Abstract: An implantable device, adapted for assisting the flow of blood from left atrium to an aorta of an in-vivo heart, includes an inlet cannula and an outlet cannula in fluid communication with an implanted blood pressure pump. A first accelerometer is mounted on a housing of the blood pressure pump and is adapted for measuring mitral valve motion. An external controller is in electrical communication with at least one implanted ECG sensor adapted for detecting ECG signals. The at least one implanted ECG sensor is positioned between the implanted blood pressure pump and the external controller. The external controller includes a processor adapted to analyse detected ECG signals and the mitral valve motion. The processor dynamically adjusts a target blood pressure pump speed based on ECG signals and the mitral valve motion such that blood flows from left atrium to left ventricle and then to the aorta.

Abstract: Method of conditionally controlling the survivability of a recombinant cell population and of containing such cells to an environment or containing replicons to a host cell is based on the use of proteic killer systems including E. coli relBE locus and similar systems found in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and Archae. Such systems are generally based on a cytotoxin polypeptide and an antitoxin or antidote polypeptide that in contrast to the cytotoxin is degradable by proteases. The recombinant cells are useful as vaccines, pollutant degrading organisms or as biological pest control organism e.g. expressing B. thuringiensis crystalline proteins.

Abstract: Method of conditionally controlling the survivability of a recombinant cell population and of containing such cells to an environment or containing replicons to a host cell is based on the use of proteic killer systems including the E. coli relBE locus and similar systems found in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and Archae. Such system are generally based on a cytotoxin polypeptide and an antitoxin or antidote polypeptide that in contrast to the cytotoxin is degradable by proteases. The recombinant cells are useful as vaccines, pollutant degrading organisms or as biological pest control organisms e.g. expressing B. thuringiensis crystalline proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cytosine deaminase protein and cDNA from various species of the yeast genus Dekkera/Brettanomyces. Compared to yeast cytosine deaminase the novel cytosine deaminases are more efficient and have a higher stability. The invention also relates to the field of suicide gene therapy based on activation of a non-toxic prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine to a toxic drug 5-fluorouracil based on the enzymatic activity of novel cytosine deaminses. Finally the invention provides use of 5-fluorocytosine for controlling the growth of Dekkera/Brettanomyces yeast.

Abstract: Method of conditionally controlling the survivability of a recombinant cell population and of containing such cells to an environment or containing replicons to a host cell is based on the use of proteic killer systems including E. coli relBE locus and similar systems found in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and Archae. Such systems are generally based on a cytotoxin polypeptide and an antitoxin or antidote polypeptide that in contrast to the cytotoxin is degradable by proteases. The recombinant cells are useful as vaccines, pollutant degrading organisms or as biological pest control organism e.g. expressing B. thuringiensis crystalline proteins.

Abstract: Method of conditionally controlling the survivability of a recombinant cell population and of containing such cells to an environment or containing replicons to a host cell is based on the use of proteic killer systems including the E. coli relBE locus and similar systems found in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and Archae. Such system are generally based on a cytotoxin polypeptide and an antitoxin or antidote polypeptide that in contrast to the cytotoxin is degradable by proteases. The recombinant cells are useful as vaccines, pollutant degrading organisms or as biological pest control organisms e.g. expressing B. thuringiensis crystalline proteins.