Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a structure-modeling approach to identify therapeutic and diagnostic targets on proteins. Means are provided to generate agents which bind and optionally antagonize a particular domain within a protein referred to as a Cleaved_Adhesin Family Domain. In an embodiment, the disclosure is directed to the control of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection or infection by related microorganisms by targeting selected domains on protease-like molecules having a hemagglutinin region. In another embodiment, the present invention enables the modulation or detection of a protein having a Cleaved_Adhesin domain homologous to those in the protease-like molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to targeted molecular agents (TMAs) directed to a particular organism or group of organisms and uses thereof. More particularly, the present invention provides TMAs having a targeting moiety which comprises a natural or induced auxotrophic requirement of the particular organism as a vehicle for directing an agent linked to the moiety to be delivered to the target organism. The TMAs of the present invention are useful for targeting molecules such as antimicrobial agents and diagnostic agents to selected organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for the prophylaxis and treatment of infection by microorganisms in biological environments from where the microorganisms acquire iron, heme or porphyrin, generally but not exclusively for growth. Particular biological environments contemplated by the present invention include but are not limited to vascular regions and cavities as well as mucosal membranes in animals including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish and in avian species as well as hooves of livestock animals. The method of the present invention involves interrupting, reducing or otherwise antagonizing the interaction between a microbial-derived polypeptide, such as but not limited to a polypeptide having cysteine proteinase activity, and a porphyrin-containing molecule in such as heme.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for detecting, enumerating and/or identifying microorganisms in a sample. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for determining total microbial content in a sample by detecting the presence of nucleotide sequences associated with all or part of 16S rDNA or its corresponding 16S rRNA or its homologue, functional equivalent or derivative. The nucleotide sequences of the present invention may be used as an indicator of any microorganism and, hence, represents a universal target sequence which is indicative of total microbial content in a sample. The universal target sequence may also be varied to render same genus or species specific or the universal target used to trap microbial DNA or RNA which may be subsequently analyzed by sequence analysis or genetic probe technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for detecting, enumerating and/or identifying microorganisms in a sample. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for determining total microbial content in a sample by detecting the presence of nucleotide sequences associated with all or part of 16S rDNA or its corresponding 16S rRNA or its homologue, functional equivalent or derivative. The nucleotide sequences of the present invention may be used as an indicator of any microorganism and, hence, represents a universal target sequence which is indicative of total microbial content in a sample. The universal target sequence may also be varied to render same genus or species specific or the universal target used to trap microbial DNA or RNA which may be subsequently analyzed by sequence analysis or genetic probe technology.

Abstract: An information display system in which positional incompatibility with respect to a user of a display screen is overcome by means of making the screen pivotable to align with the user. Pivotal adjustment can be manual, or (in some embodiments) automatically performed by an in-built user-sensing camera. To protect the display system from children, the display is rendered inactive if the user's height is sensed as being below a pre-set minimum height.