Abstract: A unitary sterility indicator and a method for its use, the indicator comprising an outer container having liquid impermeable and gas non-absorptive walls, and having a gas-transmissive, bacteria impermeable opening therein; contained within the outer container, a detectable amount of a source of active enzyme and/or another microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization; a sealed, openable gas and liquid impermeable inner container containing an aqueous medium and/or a nutrient growth medium, disposed in the outer container; an enzyme substrate system capable of reacting with active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product and/or a detector material sensitive to microorganism growth, contained in one of the containers; and means contained within the outer container for restricting the area in which enzyme-modified product and/or growing microorganisms are contained, after the inner container is opened, to an area which is less than the volume of aqueous solution contained in the inner con

Abstract: An immunoassay method for determining the specificity of binding of a monoclonal antibody to an antigen is afforded by comparing the binding of antibody and antigen both with and without the addition of excess epitope specific peptide.

Abstract: Method for treating nucleic acid that is to be amplified such that the nucleic acid is, after amplification, subsequently unamplifiable. Nucleic acid amplification is performed in a reaction containing means in the presence of an isopsoralen. The reaction is thereafter irradiated to render the amplified nucleic acid substantially unamplifiable.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of purifying sequentially synthesized peptides and oligonucleotides by affinity techniques. Selected products are capped with and N-terminus capping agent for peptides or a 5'-terminus capping agents for oligonucleotides, and then bound with affinity agents that are selective for the corresponding capping agents.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for determining an individual's genotype at the .sup.G .gamma.-globin locus with respect to a set of three alleles using sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes enable one to type samples from a variety of sources, including samples comprising RNA or cDNA templates, and can be applied to nucleic acids in which a target region spanning the polymorphism has first been amplified. This three-allele system facilitates typing tissue for determining individual identity and has application in the field of forensic science.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the amount of a target acid segment in a sample by polymerase chain reaction. The method involves the simultaneous amplification of the target nucleic acid segment and an internal standard nucleic acid segment. The amount of amplified DNA from each segment is determined and compared to standard curves to determine the amount of the target nucleic acid segment present in the sample prior to amplification. The method is especially preferred for determining the quantity of a specific mRNA species in a biological sample. Additionally, an internal standard is provided useful for quantitation of multiple mRNA species.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed of detecting mutations in the alpha chain gene that makes pre-natal diagnosis of Tay-Sachs disease possible. Screening for carrier heterozygotes of Tay-Sachs is made feasible by this invention.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes capable of hybridizing to rRNA sequences of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and not to rRNA sequences of non-Neisseria gonorrhoeae are described along with methods utilizing such probes for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical and other samples.

Abstract: Hybridization assay probes specific for Mycobacterium gordonae and no other Mycobacterium species.

Abstract: Regions in the pseudorabies virus genome in the unique long region and the internal repeat sequence contain nucleotide sequences which are unique to latent infection of the virus. These regions are the basis for constructing nucleic acid probes and antigens useful in distinguishing latent pseudorabies infection from productive infection.

Abstract: A novel cytotoxic protein is described possessing antifungal activity and which may be used for the treatment of fungal infections, or the prevention or control of fungal growth, as well as being potentially valuable as a biopesticide such as an insecticide, nematicide, or herbicide. The protein is produced by culture of Pichia inositovora strain NRRL Y-18709, and may be subsequently recovered from the culture medium and purified.

Abstract: Method for quality control of meat products, especially fish flesh, with regard to the presence of worms. The product to be subjected to quality control, or a sample thereof, is exposed to electromagnetic radiation within the range of about 800-1800 nm, and the irradiation transmitted through said product or sample as a result of this irradiation, is analyzed for identification of characteristic absorption by worms in said product or sample.

Abstract: A procedure is disclosed for the determination of glucose in a biological liquid, as well as a reagent mixture for use in conjunction with the procedure. The biological liquids concerned are especially blood, blood components, urine and spinal fluid. The procedure is based on a two-phase enzymatic reaction, the first phase of which comprises transforming glucose with the aid of ATP (adenosine-5-triphosphate) and hexokinase into glucose-6-phosphate and the second phase of which comprises transforming glucose-6-phosphate with the aid of NAD and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase into 6-phosphogluconate. ATP, NAD and the enzymes mentioned are included in a suitably buffered reagent mixture, which can be added as a single dose to the glucose-containing liquid sample. The reaction is monitored kinetically by measuring the absorption caused by the NADH produced in the second phase twice within approximately one minute from the initiation of the first reaction phase.

Abstract: A process for quantitating nucleic acids species in a sample is described which comprises co-amplification of a competitive template with the sample template wherein the competitive template utilizes primers identical to those utilized by the sample template and wherein the competitive template is distinguishable from the sample template.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a generic class of ubiquitin-specific proteases which specifically cleave at the C-terminus of the ubiquitin moiety in a ubiquitin fusion protein irrespective of the size of the ubiquitin fusion protein. More specifically, the disclosure relates to ubiquitin-specific proteases of this class which have been isolated from a cell. The disclosure also relates to isolated DNA sequences encoding the proteases of this class.

Abstract: In an important embodiment, the present invention concerns a method for diagnosing compulsive disease predisposition of an individual. The method comprises initially obtaining a DNA sample of said individual and then determining the presence or absence of a particular human D.sub.2 receptor gene allele in said sample. Detection of said allele in the sample is indicative of predilection to compulsive disease. A most preferred embodiment is to detect predisposition to alcoholism, particularly because said allele has been found to be present in a majority of clinically diagnosed alcoholics. The human D.sub.2 receptor gene A1 allele is most preferably detected in said sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of detecting a target nucleic acid using labeled oligonucleotides. This process uses the 5' to 3' nuclease activity of a nucleic acid polymerase to cleave annealed labeled oligonucleotide from hybridized duplexes and release labeled oligonucleotide fragments for detection. This process is easily incorporated into a PCR amplification assay.

Abstract: A method for the detection of a genetic abnormality in the LDL receptor gene, by hybridization of such gene with a DNA sequence encoding gp330.

Abstract: A method for immunoassay of a viral antigen is performed on a membrane precoated with an inert protein. Nonimmunological capture of antigen takes place by absorption onto the coated membrane. Captured antigen binds to a tracer which includes a label conjugated to a specific antibody, the inert protein concomitantly inhibiting nonspecific binding of tracer. The label may be an enzyme which converts a substrate to a detectable product or converts a blocked inhibitor to an inhibitor whereby a second enzyme is inhibited from converting a substrate to a product. The invention includes a kit of materials for performing an assay in accordance with the method of the invention.

Abstract: Genomic and cDNA clones of human genes which are selectively amplified or overexpressed in multidrug-resistant human tumor cells were isolated. Such clones may be used as probes in diagnostic tests to detect chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells and to predict tumor response to chemotherapy. The complete nucleotide sequence of the coding region of the human mdr1 gene and the complete corresponding amino acid sequence are disclosed.