Abstract: This invention provides novel animal models for a human pathogen that is capable of exhibiting analogous secondary disease manifestation. Other animal models for a human pathogen are provided by this invention which are capable of exhibiting analogous secondary disease manifestations and are also capable of responding to therapeutic or preventive measures to such secondary disease manifestations. Other animal models for human retrovirus infections are provided including lower primates and primate excluding any members of the order Anthropoidea. Compositions, drugs, products and procedures for therapeutic and diagnostic applications derived from the animal models of this invention are also described and provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are Nocardia farcinica-specific primers comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1-39. Provided herein is a polynucleotide represented by SEQ ID NO:41 and SEQ ID NO:40. Further provided is a method of identifying a Nocardia farcinica infection in a subject with the primer identified by SEQ ID NO:1-39, or detecting the presence of a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:40 or SEQ ID NO:41. Also provided is and a method of identifying Nocardia farcinica infection in a subject by amplifying DNA from the subject using a Nocardia farcinica-specific primer comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-39. Further provided is a kit for identifying Nocardia farcinica comprising a Nocardia farcinica-specific primer comprising SEQ ID: NO:1-39 and a kit for identifying Nocardia farcinica comprising a Nocardia farcinica specific primer capable of amplifying SEQ ID NO:41.

Abstract: This invention provides novel animal models for a human pathogen that is capable of exhibiting analogous secondary disease manifestation. Other animal models for a human pathogen are provided by this invention which are capable of exhibiting analogous secondary disease manifestations and are also capable of responding to therapeutic or preventive measures to such secondary disease manifestations. Other animal models for human retrovirus infections are provided including lower primates and primate excluding any members of the order Anthropoidea. Compositions, drugs, products and procedures for therapeutic and diagnostic applications derived from the animal models of this invention are also described and provided.

Abstract: This invention provides useful solid chimeric organs as well as animal models having such solid chimeric organs and processes for their preparation. Such organs find significant value and use in developing new models for disease, drug and therapeutic investigations and monitoring, and in studying storage functions and processes. The solid chimeric organs are comprised of recipient cells and donor cells, the latter themselves comprising allogeneic or xenogeneic cells which are unmodified or modified to contain one or more nucleic acid segments capable of exhibiting at least one biological property, e.g. DNA synthesis, replication, promoter function, transcription, translation, reverse transcription, and the like, non-native to the donor cell. The solid chimeric organs can be prepared from recipient organs using recipient cells and implanted allogeneic or xenogeneic donor cells from non-homologous organs or tissues.