Abstract: Antiviral and antifungal compositions comprise a ferrous salt and a plant extract of pomegranate rind, Viburnum plicatum leaves or flowers, tea leaves or maple leaves in aqueous solution.

Abstract: Antiviral and antifungal compositions comprising a mixture of a ferrous salt and an aqueous plant extract of pomegranate rind, Viburnum plicatum leaves or flowers, tea leaves or maple leaves are disclosed.

Abstract: A compound having formula (1) for use as a medicament wherein n is 2 or 3; Y is O, S or NH; X is O, S or NH; and R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl or acyl which may be substituted.

Abstract: A method of identifying a nucleic acid sequence in a biological sample comprises using a pair of universal oligonucleotide primers to amplify the nucleic acid sequence and characterizing the amplification reaction products. Preferred universal primers are derived from conserved regions of cold shock or Y-box proteins and hybridize to the genes that code for the peptide sequences GXVKWFNXXKGFGFI and GPXAXNVTXX.

Abstract: Antiviral and antifungal compositions comprising a mixture of a ferrous salt and a plant extract of pomegranate rind, Viburnum plicatum leaves or flowers, tea leaves, or maple leaves in an aqueous solution are disclosed. The compositions are mainly used to prevent the growth of, or kill, viruses or fungi on surfaces. The compositions do not substantially affect bacterial viability as measured by colony forming ability.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an assay reagent comprising bacteria cells which have been killed but which retain a functional metabolic activity. The assay reagent is useful in a method for assaying an analyte when the functional metabolic activity of the killed cells is signal-generating. A kit for assaying an analyte using the assay reagent of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A compound having formula (1) for use as a medicament wherein n is 2 or 3; Y is O, S or NH; X is O, S or NH; and R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl or acyl which may be substituted.

Abstract: A method for testing for target bacteria involves adding bacteriophage to a sample to infect the bacteria in the sample; killing extracellular bacteriophage without killing phage-infected bacteria; amplifying bacteriophage remaining in the sample; and causing the bacteriophage to infect reporter bacteria and thereby produce an observable signal. The reporter bacteria are genetically engineered to have an indicator gene which on expression gives rise to a detectable signal, wherein expression of the indicator gene is initiated on bacteriophage infection of the bacteria.