Abstract: The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes on bacterial and viral proteins, as well as the use of said peptides in diagnostic or immunogenic compositions. The invention relates to a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies, wherein the peptides used are biotinylated, particularly in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated peptides or of avidin-biotinylated peptides.

Abstract: The invention relates two general methods for performing PCR amplification, combined with the detection and analysis of the PCR products on a microchip. In the first method, the amplification occurs both outside and within a plurality of gel pads on a microchip, with at least one oligonucleotide primer immobilized in a gel pad. In the second method, PCR amplification also takes place within gel pads on a microchip, but the pads are surrounded by a hydrophobic liquid such as that which separates the individual gel pads into environments which resemble micro-miniaturized test tubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic sequences encoding polyphenol oxidase enzymes of lettuce, banana, tobacco and pineapple plants, and recombinant vectors comprising same, and methods of identifying related sequences using said nucleic acid molecules. The invention further provides methods of modifying PPO expression in plants using the inventive nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A method for efficiently searching novel physiologically active substances under a certain predictability. This searching method comprises, among receptors of cells producing an antagonist to a substance in vivo or receptors of cells producing an antagonist to the cells per se, finding a receptor having amino acid sequences of two or more sizes by comparing the cDNA sequences of the receptor, and then examining which region in the longer receptor is missed in the shorter receptor by comparing the above cDNA sequences. By using this method, remedies for diabetes comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or 5, insulin production regulators comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, and gastric secretion inhibitors comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 or 4 are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting disease by analysis of a patient sample to determine the integrity of nucleic acids in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention describes a methodology for generating high fidelity PCR products, and also cloning of such high fidelity PCR products in a suitable vector. Generation of polymerase-induced mutant fraction of target sequences during PCR amplification is linearly proportional to the number of doublings of the target sequences. Thus the high fidelity PCR products are generated by minimizing the number of doublings of the target nucleic acid sequences during PCR amplification. Minimization of number of doublings of the target sequences is achieved by reducing the number of cycles of PCR amplification of the target sequences. The high fidelity PCR products thus obtained are then cloned into a suitable vector. As an example, a 960 bp target sequence from E. coli DNA was PCR-amplified only for 3 cycles, and it was then directly cloned into a positive selection cloning vector pRGR2Ap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of isolating plasmid DNA from microorganism cultures with the aid of solid-phase bodies. The solid-phase bodies can be silica gels, silicates, or glass-like materials and the solid-phase bodies can have magnetic properties. The solid-phase bodies are used for isolating the microorganisms and for isolating the plasmid DNA.

Abstract: The present invention describes the development of a positive selection vector based on regulatory element modulation, wherein such modulation is achieved via insertional reconstruction or destruction of a regulatory element controlling transcription, translation, DNA replication and termination. A positive selection cloning vector pREM5Tc has been developed based on insertional reconstruction of a regulatory element of a reporter gene. The vector pREM5Tc carries the tetracycline resistance reporter gene with no functional −35 region of its promoter, a regulatory element, thus resulting in no expression of the tetracycline resistance gene. Hence a host cell carrying the vector pREM5Tc is unable to produce the tetracycline resistance gene protein resulting in inhibition of its growth in presence of tetracycline. An E.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for diagnosing and treating endometriosis, and promoting implantation of an embryo. The methods involve determining or modulating antileukoprotease activity in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention concerns peptide fragments of angiostatin containing lysine-binding sites of angiostatin which can be used as anti-angiogenic agents for the treatment of cancer, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerotic plaque formation, and any disease process that involves angiogenesis. The lysine binding fragments are derived from kringles 1,2 and/or 4 of plasminogen.

Abstract: The invention concerns the genomic sequence of the human &mgr; opioid receptor gene and its variants, polymorphisms and mutations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of quantification of nucleic acid sequences with minimal alterations conducting a real time PCR quantification assay with allele-specific primers. Further, the present invention provides the method for quantifying allelic differences of bovine mitochondrial DNA sequences and allele-specific primers to be used in said method.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for prognosis, diagnosis, staging and disease progression in human cancer patients related to expression levels of a plurality of genes that are differentially expressed in chemotherapeutic drug resistant and drug sensitive tumor cells.

Abstract: Methods of the invention comprise assays for markers indicative of cancer, precancer, and other diseases or disorders. Assays of the invention are preformed on heterogeneous samples obtained from patients by non-invasive or minimally-invasive methods.

Abstract: Methods of the invention comprise assays for markers indicative of cancer, precancer, and other diseases or disorders. Assays of the invention are preformed on heterogeneous samples obtained from patients by non-invasive or minimally-invasive methods. Such assays may be employed alone or in combination with other disease screening techniques.

Abstract: In livestock, a number of pathological conditions and/or syndromes exist which may not be attributable to infection by a single organism. In many instances, these pathological conditions and/or syndromes have an effect on the equilibrium that ordinarily exists within the various bacteria comprising the normal bacterial flora. A number of these pathological conditions and/or syndromes have been clinically referred to as dysbacteriosis and bacterial overgrowth. The present invention provides methods for evaluation of the “general health” of livestock by analyzing the composition of microbiological flora. In one aspect, a method of the invention comprises providing a sample of microbiological flora, selectively amplifying nucleic acid in the flora sample, subjecting the amplificate to restriction digestion, and then analyzing the resulting pattern of restriction fragments.

Abstract: A method useful for regulating cytokine production by a hematopoietic cell by regulating an MEKK/JNKK-contingent signal transduction pathway in such a cell is disclosed. Methods of identifying compounds capable of specifically regulating an MEKK/JNKK-contingent signal transduction pathway in hematopoietic cells, a kit for identifying cytokine regulators, methods to treat diseases involving cytokine production, and cells useful in such methods are also set forth.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing cDNA characterized by performing a reverse transcription reaction in the presence of an enzyme having a reverse transcriptional activity and another enzyme different from the former one which as a 3′-5′ exonuclease activity.

Abstract: Methods for detecting nucleotide deletions in biological samples are described. Methods of the invention are particulary useful for detecting deletions in regions of polynucleotide repeats. In particular, methods of the invention are useful to detect deletions at the BAT26 locus.