Abstract: Described is a method for differentiating the vaginal secretory fluid or cervical mucus of a pregnant woman suffering from threatened premature delivery, which comprises measuring an amount of Interleukin-8 in the vaginal secretory fluid or cervical mucus. The above method makes it possible to differentiate the vaginal secretory fluid or the like of the pregnant woman suffering from threatened premature delivery with good sensitivity and therefore is useful for the detection, treatment or the like of premature delivery.

Abstract: The invention provides monospecific antibodies which are specifically reactive with the .alpha..sub.E subunit of fibrinogen or a fragment thereof, but not with other portions of the fibrinogen molecule. The invention also provides anti-.alpha..sub.E probes, including monospecific anti-.alpha..sub.E antibodies which have been detectably labeled. In addition, the invention provides methods of using the monospecific antibodies for detection of the .alpha..sub.E subunit and fragments thereof, as well as reagents and kits for performing the methods. Diagnostic methods for determining information associated with atherogenesis and/or thrombogenesis, as well as for determining information associated with pregnancy status or outcome. The invention further provides continuous cell lines which produce monospecific anti-.alpha..sub.E antibodies.

Abstract: The invention provides monospecific antibodies which are specifically reactive with the .alpha.hd E subunit of fibrinogen or a fragment thereof, but not with other portions of the fibrinogen molecule. The invention also provides anti-.alpha..sub.E probes, including monospecific anti-.alpha..sub.E antibodies which have been detectably labeled. In addition, the invention provides methods of using the monospecific antibodies for detection of the .alpha..sub.E subunit and fragments thereof, as well as reagents and kits for performing the methods. Diagnostic methods for determining information associated with atherogenesis and/or thrombogenesis, as well as for determining information associated with pregnancy status or outcome. The invention further provides continuous cell lines which produce monospecific anti-.alpha..sub.E antibodies.

Abstract: A culturing system and method particularly useful for producing cellular products such as viral pathogens of cells. It includes a mass transfer culture segment, stacked filter plates to adjust the medium composition, and a product removal and concentration segment. The mass transfer culture segment utilizes changed directional flow of the medium to maximize cell growth and production of product. The stacked filter plates allow addition of sterile fresh medium and removal of growth inhibitory substances.

Abstract: Improvements in the existing procedures and materials for conduct of high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) are disclosed. The use of plastic coated matrices especially small spheres or balls which form superior magnetic gradient-intensifying supports are disclosed, along with improved methods and apparatus to conduct HGMS. The selection of small spheres in combination with the coating provides for uniform matrices of high stability.

Abstract: Hybrid molecules between heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) and cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) are disclosed. Such a hybrid molecule comprises an amino-acid sequence which is composed of the amino-acid sequence of mature CTB in which such amino-acid residues are substituted with the corresponding amino-acid residues of mature LTB which impart LTB-specific epitope characteristics to said immunogenic mature CTB, or vice versa. In addition, a structural gene coding for such a hybrid molecule, a plasmid containing such a structural gene, and an immunogenic protein comprising such a hybrid molecule and optionally an immunoreactive amino-acid sequence of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell or a virus, are disclosed. Disclosed is also a vaccine, e.g. against enterotoxin-induced illness, comprising such an immunogenic protein, and a method of preventing or treating enterotoxin-induced illness in an individual.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided herein for the use of a novel mutant form of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin which has lost its toxicity but has retained its immunologic activity. This enterotoxin is used in combination with an unrelated antigen to achieve an increased immune response to said antigen when administered as part of an oral vaccine preparation.

Abstract: A new paradigm of disease centers around the metabolic pathways of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), the intermediates of these pathways and other metabolic pathways influenced by the SAM pathways. Methods are provided to analyze and modulate SAM pathways associated with a disease or condition. Such methods permit identification and utilization of diagnostic and therapeutic protocols and agents for such disease states and conditions.

Abstract: A method for identifying a toxicant in an environmental water or soil sample comprising (a) adding to the sample an antibody known to form a complex with a toxicant suspected to be present in the sample; (b) incubating the antibody with the sample for a time and under conditions sufficient to allow complexes to form between the antibody and the toxicant; and (c) comparing the toxicity of the sample treated as in the step (b) with the toxicity of the sample prior to the step (a), whereby a reduced amount of toxicity of the treated sample compared with the untreated sample indicates the presence of the toxicant in said sample. The method described herein provides unexpected and important advantages by providing more accurate correlations between predicted and observed toxicity of a sample than previous methods.

Abstract: Endotoxin incorporated into liposomes, lipid bilayers or lipid complexes can be detected by combining an aqueous suspension of the liposomes, lipid complexes or lipid bilayers with a suitable detergent. Preferable detergents, e.g., Lubrol-PX.TM. or a polyoxyethylene ether, solubilize the lipid bilayers, liposomes or lipid complexes at acceptable lipid concentrations, forming micelles therefrom which contain lipid bilayer, liposome or lipid complex lipid, detergent and endotoxin, should it be present. The micelles are then assayed for the presence of endotoxin.

Abstract: Vaccines, antibodies, proteins, glycoproteins, DNAs and RNAs useful for passive or active prophylaxis and treatment of Cryptosporidium infections. Cryptosporidium antigen comprised of a protein with or without carbohydrates attached thereto. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen. DNA and RNA encoding the Cryptosporidium antigen, mutants, variants and fragments thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification, cloning, sequencing and characterization of the embCAB operon which determines mycobacterial resistance to the antimycobacterial drug ethambutol. The embCAB operon encodes the proteins which are the target of action of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Mycobacterium leprae for ethambutol. The present invention provides purified and isolated embC, embA, and embB nucleic acids which comprise the embCAB operon, as well as mutated forms of these nucleic acids. The present invention also provides one or more single-stranded nucleic acid probes which specifically hybridize to the wild type embCAB operon or the mutated embCAB operon, and mixtures thereof, which may be formulated in kits, and used in the diagnosis of drug-resistant mycobacterial strain. The present invention also provides methods for the treatment and prevention of mycobacterial infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a method for the high level expression of the outer membrane protein meningococcal group B porin proteins and fusion proteins thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of expressing the outer membrane protein meningococcal group B porin proteins in E. coli wherein the meningococcal group B porin proteins and fusion proteins thereof comprise more than 2% of the total protein expressed in E. coli. The invention also relates to a method of purification and refolding of the meningococcal group B porin proteins and fusion proteins thereof and to their use in vaccines.

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 herein is a newly-identified DNA sequence from Mycobacterium kansasii designated KATS2. Also disclosed are methods, oligonucleotide probes, amplification primers, and kits for the detection of M. kansasii nucleic acids. M. kansasii-specific methods, probes, amplification primers, and kits are preferred.

Abstract: This invention relates to a purified Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin and methods to use this toxin to produce protective antibodies against H. pylori infection. Antiserum to this antigen can be used to detect the toxin. Methods to detect anti-toxin antibodies determine the susceptibility of a patient to develop peptic ulcer disease, gastric carcinoma, or other clinical consequences of H. pylori infection.

Abstract: A method of microdissection which involves: forming an image field of cells of the tissue sample utilizing a microscope, identifying at least one zone of cells of interest from the image field of cells which at least one zone of cells of interest includes different types of cells than adjacent zones of cells, and extracting the at least one zone of cells of interest from the tissue sample. The extraction is achieved by contacting the tissue sample with a transfer surface that can be selectively activated so that regions thereof adhere to the zone of cells of interest to be extracted. The transfer surface includes an activatable adhesive layer which provides chemical or electrostatic adherence to the selected regions of the tissue sample. After the transfer surface is activated the transfer surface and tissue sample are separated. During separation the zone of cells of interest remains adhered to the transfer surface and is thus separated from the tissue sample.

Abstract: The present invention discloses synthetic peptides and antibodies raised thereto wherein the synthetic peptides represent important epitopic sites recognized by monoclonal antibodies which can neutralize IFN-.beta.. Also, the uses of these peptides or antibodies thereto as diagnostics and therapeutics are disclosed.

Abstract: Live-attenuated vaccines against Edwardsiella ictaluri or against Pasteurella piscicida are disclosed. Both vaccines are incapable of reversion to virulence, because both are made by deletion mutations in the aroA gene, the purA gene, or both. These vaccines may be used not only to vaccinate fish against Edwardsiella ictaluri or Pasteurella piscicida, but also to serve as vectors to present antigens from other pathogens to the fish, thereby serving as vaccines against other pathogens as well, with no risk of infection by reversion to the virulent form of the pathogen in which the antigen occurs naturally.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide-like compounds, eg aminocarboxylic acid amide derivatives, and to methods of using same to stimulate cells of the immune system, bone marrow and other organs. The present compounds can be used to enhance vaccination, increase synthesis of and enhance function of blood cell components and enhance anti-neoplastic effects of various agents. The compounds of the invention can be used to produce a variety of further pharmacologic effects.