Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically engineered P30 antigen and a combination or mixture of antigens (e.g., the genetically engineered P30 antigen and P35) that may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, antibodies raised against this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, as well as kits and vaccines containing the genetically engineered P30 antigen and antigens present in the combination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining anti-infectious agent IgG avidity, for example, human anti-cytomegalovirus and human anti-toxoplasma IgG avidity, using a competitive assay format.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically engineered P30 antigen and a combination or mixture of antigens (e.g., the genetically engineered P30 antigen and P35) that may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, antibodies raised against this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, as well as kits and vaccines containing the genetically engineered P30 antigen and antigens present in the combination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically engineered P30 antigen and a combination or mixture of antigens (e.g., the genetically engineered P30 antigen and P35) that may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, antibodies raised against this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, as well as kits and vaccines containing the genetically engineered P30 antigen and antigens present in the combination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically engineered P30 antigen and a combination or mixture of antigens (e.g., the genetically engineered P30 antigen and P35) that may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, antibodies raised against this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, as well as kits and vaccines containing the genetically engineered P30 antigen and antigens present in the combination.

Abstract: A method for expressing a heterologous protein in a prokaryotic host cell, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a DNA vector having: (1) a control region operatively linked to a first genetic element encoding a carrier protein capable of expression in the host cell, and (2) a second genetic element encoding the heterologous protein, the second element being embedded within the first element such that the first and second elements are contiguous and in the same reading frame; (b) transforming the host cell with the DNA vector; and (c) expressing a fusion protein of the heterologous protein and the carrier protein, wherein the heterologous protein is joined at its N-terminus to a first domain of the carrier protein and at its C-terminus to a second domain of the carrier protein, and also a method for confirming intact expression of heterologous proteins, as well as fusion proteins, DNA constructs, plasmid vectors and transformed host cells relating to the above methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically engineered P30 antigen and a combination or mixture of antigens (e.g., the genetically engineered P30 antigen and P35) that may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, antibodies raised against this genetically engineered P30 antigen and combination of antigens, as well as kits and vaccines containing the genetically engineered P30 antigen and antigens present in the combination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to combinations or mixtures of antigens which may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii as well as to the P35 antigen which may be used to distinguish acute from chronic Toxoplasmosis. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using these combinations of antigens, antibodies raised against these combinations of antigens or against the novel P29 antigen thereof, as well as kits and vaccines containing the antigens present in the combinations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to combinations or mixtures of antigens which may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using these combinations of antigens, antibodies raised against these combinations of antigens or against the novel P29 antigen thereof, as well as kits and vaccines containing the antigens present in the combinations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to combinations or mixtures of antigens which may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using these combinations of antigens, antibodies raised against these combinations of antigens or against the novel P29 antigen thereof, as well as kits and vaccines containing the antigens present in the combinations.

Abstract: Diagnostic tool for the identification of anti-HCMV antibodies in human serum. The tool comprises a means of solid support having two sections, a first section bearing a plurality of HCMV proteins (vp) obtained from purified virions concentrated in separate bands forming a predetermined pattern, one of these bands being pp 150 of HCMV; a second section bearing recombinant fusion proteins as controls, at least one band comprising a recombinant fusion protein carrying at least one epitope of pp 150.

Abstract: The present invention relates to combinations or mixtures of antigens which may be used in the detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii as well as to the P35 antigen which may be used to distinguish acute from chronic toxoplasmosis. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to methods of using these combinations of antigens, antibodies raised against these combinations of antigens or against the novel P29 antigen thereof, as well as kits and vaccines containing the antigens present in the combinations.

Abstract: This invention provides a method, a reagent, and a kit for detecting herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies indicative of recent infection while preventing detection of low levels of herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies present in individuals of low risk. The invention also provides a reagent for use in detecting herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies indicative of recent infection while preventing detection of low levels of herpesvirus-specific IgM antibodies present in individuals of low risk.

Abstract: A mixture of recombinant mono- and poly-epitope proteic materials able to fully replace the viral antigens when used in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is disclosed; the mixture includes a poly-epitope fusion protein having a first region formed by an amino acid sequence (H10) corresponding to that of the last 233 amino acids of the COOH terminus of the viral protein p52 or to a part thereof, a second region formed by an amino acid sequence (F3) corresponding to that of the last 43 amino acids of the COOH terminus of viral protein pp150 or to a part thereof, and a third region formed by an amino acid sequence (A1C2) corresponding to that taken from aa 595 to aa 614, proceeding in direction 5'.fwdarw.3', of the same viral protein pp150; and, in combination, a second fusion protein including a sequence of amino acids corresponding to that taken, proceeding in direction 5'.fwdarw.

Abstract: A process for producing high purity 6,12-dideoxyerythromycin A using recombinant DNA technology is disclosed. The erythromycin producing strain, Saccharopolyspora erythraea, lacking the erythromycin C-12 and C-6 hydroxylases produces a mixture of 6,12-dideoxyerythromycin A and the precursor molecule, 6-deoxyerythromycin D. To achieve conversion of the precursor to the final product, a second copy of eryG is inserted into a non-essential region of the Sac. erythraea chromosome resulting in high purity 6,12-dideoxyerythromycin A.

Abstract: A process for producing high purity 6,12-dideoxyerythromycin A using recombinant DNA technology is disclosed. The erythromycin producing strain, Saccharopolyspora erythraea, lacking the erythromycin C-12 and C-6 hydroxylases produces a mixture of 6,12-dideoxyerythromycin A and the precursor molecule, 6-deoxyerythromycin D. To achieve conversion of the precursor to the final product, a second copy of eryG is inserted into a non-essential region of the Sac. erythraea chromosome resulting in high purity 6,12-dideoxyerythromycin A.

Abstract: A vector including a DNA sequence encoding a secretory signal sequence substantially identical to the secretory signal-encoding sequence of a glucoamylase gene from Saccharomyces diastaticus or S. cerevisiae; and upstream from the signal-encoding sequence, a DNA sequence capable of promoting transcription in yeast (e.g., a high yield promoter, such as the promoter of the triose phosphate isomerase gene), transcription of the signal-encoding sequence being under the control of the transcription-promoting sequence, a site for the insertion into the vector of a heterologous DNA sequence, in reading frame with the signal-encoding sequence. The vector is useful as an expression vector in yeast.