Abstract: A method of diagnosing or monitoring Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, which method comprises detecting the presence of the polypeptide (MAP P900) encoded by the positive strand of IS900, or a fragment thereof, in a sample from a subject, wherein MAP P900, or a fragment thereof, is detected using an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds to MAP P900.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing or monitoring Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, which method comprises detecting the presence of the polypeptide (MAP P900) encoded by the positive strand of IS900, or a fragment thereof, in a sample from a subject, wherein MAP P900, or a fragment thereof, is detected using an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds to MAP P900.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing or monitoring Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, which method comprises detecting the presence of the polypeptide (MAP P900) encoded by the positive strand of IS900, or a fragment thereof, in a sample from a subject, wherein MAP P900, or a fragment thereof, is detected using an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds to MAP P900.

Abstract: A vaccine comprising a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 9 contiguous amino acids from the N-terminal region of MAP P900, or a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide, for use in a method of treating or preventing MAP infection or a condition or symptom associated with MAP infection in a subject.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing or monitoring Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, which method comprises detecting the presence of the polypeptide (MAP P900) encoded by the positive strand of IS900, or a fragment thereof, in a sample from a subject, wherein MAP P900, or a fragment thereof, is detected using an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds to MAP P900.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, which can be used to induce a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against MAP.

Abstract: This invention relates to the protein, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis acylase (mpa) and the gene encoding mpa, which we have identified in the pathogen Mycobacterium paratuberculosis Mptb (also designated Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis MAP), and to their use in the diagnosis of Mptb/MAP infections in animals and humans, as well as their use as components of vaccines for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by Mptb/MAP. The importance of an intact uninterrupted mpa gene as a determinant of pathogenicity in Mptb/MAP is recognized and the invention also provides attenuated strains of normally pathogenic Mptb/MAP and other mycobacteria in which mpa has been inactivated, for use as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, which can be used to induce a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against MAP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, which can be used to induce a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against MAP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to molecules, which can be used to induce a therapeutic or prophylactic immune response against MAP.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence representing a pathogenicity island found in species of pathogenic mycobacteria. The islands are shown as SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4 and comprises several open reading frames encoding polypeptides. These polypeptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: Pancreatic disease can be diagnosed by assaying a patient's body fluid such as serum or urine, for pancreatic activation peptides (PAP) released from zymogens by proteolytic activation. Particularly useful are peptides having C-terminal D.sub.4 K sequences. The method uses polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies generated and selected for C-terminal specificity on PAP so that the tests only report free PAP not parent zymogen. Also described are peptides and antibodies labelled with revealing agents and/or immobilised on solid supports and their use in diagnostic assays and kits. In pancreatic disease the tests distinguish necrotising from oedematous acute pancreatitis and permit severity prediction and monitoring as well as diagnosing chronic pancreatitis in exacerbation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a family of DNA insertion sequences (ISMY) of mycobacterial origin and other DNA probes which may be used a probes in assay methods for the identification of mycobacteria and the differentiation between closely related mycobacterial strains and species. In one method the probes are used to distinguish pathogenic M. paratuberculosis from M. avium, which finds an application in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease in humans and Johne's disease in animals. The use of ISMY, and of proteins and peptides encoded by ISMY, in vaccines, pharmaceutical preparations and diagnostic test kits is also disclosed.

Abstract: Pancreatic disease can be diagnosed by assaying a patient's body fluid, e.g. serum or urine, for the activation peptides of pancreatic zymogens specifically cleaved by proteolysis during activation, (PAP) e.g. peptides including the sequence D.sub.4 K having the lysine as the carboxy terminus. When PAP is assayed for, the test provides a means for distinguishing necrotising acute pancreatitis from oedematous acute pancreatitis, provides for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis in exacerbation, and permits monitoring of the severity progress of the disease. Also described are antibodies having specificity for the pancreatic activation peptides, as well as such peptides and antibodies which are labelled with revealing agents and/or immobilized on solid supports, and their use in diagnostic test kits.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer from 2 to 6, m is an integer from 2 to 4, p is an integer from 1 to 3, R is H, an amino protecting group conventionally used in peptide chemistry or a solid phase support, R.sub.1 is H or a carboxy protecting group conventionally used in peptide chemistry and R.sub.2 is H or alkyl or H.sub.2 N--C.dbd.NH are useful for inhibiting the activity of enterokinases.