Abstract: Compounds and methods for diagnosing Trypanosoma cruzi infection, or for screening for T. cruzi or Leishmania infection, are disclosed. The disclosed compounds are polypeptides, or antibodies thereto, that contain one or more antigenic epitopes of T. cruzi proteins. The compounds are useful in a variety of immunoassays for detecting T. cruzi infection. The polypeptide compounds are further useful in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing Chagas' disease in individuals exposed to T. cruzi.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting and quantitating a DNA base modification in a sample of DNA, wherein the method involves an endonuclease digestion step, a labeling step, and a chromatographic separation step. Utilized in the method are compositions including a carrier for the DNA base modification, an internal standard, and a carrier for the internal standard. Also provided are methods for synthesizing the compositions, and kits containing the compositions.

Abstract: A DNA analyzing method which bonds a first oligomer of known base sequence to a DNA fragment obtained by digesting a DNA sample with a restrictive enzyme. The oligomer and DNA fragment are hybridized to other oligomers which have the sequences of all combinations of the types of bases within the length of several bases following the known base sequence. The presence or absence of hybridization or complementary DNA strand extension is determined and identifies the DNA fragment terminal sequence from this result. The DNA fragments are then fractionated and analyzed to determine the sequence. This DNA analyzing method provides an effective analysis of mixtures of long DNAs or DNA fragments.