Abstract: Compositions and methods for the treatment and diagnosis of lipopolysaccharide-related conditions and coagulant-related disease are provided. Compositions include polypeptides which are identical or homologous to a certain cationic protein (CAP18) obtained from mammalian granulocytes, particularly including a reactive nitrogen inhibiting peptide (RNIP) fragment found at the carboxy-terminus of CAP18. Polypeptides are capable of binding to LPS and inhibiting LPS-mediated activation of macrophage, as well as interfering with the clotting cascade to inhibit coagulation in conditions such as disseminated intravascular coagulation. Compositions comprising the polypeptides in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to multiplex ligase chain reaction (LCR). Two or more putative target sequences are selected. For each one, a set of four probes is used simultaneously to amplify the putative sequence if it is present in the sample. Preferably, all the amplicons are labeled with a common label/hapten and, for each different target, with a unique label/hapten. The invention also relates to an immunochromatographic strip device and method employing a diagonal array of capture spots.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated parasitic helminth nucleic acid sequences capable of hybridizing, under stringent conditions, to at least a portion of D. immitis nucleic acid sequence p4 and/or to at least a portion of D. immitis nucleic acid sequence p22U; to isolated parasitic helminth proteins that are encoded by such parasitic helminth nucleic acid sequences and that are capable of selectively binding to at least one component of immune serum capable of inhibiting helminth development; and to antibodies raised against such isolated parasitic helminth proteins. The present invention also relates to therapeutic compositions comprising such isolated nucleic acid sequences, proteins and/or antibodies. The present invention also includes methods to produce and use such nucleic acids, proteins, antibodies and therapeutic compositions capable of protecting animals from parasitic helminth infection and, particularly, from heartworm infection.

Abstract: A single laser flow cytometric method for the enumeration of micronuclei in erythrocyte populations, wherein a sample of peripheral blood or bone marrow is obtained and the cell populations in the sample are fixed. Reticulocytes in the fixed samples are treated simultaneously with RNAse and with a fluorescent labeled antibody having binding specificity for a surface marker for erythroblasts/reticulocytes. The erythrocyte populations are then stained with a nucleic acid stain which stains DNA representing micronuclei, if present. The stained and/or labeled erythrocyte populations are then exposed to a laser beam of appropriate excitation wavelength for both the nucleic acid staining dye and the fluorescent label to produce fluorescent emission. The fluorescent emission and light scatter produced by the erythrocyte populations are detected by the flow cytometer from which is calculated the number of specific erythrocyte populations in said sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-against idiotypic antibodies directed against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This invention also relates to methods and compositions using such anti-idiotypic antibodies for the prophylaxis, treatment and diagnosis of gonorrheal infections.

Abstract: A processor apparatus is disclosed, for conditioning a portable cassette as part of a process in which biological cells contained within a sterilizable cell growth chamber of the cassette are maintained and grown ex vivo, without exposing the cells to the external environment. The processor apparatus includes a support configured to removably receive the portable cassette and to be movable in a controlled manner, and it further includes a flow control actuator engageable with a media flow path of the portable cassette, which communicates with the cell growth chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting sequential chemical synthesis of a plurality of products on solid supports. A reactor is provided having a movable rotor section including a plurality of reactor modules each containing a solid support. A top stationary stator is provided having a plurality of reactor inlets and a bottom stator is provided having a plurality of reactor outlets. The rotor is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom stators and its position is controlled to effect reactant flow to one or a plurality of desired reactor modules. Alternatively, the movable rotor section can be replaced with a linear array of reactor modules that can move linearly relative to a linear stationary stator section.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a method for detecting labeled molecules and especially biotinylated molecules and particularly relates to a method for reducing background signal problems in such detection methods.

Abstract: Vaccines for the induction of immunity to malaria, based on aluminum hydroxide-treated, lipid A- and malarial antigen-containing liposomes, are described. Vaccines of this sort are useful in both humans and animals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides encoded by the same, antibodies directed thereto and a method of preparing such polypeptides including: (a) inserting an isolated DNA molecule coding for a polypeptide which is immunoreactive with a 66 kDa polypeptide derived from Borrelia garinii IP90 into an expression vector; (b) transforming a host organism or cell with the vector; (c) culturing the transformed host cell under suitable conditions; and (d) harvesting the polypeptide. The isolated DNA molecule is preferably at least 10 nucleotides in length, and the method may optionally include subjecting the polypeptide to post-translational modification. The host cell can be a bacterium, a yeast, a protozoan, or a cell derived from a multicellular organism such as a fungus, an insect cell, a plant cell, or a mammalian cell.

Abstract: Methods for immunoassay of analytes employing mutant glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) enzymes as labels. In particular, the invention relates to the use of conjugates of an analyte or analyte analog and a mutant NAD.sup.+ dependent G6PDH differing from any precursor G6PDH by the deletion, substitution, or insertion, or any combination thereof of at least one amino acid per subunit. The invention also involves the construction of several mutations in precursor glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) enzymes. Typically, the mutations involve deletion or substitution of one or more lysine residues, or introduction of one or more cysteine residues by insertion of cysteine to precursor G6PDH or substitution of precursor G6PDH amino acids residues with cysteine.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing animals that have higher than average carcass quality, higher than average feed conversion efficiency, higher than average growth rate, lower than average voluntary feed intake and/or higher than average reproductive capacity.

Abstract: A protein associated with adherence and invasion of Campylobacter spp. including C. jejuni and C. coli is provided. Methods are disclosed for detecting Campylobacter spp. including C. jejuni and C. coli in a biological sample by determining the presence of the protein or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein in the sample. Compositions for treatment of infections diseases and vaccines are also described.

Abstract: A polypeptide capable of binding to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) coding for said polypeptide, a recombinant plasmid harboring said DNA or a part thereof, a microorganism and animal cells each harboring said plasmid, and a method of producing said polypeptide.

Abstract: A method of detecting an antibody in a sample using a labelling compound and comprising the steps of mixing a ligand antigen, antibody or hapten bound to biotin with the sample; an antibody directed against the antibody to be detected bound to paramagnetic particles; and a chemiluminescent acridinium compound bound to avidin or streptavidin to form a solid phase complex; separating the solid phase from the liquid phase; and analyzing the separated solid phase for the presence of chemiluminescent complex.

Abstract: The prevention and treatment of gastric infections caused by the bacterium Helicobacter are disclosed. A newly identified cell-surface protein purified from Helicobacter, and the use thereof as a vaccine, are also disclosed. Said protein is able to bind to human lactoferrin.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are Lyme disease vaccines and methods for making and using them. The vaccines include a vector containing DNA encoding OspA or an immunogenic fragment thereof or such DNA encoding OspA or an immunogenic fragment thereof which has been modified by substitution, addition, insertion or deletion of one or more nucleotides, whereby the DNA when expressed results in OspA, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, or a polypeptide having the immunological activity of OspA or the fragment thereof.

Abstract: Novel multicomponent clostridial vaccine formulations using readily dispersible, non-depot adjuvants, such as saponin, are disclosed. The vaccines can be administered to cattle intramusculary or subcutaneously without the severe persistent local reactions, such as granulomas, abscesses, and scarring, normally seen with other multicomponent clostridial vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of immune disorders, especially T helper lymphocyte-related disorders. For example, genes which are differentially expressed within and among T helper (TH) cells and TH cell subpopulations, which include, but are not limited to TH0, TH1 and TH2 cell subpopulations are identified. Genes are also identified via the ability of their gene products to interact with gene products involved in the differentiation, maintenance and effector function of such TH cells and TH cell subpopulations. The genes identified can be used diagnostically or as targets for therapeutic intervention. In this regard, the present invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds as treatments of immune disorders, especially TH cell subpopulation-related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for generating neutralizing antitoxin directed against verotoxins. In preferred embodiments, the antitoxin directed against these toxins is produced in avian species using soluble recombinant verotoxin proteins. This antitoxin is designed so as to be administrable in therapeutic amounts and may be in any form (i.e., as a solid or in aqueous solution). These antitoxins are useful in the treatment of humans and other animals intoxicated with at least one bacterial toxin, as well as for preventive treatment, and diagnostic assays to detect the presence of toxin in a sample.