Abstract: Certain attenuated mutants of Brucella, especially B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis and B. ovis, when administered to a human or animal trigger a protective immune response such that subsequent challenge with virulent Brucella of the same species does not result in disease or results in much less severe symptoms. Functional inactivation of galE, a virB gene or the operon (ORFs 1087-1090) comprising the gene encoding ?-hexosaminidase (BMEI1087) and a lytic murein transglycosylase gene (BMEI1088). A specific example of the attenuated galE mutant which produces a protective immune response is B. melitensis GR024. The specific example of an inactivated ORF1087-1090 operon is B. melitensis GR026; it has an insertion mutation in the promoter region upstream of ORF 1090. Vaccination with live cells of either or both of these mutants results in a T cell response which protects the human or animal against challenge with virulent B. melitensis.

Abstract: Certain attenuated mutants of Brucella, especially B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis and B. ovis, when administered to a human or animal trigger a protective immune response such that subsequent challenge with virulent Brucella of the same species does not result in disease or results in much less severe symptoms. Functional inactivation of galE, a virB gene or the operon (ORFs 1087-1090) comprising the gene encoding ?-hexosaminidase (BMEI1087) and a lytic murein transglycosylase gene (BMEI1088). A specific example of the attenuated galE mutant which produces a protective immune response is B. melitensis GR024. The specific example of an inactivated ORF1087-1090 operon is B. melitensis GR026; it has an insertion mutation in the promoter region upstream of ORF 1090. Vaccination with live cells of either or both of these mutants results in a T cell response which protects the human or animal against challenge with virulent B. melitensis.

Abstract: Certain attenuated mutants of Brucella, especially B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis and B. ovis, when administered to a human or animal trigger a protective immune response such that subsequent challenge with virulent Brucella of the same species does not result in disease or results in much less severe symptoms. Functional inactivation of galE, a virB gene or the operon (ORFs 1087-1090) comprising the gene encoding ?-hexosaminidase (BMEI1087) and a lytic murein transglycosylase gene (BMEI1088). A specific example of the attenuated galE mutant which produces a protective immune response is B. melitensis GR024. The specific example of an inactivated ORF1087-1090 operon is B. melitensis GR026; it has an insertion mutation in the promoter region upstream of ORF 1090. Vaccination with live cells of either or both of these mutants results in a T cell response which protects the human or animal against challenge with virulent B. melitensis.

Abstract: Inducible gene expression systems and a method thereof. A first inducible gene expression system includes a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter and at least one factor to induce the retroviral promoter. At least one gene product is expressed in proportion to retroviral promoter induction. The method includes providing a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter and providing at least one factor corresponding to the retroviral promoter. The retroviral promoter is induced with the at least one factor. At least one protein is expressed based on the induction of the retroviral promoter. A second inducing expression system includes a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter, an inducer for the retroviral promoter, and at least one protein expressed in proportion to retroviral promoter induction.

Abstract: Inducible gene expression systems and a method thereof. A first inducible gene expression system includes a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter and at least one factor to induce the retroviral promoter. At least one gene product is expressed in proportion to retroviral promoter induction. The method includes providing a first vector comprising at least one retroviral promoter and providing at least one factor corresponding to the retroviral promoter. The retroviral promoter is induced with the at least one factor. At least one protein is expressed based on the induction of the retroviral promoter. A second inducing expression system includes first vector means comprising at least one retroviral promoter, means for inducing the retroviral promoter, and means for expressing at least one protein based on the induction of the retroviral promoter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fusion proteins, nucleotide sequences for creating them, and vectors containing the nucleotide sequences. The fusion proteins have a bovine herpesvirus protein linked to a biotherapeutic protein or reporter protein. They rapidly spread biotherapeutic or reporter protein throughout mammalian cells.

Abstract: A promoter/enhancer for a bovine MHC class I gene is incorporated in recombinant nucleotide sequences and vectors. In one form, the promoter/enhancer may be linked to a foreign gene for permitting expression of the foreign gene in a wide range of mammalian host cells.

Abstract: A test to diagnose the presence of Johne's disease is disclosed. In one aspect it involves using a DNA segment that will hybridize to M. paratuberculosis but not to other bacteria typically found in bovine feces. Another aspect of the invention is providing a process for breaking the cell wall of mycobacteria using dense beads in the presence of phenol.