Abstract: The featured invention discloses and claims oligonucleotide hybridization assay probes and helper oligonucleotides which are designed to be complementary to specific regions of M. kansasii rRNA or the DNA encoding it, or to an oligonucleotide or nucleic acid comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of, a M. kansasii rRNA or rDNA nucleotide sequence. The hybridization probes of the present invention are designed to hybridize to a target nucleic acid in a region of the molecule having a specific target nucleotide sequence under conditions which allow the selective detection of the target nucleic acid. The probes are further designed to detect M. kansasii typical as well as atypical strains. The present invention also discloses and claims double-stranded nucleic acid hybrid molecules formed between the hybridization probes and their specific target nucleic acids.

Abstract: Methods are described for the identification and preparation of high-affinity nucleic acid ligands to TGF&bgr;, PDGF and hKGF. Included in the invention are specific RNA and ssDNA ligands to TGF&bgr;1 and PDGF identified by the SELEX method. Also included in the invention are specific RNA ligands to hKGF identified by the SELEX method. Further included are RNA ligands that inhibit the interaction of TGF&bgr;1 and hKGF with their receptors and DNA ligands that inhibit the interaction of PDGF with its receptor.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and reagents for the selection of protein molecules that make use of RNA-protein fusions.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for denaturing nucleic acids. The methods involve contacting a solution comprising double stranded nucleic acid with a surface having denaturation activity sufficient to produce denaturation within a period of not more than one hour.

Abstract: A solid phase substrate derivatized with single stranded nucleic acids having random sequences of nucleotide bases and related method of capturing one or more single stranded nucleic acids by contacting with the solid phase substrate wherein the single stranded nucleic acids anneal to the nucleic acids of the substrate to result in the captured sequences.

Abstract: The DNA sequence spanning the fragile X site on the X human chromosome has been obtained in purified and isolated form. As fragile X is associated with mental retardation, the availability of a DNA which spans this locus permits diagnosis and treatment of the related mental disorders.

Abstract: A method of predicting the clinical outcome of patients suffering from congestive heart failure by identifying patients with a mutant allele of the AMPD1 gene is provided. Methods for increasing survival time in patients suffering from congestive heart failure by administering compositions which inhibit AMPD1 activity are also provided.

Abstract: Coat color is important to the pig breeding industry for a number of reasons. It is therefore desirable to develop populations of pigs which will breed true for coat color. However, establishing such populations would be time-consuming and costly using traditional test mating programs. It is therefore desirable to determine the coat color genotype of individual pigs. The inventors have shown that the KIT gene in pigs is involved with coat color determination. Specifically, the inventors have discovered that the difference between the I, IP, and i alleles of the coat color determining gene is duplication of at least part of the KIT gene in the I and IP alleles. Further, the inventors have discovered that the difference between the I and IP alleles is that, although both I and IP have a duplication in the KIT gene, only I and not IP exhibits a deletion in one of the duplicated regions.

Abstract: A sequence of the FMR-1 gene is disclosed. This sequence and related probes, cosmids and unique repeats are used to detect X-linked diseases and especially the fragile X syndrome. Also, methods using methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease and PCR primer probes were used to detect X-linked disease.

Abstract: Methods for detecting cancer that include hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample obtained from a patient, and identifying if aneusomic cells are present in a selected subset of cells obtained from the biological sample are described. A set of chromosomal probes and kits for detecting cancer that include sets of chromosomal probes, are also described.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for preparing a complex comprised of a VEGF Nucleic Acid Ligand and a Lipophilic Compound by identifying a VEGF Nucleic Acid Ligand by SELEX methodology and associating the VEGF Nucleic Acid Ligand with a Lipophilic Compound. The invention further discloses Complexes comprising one or more VEGF Nucleic Acid Ligands in association with a Lipophilic Compound. The invention further includes a Lipid construct comprising a VEGF Nucleic Acid Ligand or Complex and methods for making the same.

Abstract: Amplification primers and methods for specific amplification and detection of a Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli target are disclosed. The primer-target binding sequences are useful for amplification and detection of C jejuni and C. coli target in a variety of amplification and detection reactions.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for preparing a therapeutic or diagnostic complex comprised of a nucleic acid ligand and a lipophilic compound or non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound by identifying a nucleic acid ligand by SELEX methodology and associating the nucleic acid ligand with a lipophilic compound or a non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound. The invention further discloses complexes comprising one or more nucleic acid ligands in association with a lipophilic compound or non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for characterizing the actions of drugs in cells. In particular, the invention provides methods for determining the presence of a number of primary targets through which a drug, drug candidate, or other compound of interest acts on a cell. Thus, the invention also relates to methods for drug development based on the disclosed methods for determining the presence of a number of primary targets of a drug. The methods of the invention involve: (i) measuring responses of cellular constituents to graded exposures of the cell to a drug of interest; (ii) identifying an "inflection concentration" of the drug for each cellular constituent measured; and (iii) identifying "expression sets" of cellular constituents from the distribution of the inflection drug concentrations. Each expression set corresponds to a particular primary target of the drug.

Abstract: Methods are described for the identification and preparation of high-affinity Nucleic Acid Ligands to Complement System Proteins. Methods are described for the identification and preparation of high affinity Nucleic Acid Ligands to Complement System Proteins C1q, C3 and C5. Included in the invention arc specific RNA ligands to C1q, C3 and C5 identified by the SELEX method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of transcriptionally modulating the expression of a gene-of-interest. The method comprises contacting a cell which is capable of expressing the gene with an amount of a molecule effective to transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene and thereby affect the level of the protein encoded by the gene which is expressed by the cell. Molecules useful in the practice of the invention are characterized as follows (a) do not naturally occur in the cell, (b) bind to DNA or RNA or bind to a protein through a domain of such protein which is not a ligand binding domain of a receptor which naturally occurs in the cell. Additionally, this invention provides a method for determining whether a molecule known to be a modulator of protein biosynthesis is capable of transcriptionally modulating expression of a gene-of-interest.

Abstract: This invention discloses high-affinity oligonucleotide ligands to complex tissue targets, specifically nucleic acid ligands having the ability to bind to complex tissue targets, and the methods for obtaining such ligands. Tissue targets comprise cells, subcellular components, aggregates or cells, collections of cells, and higher ordered structures. Specifically, nucleic acid ligands to blood vessels are described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a series of nucleic acid probes for use in diagnosing and monitoring certain types of leukemia using, e.g., Southern and Northern blot analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These probes detect rearrangements, such as translocations involving chromosome band 11q23 with other chromosomes bands, including 4q21, 6q27, 9p22, 19p13.3, in both dividing leukemic cells and interphase nuclei. The breakpoints in all such translocations are clustered within an 8.3 kb BamHI genomic region of the MLL gene. A novel 0.7 kb BamH1 cDNA fragment derived from this gene detects rearrangements on Southern blot analysis with a single BamHI restriction digest in all patients with the common 11q23 translocations and in patients with other 11q23 anomalies. Northern blot analyses are presented demonstrating that the MLL gene has multiple transcripts and that transcript size differentiates leukemic cells from normal cells. Also disclosed are MLL fusion proteins, MLL protein domains and anti-MLL antibodies.

Abstract: A new class of nucleic acid compounds, referred to as nucleic acid ligands, have been shown to exist that have a specific binding affinity for three dimensional molecular targets, including cell surface macromolecules. The nucleic acid ligands are identified by the method of the invention referred to as the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), wherein a candidate mixture of nucleic acids are iteratively enriched and the high affinity nucleic acids are amplified for further partitioning. The high affinity nucleic acid ligands are useful in capturing target cells.

Abstract: This invention comprises nucleic acid ligand for use as a diagnostic reagent for detecting the presence or absence of a target molecule in a sample, and a diagnostic reagent to measure the amount of a target molecule in a sample. In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acid ligands are identified by the method of the invention referred to as the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), wherein a candidate mixture of nucleic acids are iteratively enriched in high affinity nucleic acids and amplified by further partitioning.