Abstract: The invention provides protein and nucleic acid sequences of Chlamydia species which are particularly suitable for diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of Chlamydia or Chlamydophila infection in mammals, particularly humans. The invention particularly provides a pharmaceutical composition and method for preventing or treating Chlamydia or Chlamydophila infection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reproductive function-modulating organisms especially of the genera Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma, which adhere more strongly to spermatozoa than other organisms and which correlate with the presence or risk of a condition selected from male infertility, an adverse pregnancy outcome or an adverse assisted reproductive technology outcome. More particularly, the invention is directed to the detection of these reproductive function-modulating organisms (also referred to herein as adherovars), and to various therapeutic and prophylactic strategies for enhancing or otherwise improving inter alia fertility and especially male fertility.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions and methods for detecting organisms of the Chlamydiaceae family, including species of Chlamydia and Chlamyclophila, in the persistent phase of their developmental cycle and for the diagnosis of chronic or persistent infections caused by such organisms. The present invention also discloses methods for screening agents that are useful inter alia for modulating a gene whose expression is altered in the persistent phase of the chiamydial developmental cycle or for modulating the level and/or functional activity of an expression product of that gene. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of infections, including chronic infections, caused by chamydial organisms using the aforesaid modulatory agents and optionally agents that are effective in modulating the expression of a gene associated with the lytic phase of said developmental cycle or in modulating the level and/or functional activity of an expression product of that gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for identifying or otherwise detecting a nucleotide repeat region having a particular length in a nucleic acid molecule. Varying lengths of the repeat region at particular genetic locations represent nucleotide length polymorphisms. The present invention provides, therefore, a method for identifying a nucleotide length polymorphism such as associated with a particular human individual or animal or mammalian subject or for a disease condition or a predisposition for a disease condition to develop in a particular individual or subject. The method of the present invention is also useful for identifying and/or typing micro-organisms including yeasts and lower uni- and multi-cellular organisms as well as prokaryotic micro-organisms. The method of the present invention is further useful in genotyping subjects including humans.

Abstract: A method for detecting a specific polynucleotide sequence in a material is disclosed. The method includes exposing said material to an oligonucleotide primer having a sequence complementary to part of said specific polynucleotide sequence wherein said primer binds to part of said polynucleotide sequence when present in said material. Primer bound to the polynucleotide sequence is extended wherein any extended primer includes a detectable element and/or a separation element. Any extended primer is then separated into a fraction wherein said fraction does not have detectable element not included in said extended primer.