comprising the Hin47 analog and the encoding nucleic acid may be formulated as vaccines for in vivo administration to a host, including a human, to confer protection against diseases caused by a bacterial pathogen, including Haemophilus species, such as Haemophilus influenzae, that produces Hin47 protein or a protein capable of inducing antibodies in the host specifically reactive with Hin47 protein. The Hin47 analog and the encoding nucleic acid also may be employed in diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to live attenuated bacteria of the genus Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae that have a mutation in an apxIV gene such that no functional ApxIV toxin can be produced. The invention also relates to methods for the production of such bacteria. Also vaccines comprising such bacteria and methods for the production of such vaccines are part of the invention. The invention further relates to subunit vaccines comprising an ApxIV toxin, to methods the production of such vaccines and to methods for the protection of animals against infection with bacteria of the genus Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. In addition, the invention relates to the promotor of the apxIV gene. Finally, the invention relates to diagonostic tests for the selective diagnosis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infections and to diagnostic tests discriminating between Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae field strain and vaccine strains.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for sampling and determining the presence of certain substances, such as residues of contaminants in containers. The method includes steps of: injecting compressed air into said containers in order to displace at least a portion of the contents thereof; evacuating a sample of the container contents so displaced by applying suction thereto; and analyzing the sample evacuated to determine the presence or absence of the certain residues therein. The compressed air is injected through a nozzle into an opening in the containers to displace a portion of the container contents and form a sample cloud outside of the container. The sample cloud is then at least partially evacuated by suction and the sample is analyzed for the presence of contaminants such as nitrogen containing compounds or hydrocarbons. The sample cloud may be split into first and second portions.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogenic polypeptide having the amino acid sequenceM A K S M L S G I V F A G L V A A A A A - S S A N S A A N V S V L E S G P A V Q E - V P A R T V T A R L A K P L L L L S A L - A A T L A A A F L V L Q C F N I I S S N - N Q Q T S V R R L A A G G A C G D E E D - A D E G T S Q Q A S R R R R K P D T P A - A D K Y D F V G G T P V S V T E P N V D - E V L I Q I R N K Q I F L K N P W T G Q - E E Q V L V L E R Q S E E P I L I V A R - T R Q T L E G Y L G S Q A L A Q D G K T - A K E E K V E G G K T H R R Y K V K S S - D P G Y G F P Y T T V L D G V P V G T D - E D G Y V V E V L M K T G P H G G V D M - M T S T A S Q G K F C G V L M D D G K G - N L V D G Q G R K I T A V I G M L T Q P - D T E F R S G P G D D E D D E (SEQ ID NO:1)and fragments thereof,which polypeptides are capable of inducing an immune response against Eimeria parasites, and the DNA encoding such polypeptides, as well as recombinant vectors and recombinant viruses containing the said DNA or fragments thereof and transformed micr

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for purifying polysaccharides capable of inducing the production of high titers of opsonic antibodies that kill strains of enterococcal bacteria. In addition, the invention is directed to the antigens produced by this purification method and to vaccines which utilize such antigens.

Abstract: This invention provides a purified immortalized human endothelial cell infected with Ehrlichia chaffeensis or Ehrlichia canis. Also provided is a method of simultaneously screening a sample from a human subject for the presence of E. chaffeensis and Rickettsia rickettsii comprising contacting the sample with immortalized human endothelial cells under conditions which allow infection of the cells and detecting the presence of infection, the presence of infection indicating the presence of E. chaffeensis and/or R. rickettsii. The invention also provides a method of screening a sample from a human subject for the presence of E. chaffeensis comprising contacting the sample with endothelial cells under conditions which allow infection of the cells by E. chaffeensis and detecting the presence of infection by E. chaffeensis, the presence of infection by E. chaffeensis indicating the presence of E. chaffeensis in the sample. Finally, the invention provides a method of culturing E. chaffeensis or E.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the solubility capacity of free unbound estrogens in body fluids of animals is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunoassay for trypsinogen-2 wherein an amount of analyte in a sample is measured, said analyte being either trypsin-2 complexed with alpha-1-antitrypsin (trypsin-2-AAT) in serum, or trypsinogen-2 in urine. According to a preferred embodiment, the trypsin-2-AAT complex or free trypsinogen-2 are measured by non-competitive methods employing at least two different antibodies. The methods are useful for the diagnosis of patients with pancreatic disease, especially pancreatitis.

Abstract: Strains of Pseudomonas have been genetically engineered to have enhanced biocontrol properties. The strains of the invention are particularly effective against plant pathogenic fungi such as species of Rhizoctonia and Pythium, because the strains produce enhanced amounts of antifungal metabolites such as pyrrolnitrin that are active against these fungal pathogens. Both the genetically modified biocontrol strains and the antifungal metabolites can be used as active agents for biocontrol compositions.