Abstract: An enhanced medical dressing for treatment of wounds is provided. A dressing is augmented by one or more enhancers thereon. The enhancers include a collagen, an antibiotic, or both. The enhanced medical dressing is prepared by placing and mixing the collagen, the antibiotic, and the dressing within a container. On mixing, the enhanced medical dressing is formed such that the enhancer adheres to the dressing by, for example, adsorption or an electrostatic force. The enhanced medical dressing when applied to the wound causes the collagen and the antibiotic to be released into the wound. Further, the enhanced medical dressing degrades over time due to contact with physiological moisture.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of paste-type hybrid tomato plant is described that is derived in part from an Amish tomato, and in part from a Big Bertha Pepper. This hybrid tomato has 2-4 lobes similar to a pepper, a hardy skin, and remains on the vine when ripe until frost. When picked ripe, this tomato lasts longer without rotting than normal tomatoes. Some of these tomatoes have been eaten after 3 months from picking. The fruit usually shrinks inside itself after some time from picking.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences and methods are provided for producing plants and seeds having altered tocopherol content and compositions. The methods find particular use in increasing the tocopherol levels in plants, and in providing desirable tocopherol compositions in a host plant cell.

Abstract: A method for producing leafy biomass from undifferentiated plant cells, the method comprising providing undifferentiated plant cells, contacting them with an agent that promotes differentiation of the cells into leafy tissue and growing the cells in a temporary liquid immersion culture system. This method of the invention may be used to produce polypeptides, and natural medicinal products, and can be used to capture carbon dioxide. A method of producing a polypeptide in plant cells in vitro comprising: providing undifferentiated plant cells containing chloroplasts that carry a transgenic nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide, wherein the plant cells display homoplastomy; and propagating the cells according to the above method to produce leafy biomass containing the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates “disarmed” strain variants of Agrobacterium strain K599 (NCPPB 2659), “disarmed” plasmid variants of the Ri-plasmid pRi2659, and derivatives thereof, and methods employing these strains and plasmids in plant transformation.

Abstract: A wound dressing composition comprising a human recombinant collagen and an oxidized cellulose. For example, the composition may be in the form of a sponge formed by freeze drying an aqueous dispersion of human recombinant collagen and oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC). The composition is especially suitable for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct inbred tomato lines and hybrids. This invention also relates to plants and seeds of such inbred tomato lines and hybrids, and to parts thereof. The invention also relates to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such inbred tomato lines and hybrids with themselves or other tomato plants.

Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring system for measuring a three-dimensional shape of a measurement object in a noncontact manner includes a first obtaining portion for obtaining arrangement information of the measurement object, a second obtaining portion for obtaining design shape information of the measurement object, a fourth obtaining portion for obtaining specifics information about one or more three-dimensional measuring devices, a determining portion for determining a measurable part that can be measured by the three-dimensional measuring device about a surface shape of the measurement object in accordance with the obtained arrangement information, the obtained design shape information and the obtained specifics information, and an output portion for outputting the determined measurable part.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tomato plant, seed, variety and hybrid. More specifically, the invention relates to a tomato plant having a mutant allele for allflesh which results in the tomato fruit having a cavity area which is solid and lacks a gel or liquid. The invention also relates to crossing inbreds, varieties and hybrids containing the allflesh allele to produce novel types and varieties of tomato plants.

Abstract: An inbred tomato line, designated 294, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred tomato line 294, to the plants of inbred tomato line 294 and to methods for producing a tomato plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line 294 with itself or another tomato line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a tomato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred tomato lines derived from the inbred 294.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for enhancing the development of APC from precursor cells by administering a combination of GM-CSF and IL-4. The precursor cells include: cells contained in peripheral blood, CD14+ cells and precursors in bone marrow. Thus, administration of GM-CSF and IL-4 can be used as a form of cytokine immunotherapy. One embodiment of the present invention involves systemic administration of GM-CSF and IL-4. In this embodiment, APC are required to directly access tumor antigens as they exist in vivo within the patient. A further embodiment of the present invention involves co-administration of a tumor-associated or tumor-specific antigen, with GM-CSF and IL-4, to induce antigen-specific immunity mediated by APC. Yet another embodiment of the present invention describes systemic administration of GM-CSF and IL-4 to achieve reduced tumor burden.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distinct tomato line, designated the Goose Creek tomato line. Additionally, the invention relates to seed and fruit of the Goose Creek tomato line as well as methods of producing the plant, fruit, and seed of the Goose Creek tomato line. The invention also relates to Goose Creek-derived tomato plants, fruit, and seed and methods of producing the Goose Creek-derived plants, fruit, and seed.

Abstract: The current invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding the RIN and MC genes. Compositions comprising these sequences are described, as are plants transformed with such compositions. Further provided are methods for the expression of the RIN and MC genes. The methods of the invention include the direct creation of transgenic plants with the RIN and MC genes by genetic transformnation, as well as by plant breeding methods. The sequences of the invention represent a valuable new tool for the creation of transgenic plants, preferably having one or more added beneficial characteristics.

Abstract: Briefly stated, the invention includes a method of making a transgenic plant that is capable of expressing a physiologically active human acetylcholinesterase, comprising the steps of introducing into at least one plant cell a polynucleotide that encodes a human acetylcholinesterase, and regenerating from the plant cell a transgenic plant that is capable of expressing a physiologically active human acetylcholinesterase in at least one tissue type of the transgenic plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inbred tomato line, designated FDR 26-682. This invention further relates to plants and seeds of inbred tomato line FDR 26-682 and methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing the inbred line FDR 26-682 with itself or another tomato plant possessing commercially desirable characteristics.

Abstract: Agrobacterium strains which have lost the capacity to proliferate vigorously in vitro or in planta, are provided, as well as transformation methods using these Agrobacterium strains.

Abstract: The Prf gene of tomato has been cloned and analyzed. Prf encodes a protein with leucine-rich repeat, nucleotide binding, and leucine zipper motifs, identifying it as a member of the resistance gene class that includes RPS2, RPM1, N and L6. When expressed in transgenic plants, Prf confers Fenthion sensitivity and resistance to a wide variety of phytopathogens, including not only Pseudomonas syringae but also unrelated pathogens such as Xanthomonas campestris.

Abstract: A new and distinct plant, Toma-P, fruit of said plant which has a crunchy texture but mild flavor, is described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates primarily to a number of lantibiotics similar to nisin A, which differ from nisin A by substitution, deletion or insertion of one or more amino acids, such as, in particular, the naturally occurring analogue of nisin A, termed nisin Z, which has the structure given above. Lantibiotics of this type are particularly suitable for preserving foodstuffs for humans and animals. This preservation takes place by the use of these lantibiotics themselves or of microorganisms producing these lantibiotics, in particular lactic acid bacteria, in the preparation or storage of foodstuffs.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a biotechnological method for production of (3S,3'S) astaxanthin. In particular, the present invention relates to a peptide having a .beta.-C-4-oxygenase activity; a DNA segment coding for this peptide; a RNA segments coding for this peptide; a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector and the DNA segment; a host cell or organism containing the above described recombinant DNA molecule or DNA segment; and to a method of biotechnologically producing (3S,3'S) astaxanthin or a food additive containing (3S,3'S) astaxanthin, using the host.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA homologous to a DNA sequence which encodes a pectin esterase isoenzyme. Such DNA is incorporated into DNA constructs which are transformed into plants to increase or decrease expression of the related gene. This provides a method for modifying the phenotypic characteristics of plants, particularly fruit-ripening characteristics.

Abstract: Derivatives of .alpha.-hordothionin made by position-specific substitution with threonine residues provide threonine in plants.

Abstract: Derivatives of .alpha.-hordothionin made by position-specific substitution with methionine residues provide methionine enrichment in plants.

Abstract: The polypeptide with the sequence (SEQ ID NO:1)Ala-Thr-Tyr-Asn-Gly-Lys-Cys-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Asp-Asn-Ile-Cys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Ala-Gln -Ser-Gly-Lys-Thr-Ala-Ile-Cys-Lys-Cys-Tyr-Val-Lys-Lys-Cys-Pro-Arg-Asp-Gly-Al a-Lys-Cys-Glu-Phe-Asp-Ser-Tyr-Lys-Gly-Lys-Cys-Tyr-Cyscan be produced by the fermentation of Aspergillus giganteus and used as an antifungal agent.Expression of this polypeptide gene in plants strongly inhibits the growth of phytopathogenic fungi on the plant.

Abstract: A method for breeding tomato plants that produce tomatoes having superior taste characteristics including the steps, of crossing at least one Lycopersicon esculentum plant with a green-fruited Lycopersicon spp. from an Eriopersicon subgenus to produce hybrid seeds, collecting the hybrid (F.sub.1)seeds, growing plants from F.sub.1 seeds, pollinating the F.sub.1 plants, collecting the hybrid seeds produced by the F.sub.1 plants, growing plants from the seeds produced by the F.sub.1 plants, measuring sucrose, glucose and fructose content of ripe fruit produced from the plants grown from the seeds of the F.sub.1 plants; and selecting plants with tomato fruits having desired characteristics including a fructose/glucose ratio greater than 1.8 and fructose levels higher than 1.3% on a fresh weight basis.

Abstract: Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), its process for preparation, its cDNA, and utilization of cDNA to modify the expression of SPS in the plant cells are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides in vitro models of the in vivo rolling and arrest of leukocytes along the endothelial cell wall, which are important steps in the migration of leukocytes out of the blood stream and into tissue, as part of the inflammatory response. The in vitro models of the invention are functional under physiologic flow conditions resulting in physiologic shear stresses. In a specific embodiment, for modelling leukocyte rolling, the apparatus of the invention comprises a solid phase surface with rolling mediator molecules present thereon. Such rolling mediators are, for example, selectins and selectin ligands which have binding partners expressed on leukocytes. In another specific embodiment, for modelling leukocyte rolling followed by adhesion/arrest, the apparatus of the invention comprises a solid phase surface with both rolling mediators and integrin binding partners present thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates “disarmed” strain variants of Agrobacterium strain K599 (NCPPB 2659), “disarmed” plasmid variants of the Ri-plasmid pRi2659, and derivatives thereof, and methods employing these strains and plasmids in plant transformation.