Abstract: An isolated antigen against a Mycoplasma, prepared by a method including providing a sample of a Mycoplasma and an antibody probe, probing the Mycoplasma sample with the antibody probe to detect at least one antigen, and isolating the antigen detected. The antibody probe includes at least one antibody against the Mycoplasma that is produced by a method including (a) providing a biological sample taken a short time after an immune animal has been challenged with a Mycoplasma or Mycoplasma extract taken from the infection site or an area of a lesion or an area close to the infection site or lesion; (b) isolating cells from the biological sample; (c) culturing the cells in vitro in a suitable culture medium; and (d) harvesting antibodies produced from the cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing a disease or disorder in an animal caused by infection by Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) by administering to the animal an effective amount of a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) vaccine. The M. hyo vaccine can be a whole or partial cell inactivated or modified live preparation, a subunit vaccine, or a nucleic acid or DNA vaccine. The M. hyo vaccine administered in accordance with the present invention can be synthesized or recombinantly produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing a disease or disorder in an animal caused by infection by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) by administering to the animal at approximately three (3) to ten (10) days of age, a single dose of an effective amount of a M. hyo vaccine. The M. hyo vaccine can be a whole or partial cell inactivated or modified live preparation, a subunit vaccine, or a nucleic acid or DNA vaccine. The M. hyo vaccine administered in accordance with the present invention can be synthesized or recombinantly produced.

Abstract: A biologically-active material comprising a live virus or mycoplasma is preserved by a method of desiccation, without lyophilisation, in a matrix of glassy trehalose having a residual moisture content of not greater than 2%. The method comprises two vacuum drying stages. In a cycle time much shorter than a typical freeze drying process a virus or mycoplasma can be preserved to provide a material that can be rehydrated to give a vaccine having potency.

Abstract: The invention features fusion agents such as fusion proteins that are useful for the treatment of and prevention from diseases that are susceptible to the effects of cellular (Th1 type) immune responses. Also encompassed by the invention are nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins of the invention, vectors containing the nucleic acids, and cells containing the vectors. The invention includes methods of making and using the fusion agents of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for lipid matrix-assisted chemical ligation and synthesis of membrane polypeptides that are incorporated in a lipid matrix. The invention is exemplified in production of a prefolded membrane polypeptide embedded within a lipid matrix via stepwise chemoselective chemical ligation of unprotected peptide segments, where at least one peptide segment is embedded in a lipid matrix. Any chemoselective reaction chemistry amenable for ligation of unprotected peptide segments can be employed. Suitable lipid matrices include liposomes, micelles, cell membrane patches and optically isotropic cubic lipidic phase matrices. Prefolded synthetic and semi-synthetic membrane polypeptides synthesized according to the methods and compositions of the invention also permit site-specific incorporation of one or more detectable moieties, such as a chromophore, which can be conveniently introduced during synthesis.

Abstract: A means for the rapid detection of bacteria from a liquid culture or slurry is described. A membrane mounted on a solid support is immersed in a liquid culture for a time sufficient to allow bacteria to adhere to the membrane, the membrane is removed from the culture and the number of bacteria adhering to the membrane is counted. The membrane may be either an inanimate membrane or a biological membrane. A test kit for use in the method is also described.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and diagnostic kits for identifying and characterizing toxic compounds. These methods and diagnostic kits measure transcription or translation levels from genes linked to native eukaryotic stress promoters, especially those of mammals. The kits and methods of this invention utilize at least one stress promoter from each of the following groups: redox stress, DNA stress, protein stress and energy/ionic stress. The invention also provides methods and diagnostic kits for identifying and characterizing compounds that are toxic to specific organs, such as skin and the eye, as well as for each of the individual stresses indicated above. The methods and diagnostic kits of this invention yield information concerning the action of a compound on a subcellular level. This information may be utilized to design antitoxins to compounds found to be toxic and in active drug design.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an analytical device for the simultaneous detection of at least two organisms selected from the group consisting of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhea (NG), and Mycoplasma (M) from a single specimen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel mycoplasma isolated from the urine of patients with AIDS. The mycoplasma has unique morphological and pathobiological properties. The invention also relates to the antigens and antibodies of the novel mycoplasma, and methods of detection utilizing these antigens and antibodies. Antigenically and genetically, the mycoplasma is distinct from all other known mycoplasmas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic assay utilizing the lipid associated membrane proteins of mycoplasmas to detect the presence of species-specific mycoplasma antibodies. The sensitive assay is useful for the detection and differentiation of mycoplasma antibodies specific for individual species in biological samples from humans and animals, and exhibits virtually no cross-reactivity between different mycoplasma species.

Abstract: A diagnostic kit for detecting the presence of microorganisms, comprising an insoluble substrate; and a carbohydrate receptor immobilized on the insoluble substrate, the carbohydrate receptor being capable of adsorbing microorganisms; and a labelled reagent useful for detecting the presence of microorganisms bound to the carbohydrate receptors and a method for detecting the presence of specified microorganisms in a sample, which comprises contacting a sample to be tested with carbohydrate receptors immobilized on an insoluble substrate; and determining the extent of binding of microorganisms in the sample to the carbohydrate receptors by use of a labelled reagent.

Abstract: The nucleic acid encoding the membrane-associated cytadhesin protein of M. gallisepticum is disclosed, together with the amino acid sequence of the encoded product. The nucleic acid sequence finds utility as a probe for M. gallisepticum DNA to diagnose M. gallisepticum infection in poultry. Expression of fragments of the nucleic acid sequence into polypeptide is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting mycoplasma in a biological sample through the application of nucleic acid hybridization techniques. More specifically, the instant invention details a method of detecting a wide variety of mycoplasma in a biological sample by employing a polynucleotide segment encoding a portion of M. pneumoniae P1 polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making an inactivated vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae by inactivating the bacteria with Thimerosal. The resulting bacterin is mixed with an adjuvant of aluminum hydroxide and DEAE dextran and injected into pigs. The resulting bacterin and adjuvant mixture can also be mixed with other bacteria such as Borderella and Pasteurella, for further adjuvant effect. Protective immunity against mycoplasmal pneumonia is elicited in swine using these vaccines.

Abstract: A composition for protecting swine against mycoplasmal pneumonia caused by M. hyopneumoniae which includes at least one protein which is an M. hyopneumoniae antigen. The M. hyopneumoniae antigen is present in an amount effective for protection of swine against mycoplasmal pneumonia caused by M. hyopneumoniae. A preferred antigen is the M. hyopneumoniae 74.5 kda antigen.

Abstract: A method for protecting an animal, in particular swine, against mycoplasma pneumonia by administering intranasally to the animal a vaccine containing one or more proteins which elicits an antibody which recognizes a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigen which lacks immunosuppressive activity. A particularly preferred intranasal vaccine includes the 74.5 kDa antigen of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The 74.5 kDa antigen may be of recombinant origin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel mycoplasma isolated from the urine of patients with AIDS. The mycoplasma has unique morphological and pathobiological properties. The invention also relates to the antigens and antibodies of the novel mycoplasma, and methods of detection utilizing these antigens and antibodies. Antigenically and genetically, the mycoplasma is distinct from all other known mycoplasmas. The invention further relates to the DNA sequence of the novel mycoplasma and vaccines against the mycoplasma infection.

Abstract: This process is essentially characterized by enzymatic reactions which are carried out under anaerobic conditions between a liquid growth medium for mycoplasms containing a dilution medium of the sample of fluid to be analyzed and, on the one hand, a first substrate comprising dehydrated urea or glucose in the presence of a color pH indicator also in dehydrated form and, on the other hand, a second substrate comprising arginine also in dehydrated form or glucose in the presence of a color pH indicator and that the speed of the enzymatic response is followed while noting the time corresponding to the color change of the indicators, the respective quantities of urea and arginine or of glucose, on the one hand, and the concentration and the nutrient composition of the said growth and dilution medium, on the other hand, being first selected and standardized in such a way that for Ureaplasma urealyticum present at a supra or sub-pathological rate, the color change of the indicator is or is not obtained after a giv

Abstract: The invention is a carbohydrate receptor for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma hominus and its use to detect mycoplasma in biological fluids and diseased tissue and cells. The receptor can be included in a composition having a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods are provided for purifying, detecting, or removing mycoplasma from diseased tissue or fluids. The receptor includes sulfatides, dextran sulfate, sialyloligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An assay for detecting the presence of Mycoplasma fermentans is disclosed, along with a diagnostic kit that uses the assay. The presence of Mycoplasma fermentans is indicated by the presence of the restriction endonuclease MfeI. This endonuclease recognizes the sequence CAATTG and cleaves between the C and the first A.

Abstract: A vaccine for protecting against a disease caused by a microorganism which does not synthesize nucleic acid precursors such as a Micoplasma organism, which contains nuclease and/or a nuclease fragment or derivative which produces antibodies which recognize nuclease secreted or available on the surface of the microorganism against which protection is to be afforded. A vaccine may also be prepared from an antibody or fragment or derivative thereof which recognizes such nuclease of such microorganism.

Abstract: A new restriction enzyme, Mfe I, has been discovered. Mfe I recognizes the sequence CAATTG and cuts at the recognition sequence C'AATTG and generates compatible cohesive ends with EcoRI cleaved fragments. Various utilities of the enzyme have been described.

Abstract: A clinical diagnostic method capable of rapidly detecting the presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in infected humans is taught. The method allows a proper course of therapy to be chosen within one day of presentation of the patient.

Abstract: A method to produce actively growing mycoplasma organisms in microcolonies and which have a high content of species specific membrane antigen, is disclosed. The specific membrane antigen can be used to detect specific antibodies against mycoplasma in a patient's serum samples. It can also be used to elicit antibody production in animals so that the specific membrane antigen of mycoplasma can be detected using animal antibody tracers, in the sputum of patients having a mycoplasma infection.

Abstract: Detection of mycoplasma infection in an animal cell culture is accomplished by growing animal cells from a culture in a growth medium in the presence of 6-methylpurine deoxyriboside and determining whether animal cells are killed.

Abstract: Optically active cephalosporin analogs are produced by optically selective deacylation of an optically inactive acylated analog. The compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of optically active acylated antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active cephalosporin analogs which are produced by optically selective deacylation of an optically inactive acylated analog. The compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of optically active acylated antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing a disease or disorder in an animal caused by infection by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) by administering to the animal at approximately three (3) to ten (10) days of age, a single dose of an effective amount of a M. hyo vaccine. The M. hyo vaccine can be a whole or partial cell inactivated or modified live preparation, a subunit vaccine, or a nucleic acid or DNA vaccine. The M. hyo vaccine administered in accordance with the present invention can be synthesized or recombinantly produced.