Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a methodology for diagnosing the onset of a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, is provided. For this methodology, predetermined sequences of DNA fragments from a microbial nucleic acid are obtained from the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) of a patient and identified. The DNA fragments are then compared with a database of genomic microbial sequences. The detection of similarities between the DNA fragments from the CSF, and the data recorded in the database, can then be used to determine the extent of a microbial infestation involving a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A system and method for purifying genomic DNA requires the use of a cassette that is formed with a plurality of wells. Each well has first and second apertures that are respectively covered by a section made of an electrophoretic filter medium (e.g. agarose). In use, a lysate is loaded into the well while the cassette is submerged in a buffer fluid. A voltage cycle is then applied to alternate between forward and reverse electrophoresis in the well, to separate impurities from the lysate for purification of genomic DNA.

Abstract: A high throughput device is provided for simultaneously isolating periplasmic fractions from multiple samples of host cells. The device can be formatted to operate in a series. A method for simultaneously isolating multiple periplasmic fractions is also provided. The method includes (a) providing a high throughput device for isolating periplasmic fractions from multiple samples of host cells having an outer membrane via attaching a removable sample chamber having a membrane chamber wall to a vacuum chamber and applying a vacuum thereto (b) removing media with the vacuum and (c) removing the outer membrane of the host cells (d) attaching a collection chamber to the vacuum chamber and applying a vacuum thereto in order to carry out a collection of the periplasmic fractions that pass through the membrane of the chamber wall from the host cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus and at least one foreign DNA sequence. Also provided is an attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus, from which at least a portion of a repeat sequence has been deleted. Also provided are vaccines comprising the viruses of the invention and methods of immunizing animals against various disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus and at least one foreign DNA sequence. Also provided is an attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus, from which at least a portion of a repeat sequence has been deleted. Also provided are vaccines comprising the viruses of the invention and methods of immunizing animals against various disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus and at least one foreign DNA sequence. Also provided is an attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the attenuated, nonprimate herpes-virus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus, from which at least a portion of a repeat sequence has been deleted. Also provided are vaccines comprising the viruses of the invention and methods of immunizing animals against various disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the hybrid, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus and at least one foreign DNA sequence.Also provided is an attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus comprising DNA which includes a sequence essential for viral replication of the attenuated, nonprimate herpesvirus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring nonprimate herpesvirus, from which at least a portion of a repeat sequence has been deleted.Also provided are vaccines comprising the viruses of the invention and methods of immunizing animals against various disease.

Abstract: A process for the purification of DNA and the like comprises a housing having walls forming a reservoir having a chamber for containing a buffer solution, means for circulating a buffer through the reservoir, a disposable cassette within said chamber having first means including a gel for defining a first path extending between an inlet end and an outlet end, a well for introducing a bacterial sample into the path at said inlet end thereof, and a second path intersecting the first path via an elution chamber, having a collection chamber including an elution window at said outlet end, and an electrical circuit for selectively applying an electrical potential along each of the paths for selectively moving a plasmid first along the first path from the bacterial well to the elution chamber, then along the second path to the collection window at the end thereof.

Abstract: A bufferless electrophoresis system for separation of DNA or the like includes a disposable cassette comprising a housing having open ends, a three dimensional gel body in the housing for defining a path, a sample well in a top surface of the gel for introducing a sample into the path at one end thereof, an electrically conductive film closing the ends of the housing and contacting the ends of the gel, and an electrical circuit for selectively applying an electrical potential via the electrically conductive film to the ends of the gel. A holder having spaced apart opposed terminals may be used to hold the cassette and apply the electrical circuit to the cassette.

Abstract: An apparatus for the purification of DNA and the like comprises a housing having walls forming a reservoir having a plurality of chambers for containing a buffer solution means for circulating a buffer through the reservoir, a disposable cassette within said housing having first means including a gel for defining a first path extending between a first pair of the chambers, a well for introducing a bacterial sample into the path at one end thereof, and a second path intersecting the first path via an elution window at one end, having a collection window at the other end and extending between a second pair of the chambers, and an electrical circuit for selectively applying an electrical potential along each of the paths for selectively moving a plasmid first along the first path from the bacterial well to the elution window, then along the second path to the collection window at the end thereof.

Abstract: Attenuated pseudorabies viruses are provided which comprise DNA including a sequence essential for replication of the attenuated virus, at least a portion of which is present in a sequence essential for replication of a naturally-occurring pseudorabies virus, and at least one foreign DNA sequence adapted for expression in a host and encoding an amino acid sequence which is antigenic in the host. These viruses are useful as vaccines for immunizing animals against pseudorabies virus disease and other pathogens.The invention also provides methods of preparing attenuated pseudorabies viruses containing at least one foreign DNA sequence and methods of immunizing animals with vaccines comprised of these viruses.

Abstract: Method and means for accelerating the rate of hybridization of nucleic acid probes with complemental target sequences in probe assays of the filter binding or sandwich filter binding formats. The nucleic acid probes are electrophoretically concentrated at membrane means including at least a dialysis type membrane and to which the target sequences are bound. The rate of hybridization can be further enhanced by means for moving concentrated unannealed probe molecules successively in various directions along the surface of the membrane means to which the target sequences are bound. The invention further includes method and means for electrophoretically removing from the membrane means unannealed probe molecules which became adsorbed to the membrane means during hybridization.