Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5? oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated strain of Hepatitis B virus designated Human Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen-'?-145 Singapore Strain (Glycine to Arginine) which constituent viral genome is deposited under Accession Nos. P97121504, P97121505 and P97121506 with the European Collection of Cell Culture on 15th Dec. 1997. This invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide which is a mutant major surface antigen of a strain of hepatitis B virus, such polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which differs from the amino acid sequence of a major surface antigen of a wild type hepatitis B virus in that the amino acid at position number 145 of such polypeptide is an arginine rather than a glycine, and the purified peptide. This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a peptide, wherein the peptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleotides 527 through 595 of SEQ. ID. No. 1, and the purified peptide.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method of editing a new interface of a portable electronic device by using a browser in which the new interface is edited with texts and graphs provided on a website associated with a server, which comprises the steps of enabling the portable electronic device to access the Internet and to login the website associated with the server; inputting and editing texts and graphs provided on the website associated with the server through a browser so as to edit a picture frame of the new interface; and downloading the edited interface to a specific folder in the portable electronic device to replace an original interface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are 2-guanidinylimidazolidinedione compounds having the structural formula A or B wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxyl, amino, alkylamino or aralkyl, and wherein R3 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, acyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkylaryl, sulfonyl, alkylsulfonyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and methods of making thereof. Also disclosed are methods of treating, preventing, or inhibiting malaria with the 2-guanidinylimidazolidinedione compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the 2-guanidinylimidazolidinedione compounds, and kits.

Abstract: Novel DNA probe sequences for detection, by polymerase chain reaction, of human hepatitis B virus surface antigen mutant 145 (Glycine to Arginine) from serum samples. As a direct application, these specific DNA probes are immobilized on solid glass supports (gene chip) for detection of human hepatitis B virus surface antigen mutant 145 (Glycine to Arginine) by fluorescence.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5′ oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5′ oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.

Abstract: Novel DNA probe sequences for detection, by polymerase chain reaction, of human hepatitis B virus surface antigen mutant 145 (Glycine to Arginine) from serum samples. As a direct application, these specific DNA probes are immobilized on solid glass supports (gene chip) for detection of human hepatitis B virus surface antigen mutant 145 (Glycine to Arginine) by fluorescence.