Abstract: A method of controlling weight in a mammal and diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders associated with delta-type opioid receptors comprising administering to the mammal a receptor probe or a weight control agent for inhibiting weight gain. The receptor probe or weight control agent may comprise certain azine, thiosemicarbazone, or N,N'-disubstituted thiourea derivatives of nonpeptide opioid antagonists.

Abstract: A method for enzyme immunoassay includes contacting under binding conditions a liquid suspected of containing an analyte, an antianalyte affixed to a solid support and a tracer having an enzyme conjugated thereto. A bound fraction is separated from the liquid and incubated in a second liquid with a masked ligand. The masked ligand is converted by the enzyme on the bound fraction to give free lignad which binds to an antiligand. A signal system, such as a signal enzyme and substrate therefor, or a label-loaded vesicle and vesicle lysing agent, is added to generate a signal used to detect or measure the analyte in the liquid. The invention includes a kit of materials useful in performing the assay of the invention.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a fluorescence polarization immunoassay method for determining C-reactive protein in liquids, especially in biological fluids such as serum, plasma, spinal fluid, amnionic fluid and urine. This disclosure also relates to novel reagents useful in such fluorescence polarization immunoassays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantitatively analyzing, in a flowing stream, materials in a biological or chemical sample utilizes immobilized antobodies reversibly precharged with fluorescently labeled antigens. The labeled antigens are competitively displaced by unlabeled antigens in the sample, after the sample antigens have been segregated into zones by a chromatographic device, such as the reverse phase high performance liquid chromatograph. Displaced labeled antigens are measured by a fluorescence detector. A plurality of antibody species may be concurrently utilized, thereby allowing quantification of a plurality of antigens from a single sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for using volume exclusion agents to enhance in situ hybridization rates between short oligonucleotide probes and their target polynucleotides where the cells containing the target polynucleotides are adhered onto a glass substrate. In one aspect, the invention specifically relates to the use of volume exclusion agents to facilitate assay and diagnostic procedures for the detection of a virus, such as human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, diagnostic kits embracing the above methods are described herein.

Abstract: There are provided monoclonal antibodies which react with human oncofetal ferritin and which do not react with human spleen ferritin or with liver ferritin; there are also provided monoclonal antibodies which react both with human placenta oncofetal ferritin and with human adult spleen ferritin. There is provided a process for producing clones producing such antibodies and such clones, and an assay for the detection of human breast cancer based on the determination of oncofetal ferritin, which assay is based on such monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: An immunoassay for trichothecenes that have at least three hydroxyl groups at specified positions is disclosed. It relies on developing antibodies to close trichothecene variants that are missing at least one of the hydroxyl groups, and then using these antibodies to test specimens in which the trichothecene has been converted to the variant (usually to the OAC variant). For example, DON and T-2 tetraol can be assayed for using this invention.

Abstract: A synthetic, non-naturally occurring molecule having the structure:[NA.sub.1 --S--NA.sub.2 ].sub.nwherein NA.sub.1 and NA.sub.2 are noncomplementary nucleic acid sequences;wherein --S-- is a scissile linkage; andwherein n is an integer from 1 to 4.Variations of this molecule and methods for using the molecules for detecting nucleic acid sequences are provided.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for neurological and psychiatric disorders utilizes the cerebrospinal fluid incubated in the presence of 32-P labelled ATP and an appropriate protein kinase. After termination of the reaction, a sample is applied to gels for electrophoresis. Subsequent autoradiography results in a disease-specific protein pattern that can be used for diagnosis of disorders such as Alzheimer disease, Huntington disease, Parkinson disease, dystonia ataxia, schizophrenia, epilepsy brain tumors, brain irradiation, head trauma, and acute and chronic encephalitic and vascular disease.

Abstract: In an assay, a conjugate of ligand and sac lysing agent is contacted with analyte and binder to produce bound and unbound portions of conjugate. The unbound portion of the conjugate contacts sacs, containing a detectable marker to release the marker as a measure of analyte. The binder and sacs may be placed on different portions of a solid support to provide a solid phase assay.

Abstract: A method of determining a ligand of interest in a ligand is described. The method, which makes it possible to detect and quantify a ligand in a liquid, makes use of a biotin-avidin system which can be used to carry out immunoassays in both heterogeneous and homogeneous format. The basic components used in the method are a biotin-labeled substance (which is biotin-lableled ligand or biotin-labeled specific binding partner), biotin-labeled fluorophore, a liquid to be analyzed for the ligand of interest, specific binding partner for the ligand of interest and avidin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for determining the nucleotide sequence of DNA an RNA molecules. The method is automatable and avoids the use of radioactive labels and gel electrophoresis. The method is also adaptable for introducing site-specific mutations in DNA and RNA molecules.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of microorganisms in a tests sample. Exogenous DNA containing a luminescent system or other genetic marker system derived from a suitable donor source is introduced by genetic means into a host microorganism which lacks or poorly expresses the donor DNA and whose presence it is desired to detect. Expression of the donor gene system allows the detection of the host microorganism. Compositions of bacteriophages and plasmids as well as a method for detection of antibiotics in a test sample are described.

Abstract: A probe polynucleotide binds to a target nucleotide sequence in the nucleic acid of a biological sample, and then is enzymatically extended in the 3'-direction with a mixture of nucleoside triphosphates including at least one nucleoside triphosphate that has been detectably labeled. After separating extended hybrid from unreacted nucleoside triphosphates, detectably-modified nucleotides which have been incorporated are determined. In some forms, the 3'-terminal nucleotide of the probe polynucleotide is selected to form a matched pair with some sample strands, but a mismatched pair with other sample strands. In such cases, if the primer dependent enzyme used for extension is one lacking 3'-exonuclease activity, then only those hybrids forming such a matched pair will be extended and subsequently determined.

Abstract: Nucleic acid hybridization probes for human papillomavirus types and particularly human papillomavirus type 44; and methods for employing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (1) an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection in milk of antibodies of any isotype which are specific for Staphylococcus aureus proteins in molecular weights ranging from 18,000 to 26,000 daltons, (2) a process for production and purification of said proteins, (3) a method of performing said ELISA utilizing said proteins and (4) use of said ELISA for detection of intramammary infection by S. aureus.

Abstract: Nucleic acid hybridization probes for human papillomavirus types and particularly human papillomavirus type 35; and methods for employing the same.

Abstract: Nucleic acid hybridization probes for human papillomavirus types and particularly human papillomavirus type 43; and methods for employing the same.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an assay for nucleic acid which comprises the steps of;(a) providing a probe material comprising;(i) a sequence of nucleic acids complementary to a given target sequence and,(ii) a first ligand chemically linked thereto and capable of a specific binding reaction with an antiligand;(b) contacting the said probe material with an assay system comprising:(i) a suitable mediator, enzyme, substrate system capable of transferring charge to an electrode surface when the enzyme is catalytically active, and;(ii) a second ligand chemically linked to one of said mediator, enzyme or substrate, wherein the second ligand is capable of a competitive binding reaction with the antiligand, and;(iii) the said antiligand, Whereby the said first ligand competes with the said second ligand in a specific binding reaction with the antiligand, and;(c) contacting the above system with a solution suspected of containing the said target sequence whereby the binding of any of the said target sequence presen

Abstract: A method and reagent composition provide for the removal or blocking of serum interferences in liposome immunoassays. A carrier or liposome exhibiting at least one domain of phosphoryl ester groupings different from those of the marker liposome is introduced into the reaction mixture, whereby endogenous interfering species competitively bind to such carrier or liposome rather than to the marker liposome. Also, soluble phosphoryl ester groupings can be introduced into the reaction mixture which react with such endogenous species and further reduce serum interferences.