Abstract: A method for rapid diagnosis of gonorrhea is set forth comprising assay of the enzyme immunoglobulin A protease (IgAP). Immunoassays including radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies to IgAP are disclosed. A kit for early detection of gonorrhea is given. The assay and kit of the present invention may also be used in the detection of meningitis.

Abstract: A method of enhancing a fungus-lytic activity of .beta.-1,3-D-glucanase which comprises using said glucanase in the presence of one or more of the activators selected from the group consisting of sodium lauroylsarcosinate, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylenealkyl ether, benzalkonium chloride, ammonium chloride, chlorhexidine glucuronate, methylparaben, propylparaben, trypsin, Pronase.RTM. and Alcalase.RTM..A method of enhancing a fungus-lytic activity of .beta.-1,3-D-glucanase which comprises using two .beta.-1,3-D-glucanases of different origins is also provided.

Abstract: In the colony hybridization technique, bacterial colonies are replica-plated onto filter paper, and their DNA is hybridized with labeled DNA containing a specific sequence. A one-hundred fold increase in sensitivity is obtained by subjecting the colonies to a stream of steam in the presence of alkali for about three minutes prior to hybridization.

Abstract: A reagent and the protocol for the treatment of Graft Versus Host Disease is disclosed. Monoclonal antibodies specific for T-lymphocytes in human donor bone marrow are covalently linked to separate ricin toxin, combined in a mixture to form a treatment reagent, and combined with bone marrow removed from a human donor. The bone marrow-reagent mixture is then infused into an irradiated recipient. This protocol virtually eliminates T-lymphocyte activity, the cause of Graft Versus Host Disease.

Abstract: An assay that facilitates screening of hybridoma culture media for monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies, particularly murine monoclonal antibodies that are useful for treating human B cell tumors is disclosed. The assay is a solid phase type assay and involves: incubating a lysate of the patienREFERENCE TO GOVERNMENT GRANT OR CONTRACTThe invention described herein was made in the course of work under a grant or contract from the National Institutes of Health.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing and selecting host cells containing recombinant DNA which expresses a functional polypeptide and the novel organisms and cloning vectors for the practice thereof. The invention further provides a simple, convenient, and inexpensive method to lyse host cells for purification of intracellular products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing bacterial membranous proteoglycans with an action which induces interferon from soluble membranous proteoglycans of a strain of gram-negative bacterium, wherein the soluble membranous proteoglycans of a strain of gram-negative bacterium are hydrolyzed by lysozyme and the proteoglycans with a molecular weight between 200,000 and 400,000 are separated from the hydrolysis product.The products obtained are useful as a medicament.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid phase immunoassay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigens in a clinical specimen, wherein the Chlamydia trachomatis antigens to be determined are coated or adsorbed on the solid phase.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid phase immunoassay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigens in a clinical specimen, wherein the Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigens to be determined are coated or adsorbed on the solid phase.

Abstract: A method of determining (1) the activity of complement, (2) the bacteriolytic activity of serum, or (3) the titer of antibody in a sample which comprises: (a) incubating complement-sensitive microorganisms containing an assayable intracellular component with the sample, and (b) detecting the assayable component released into the sample by lysis of the microorganisms.

Abstract: Process for disrupting cells by contacting an aqueous, cell-containing medium with a protease enzyme, wherein the enzymic contact is preceded by contact with an ionic surfactant; the polysaccharide solutions thereby produced; and a process for displacing a fluid through a well and/or a permeable subsurface formation communicating with the well, by injecting into the well an optionally diluted, aqueous solution of such a polysaccharide.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously disintegrating cells of microorganisms comprising a mixing vessel and an accumulating vessel communicating with one another through a disintegration device. The disintegration device comprises a hollow body having a seat in which there is installed a needle valve member. The hollow body further comprises a sleeve having a bottom wall incorporating the needle valve member and a side wall having openings for communicating the interior of the sleeve with the accumulating vessel. An insert is installed in the opened end of the sleeve which is connected to the sleeve and has a central passage coaxial with the valve member and communicating with the mixing vessel.

Abstract: A non-lysozyme highly active bacteriolytic protein which is heat stable and has a relatively low molecular weight. The protein may be produced by immunizing an insect against E. coli and recovering the protein from the insect. The protein is useful for extracting proteins from genetically engineered bacteria and as a pharmaceutical.

Abstract: An immobilized glucose isomerase is prepared by treating an aqueous suspension of cells of a glucose isomerase producing microorganism with a non-ionic surfactant that solubilizes glucose isomerase contained by the cells without solubilizing polysaccharides in the cells, separating the cells from the aqueous suspension, and adsorbing glucose isomerase from the resultant solution onto an ion exchange resin. By this process, contaminating polysaccharides are eliminated that inhibit adsorption of glucose isomerase on the ion exchange resin.

Abstract: Various enzymes, in particular Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and carbonic acid anhydrase, are recovered from blood by admixing wholly or partly isolated blood cells with ethanol or a homologous alcohol until a concentration of 10 to 70% by volume and allowing them to stand for hemolysis of the blood cells and denaturation of the hemoglobin, and then adding water up to the double volume or more, and removing the precipitate of cell residuals, hemoglobin and other denatured proteins from the suspension. Then the desired enzymes are isolated from the solution obtained.In particular, SOD and catalase can both be isolated by chromatography of the solution at a pH of 4.7 to 5.5 on a cation exchange resin of the same polarity as SOD in the pH range used and elution of the resin with a buffer solution which has a pH in the range 4.7 to 7.5 and an ionic strength in the range 0.01 to 1.0 M, SOD being eluted at the lowest pH and/or the lowest ionic strength.

Abstract: Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase is recovered from yeast by plasmolysis with a small amount of ether or any other water immiscible, organic solvent and subsequent autolysis in water at a temperature of 25.degree. to 50.degree. C. and pH 5 to 9, following which the precipitate is removed and the superoxide dismutase is purified and isolated from the residual liquid, in particular by chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose at pH 4.7 to 5.5.Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the amino acid sequence: ##STR1## where Cys-57 and Cys-146 form a disulfide bond.

Abstract: A process for producing food vitamin concentrate from food yeast in which the starting feedstock comprising a by-product from the production of dry wines obtained after separation of a new wine and comprising a residue of the starting strains of wine yeast, highly-tolerant to increased concentrations of the alcohol produced thereby during fermentation, and highly-tolerant to pH of the must below 3.5, with large homogeneous size cells after separation of the remaining wine by pressing and dilution with water in a ratio of 1:1.5-3.0, based on the pressed yeast, is subjected to autolysis; the resulting autolysate is heated to the temperature of 80.degree.-90.degree. C., then cooled to 0.degree.-2.degree. C. and separated from the residue. The recovered autolysate is concentrated to give the desired product.

Abstract: A yeast extract containing flavoring 5'-neucleotide and having an improved thickness or body in taste is produced by (1) autolyzing suspended yeast cells in the presence of a stimulator of autolysis at a constant pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.6, then (2) heating the autolyzed suspension at a temperature of 90.degree.-110.degree. C. for 1 to 3 hours thereby extracting intracellular ribonucleic acid; and thereafter performing the following steps in any order; (3) hydrolyzing the extracted ribonucleic acid with a 5'-phosphodiesterase and; (4) separating the resulting extract from the insoluble residue.

Abstract: Autolysis of yeast slurries is accelerated by the presence of thiamine and/or pyridoxine and by gradually raising the temperature of the yeast slurry to the incubation temperature over a period of time of from about 20 to about 180 minutes.

Abstract: The improved method of the present invention involves the removal of lipid inhibitors from Limulus amebocyte lysate to increase the sensitivity and quality of the lysate. The method comprises intimately contacting, as by mixing and stirring, Limulus amebocyte lysate with a selected binary liquid solvent system for a time sufficient to draw water into the solvent system from the lysate and to effectively extract and denature the lipid inhibitors in the lysate. The ability of the binary solvent to draw in water from the lysate and form, in effect, a new tertiary system is the important factor in this methodology. The amount of water drawn into the solvent is controlled by the amount of polar solvent in the solvent system. After this extraction and denaturation, the lysate is then separated from the solvent system and recovered in purified form of increased sensitivity.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of an intracellular enzyme from an aerobic soil microorganism is disclosed. The recovery method is carried out by(a) forming an aqueous suspension of microbial cells containing the desired intracellular enzyme,(b) disrupting the microbial cells in the suspension to release the enzyme from the cells, and(c) before, during, or after step (b) and prior to removal of disrupted microbial cells and other cellular components, introducing a water-miscible organic solvent into the suspension to form a mixture of the organic solvent and the enzyme-containing suspension.The desired enzyme is retained in the liquid phase of the mixture formed in step (c) while undesired cellular components such as other microbial cell proteins precipitate therefrom.

Abstract: The cell walls are removed from two distinct auxotropic mutant strains of yeast. The protoplasts thus obtained are fused and the cell walls regenerated. The strains obtained are cultured on a medium where the original auxotrophs cannot develop and the hybrid or recombinant strains are recovered. The strains obtained by the process are useful for preparing yeast proteins.