Abstract: The present invention relates to a new cassette for the expression of an endothiapepsin precursor in Cryphonectria parasitica, to a strain of this species transformed with this cassette, to a process for preparing endothiapepsin using this strain and also to a process for preparing such a strain devoid of a dominant selection marker.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functional DNA block by means of which hirudin may be prepared from yeast, which block contains at least the sequence:-S.sub.tr -L.sub.ex -S.sub.cl -H geneH gene being the gene coding for hirudin or one of its variants,S.sub.tr is a DNA sequence containing the signals which provide for the transcription of the H gene by yeast,L.sub.ex is a leader sequence needed in order to obtain the excretion of the gene product,S.sub.cl is a DNA sequence coding for the site of cleavage by yscF proteinase, which cleavage site is unique and situated in the hirudin precursor immediately upstream from the H gene.The invention relates more especially to a functional DNA block in which the H gene codes for HV1.

Abstract: Functional block of DNA enabling to prepare hirudine from yeast, characterized in that it comprises at least:--the gene of hirudine or one of its variants (gene H); --A DNA sequence (S.sub.tr) comprising the signals providing for the transcription of the gene H by the yeast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of hirudin containing an amino acid different from the amino acid in the natural form at position 47 or 63.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the development of a vaccine against schistosomiasis. It relates to a protein which includes the epitopes of the p28 protein, a poxvirus containing a gene coding for the said protein, a cell incorporating a vector for the expression of the said protein, a method for preparing the said protein, a DNA sequence coding for the p28 protein, a pharmaceutical composition, antibodies raised against the said protein and their application by way of diagnostic agents for schistosomiasis.The present invention also relates to the application of the said protein by way of an agent possessing glutathione S-transferase activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functional DNA block by means of which hirudin may be prepared from yeast, which block contains at least the sequence:--S.sub.tr --L.sub.ex --S.sub.cl --H geneH gene being the gene coding for hirudin or one of its variants,S.sub.tr is a DNA sequence containing the signals which provide for the transcription of the H gene by yeast,L.sub.ex is a leader sequence needed in order to obtain the excretion of the gene product,S.sub.cl is a DNA sequence coding for the site of cleavage by yscF proteinase, which cleavage site is unique and situated in the hirudin precursor immediately upstream from the H gene,The invention relates more especially to a functional DNA block in which the H gene codes for HV1.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial promoter for the expression of proteins, especially urate oxidase in yeast, which comprises:a sub-sequence upstream from the TATA component of the sequence of the promoter of the GAL7 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which comprises the upstream activation sequences UAS1 and UAS2; anda sub-sequence of the sequence of an ADH.sub.2 promoter comprising the TATA component and the transcription initiation region.

Abstract: The invention concerns a new urate oxidase activity protein which has the following sequence:______________________________________ Ser Ala Val Lys Ala Ala Arg Tyr Gly Lys Asp Asn Val Arg Val Tyr Lys Val His Lys Asp Glu Lys Thr Gly Val Gln Thr Val Tyr Glu Met Thr Val Cys Val Leu Leu Glu Gly Glu Ile Glu Thr Ser Tyr Thr Lys Ala Asp Asn Ser Val Ile Val Ala Thr Asp Ser Ile Lys Asn Thr Ile Tyr Ile Thr Ala Lys Gln Asn Pro Val Thr Pro Pro Glu Leu Phe Gly Ser Ile Leu Gly Thr His Phe Ile Glu Lys Tyr Asn His Ile His Ala Ala His Val Asn Ile Val Cys His Arg Trp Thr Arg Met Asp Ile Asp Gly Lys Pro His Pro His Ser Phe Ile Arg Asp Ser Glu Glu Lys Arg Asn Val Gln Val Asp Val Val Glu Gly Lys Gly Ile Asp Ile Lys Ser Ser Leu Ser Gly Leu Thr Val Leu Lys Ser Thr Asn Ser Gln Phe Trp Gly Phe Leu Arg Asp Glu Tyr Thr Thr Leu Lys Glu Thr Trp Asp Arg Ile Leu Ser Thr Asp Val Asp Ala Thr Trp Gln Trp Lys Asn Phe Ser Gly Leu Gln Glu Val Arg Ser His Val Pro Lys Phe Asp Ala Thr Trp Ala Thr Ala Arg Glu Val Thr Leu Lys Thr Phe Ala Glu Asp Asn

Abstract: The invention relates to a signal peptide of the formula:MXKSTLLLLFLLLCLPSWNAGAand X represents a direct bond between M and K, an amino acid selected from the group comprising the 20 amino acids of the genetic code, or a peptide containing 2, 3 or 4 amino acids selected, each independently of the other, from the group comprising the 20 amino acids of the genetic code.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hirudin variants having a modified peptide structure, relative to a parent hirudin variant. The new hirudin variants of the present invention display improve biological properties relative to the parent variant.