Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and the treatment of familial thoracic aortic aneurysms caused by TGFB2 loss of function mutations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether a subject is predisposed to thoracic aortic aneurysms comprising detecting a TGFB2 loss of function mutation wherein the presence of the mutation indicated that the subject is predisposed to thoracic aortic aneurysms. The present invention also relates to a transforming growth factor beta-2 (TGF-?2) polypeptide for use in the prophylactic treatment of a subject who has been considered as predisposed to thoracic aortic aneurysms by the method of the invention (i.e. a subject having one TGB2 loss of function mutation according to the invention).

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide a probe for diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, which enables early diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, and to provide a method for screening using said probe. The invention is a probe for a Marfan Syndrome characterized by using a nucleic acid comprising following (a) or (b); (a) a nucleic acid comprising a base sequence represented by base numbers 1-180000 shown in SEQ ID No. 1 of the sequence listing, or (b) a nucleic acid in which a part of the base sequence of said base numbers 1-180000 is deleted, substituted or added, and having 80% homology with said base sequence.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide a probe for diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, which enables early diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, and to provide a method for screening using said probe. The invention is a probe for a Marfan Syndrome characterized by using a nucleic acid comprising following (a) or (b); (a) a nucleic acid comprising a base sequence represented by base numbers 1-180000 shown in SEQ ID No. 1 of the sequence listing, or (b) a nucleic acid in which a part of the base sequence of said base numbers 1-180000 is deleted, substituted or added, and having 80% homology with said base sequence.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the identification of a human hypercholesterolemia causal gene, which can be used for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia, more particularly familial hypercholesterolemia, as well as for the screening of therapeutically active drugs. The invention more specifically disclosed that mutations in the PCSK9 gene encoding NARC-1 causes autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia and represent novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The invention can be used in the diagnosis of predisposition to, detection, prevention and/or treatment of coronary heart disease and, cholesterol, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism disorders, including familial hypercholesterolemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the identification of a human hypercholesterolemia causal gene, which can be used for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia, more particularly familial hypercholesterolemia, as well as for the screening of therapeutically active drugs. The invention more specifically disclosed that mutations in the PCSK9 gene encoding NARC-1 causes autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia and represent novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The invention can be used in the diagnosis of predisposition to, detection, prevention and/or treatment of coronary heart disease and, cholesterol, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism disorders, including familial hypercholesterolemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract: The invention concerns a probe for the detection of shigellae and entero-invasive E. coli, containing a nucleic acid sequence originating from the 140 Mdal virulence plasmid of the M 90 T strain of Shigella flexneri; having a maximum size of around 27 kb and including all or part of the 27 kb Bam HI fragment.This probe permits the in vitro diagnosis of syndromes of dysentery or diarrhea, of the Shigellosis type.

Abstract: The invention concerns a probe for the detection of shigellae and entero-invasive E. coli, containing a nucleic acid sequence originating from the 140 Mdal virulence plasmid of the M 90 T strain of Shigella flexneri; having a maximum size of around 27 kb and inlcuding all or part of the 27 kb Bam HI fragment.This probe permits the in vitro diagnosis of syndromes of dysentery or diarrhea, of the Shigellosis type.