Abstract:
The present invention provides a method of identifying individuals who are at high risk for development of cryptococcosis, comprising the step of measuring the levels of IgG antibody to glucuronoxylomannan in the sera of said individuals. Also provided are various methods of detecting antibody to glucuronoxylomannan in sera and a kit for assaying the presence of antibody to glucuronoxylomannan in the sera of immunocompromised individuals.
Abstract:
The subject invention permits diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) by analyzing peripheral blood mononuclear cell subset populations and activation markers. A positive diagnosis for CFS is associated with an increase in the percentage of CD8+ cells showing CD38 or HLA-DR cell markers or a decrease in CD11b markers in CD8+ cells. The analysis is preferably performed using fluorochrome-labelled monoclonal antibodies specific for a determinant of the above subset cells and activation markers.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods for attenuating virulent Gram negative bacteria to produce avirulent bacteria. The methods comprise passaging the wild-type bacteria through phagocytic cells, such as macrophages or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, or through lysosomes derived from such cells, a sufficient number of times until the bacteria become avirulent to the animal host. The bacteria are preferably from the family Enterobacteracea and most preferably from the genus Salmonellae. The invention further comprises the avirulent bacteria produced by the methods, pure cultures of such bacteria, and methods of using the bacteria, preferably in a vaccine for administration to an animal host to induce an immune response to the wild-type Gram negative bacteria in the host.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method of producing a rabies glycoprotein G by culturing cells of a methylotrophic species of yeast, which have a gene capable of expressing the pre-form of the rabies glycoprotein G in such cells, under conditions such that the gene is transcribed. The preferred species of yeast for carrying out the invention is Pichia pastoris. Mature rabies glycoprotein G is expressed at a high level in methylotrophic yeast cells as an extractable, membrane-associated glycoprotein. Also provided by the invention are DNAs capable of transforming methylotrophic yeast to express rabies pre-glycoprotein Gs, cultures of cells of such a yeast transformed with such DNAs and the novel glycosylated rabies glycoprotein Gs made by the method of the invention. The rabies glycoprotein G provided by the invention is useful as an immunogen in vaccines to protect mammals against infection by rabies virus.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a novel virus, said virus belonging to the HIV-2 family of viruses. In particular, the invention relates to a retrovirus characterized by being antigenically more similar to, but genetically distinct from, HIV-2/ROD and SIVMAC than to HIV-1. More particularly, the present invention relates to the isolation and cultivation of HIV-2/ST thereby providing a source of said virus and its derivatives including virus-derived antigens and derivatives and parts thereof, useful in the development of diagnostic assays for said virus or other related viruses belonging to the HIV-2 family. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to recombinant DNA molecules containing the entire HIV-2/ST provirus thereby providing a source of recombinant viral components useful in the development of said diagnostic assays for HIV-2 viruses. The present invention is also directed to antibodies specific to viral components and to different antibodies specific to the first antibodies, said antibodies are also useful in the development of diagnostic assays for HIV-2 viruses. The present invention also contemplates a method of the isolation of HIV-2/ST-type viruses.
Abstract:
Nitrilase enzymes specific for the hydrolysis of the nitrile group of bromoxynil, nucleotide sequences encoding for such enzymes, and transformed cells in which the nitrilase expression is foreign. The transformed cells are capable of expressing the nitrilase enzyme to provide detoxification of an environment and protect bromoxynil-sensitive cells from its cytotoxic effect. Particularly, plants are developed which are resistant to bromoxynil.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for continuous cultivation of microbial, animal or plant cells, particularly bacteria for producing lactic acid, employing a reactor comprising at least two microporous walled hollow fibers (13, 14) having an open port at one end and a sealed port (15) at the other end. The mass transfer of nutrients to the cells in the reactor shell space (19) and of products from the cells is enhanced by convective currents between the first (13) and second (14) fibers which results in attainment of improved cell density and productivity of desirable cell products.
Abstract:
The invention provides FabH polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such FabH and a procedure for producing such polypeptiddes by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing such FabH for the treatment of infection, particularly bacterial infections. Antagonists against such FabH and their use as a therapeutic to treat infections, particularly bacterial infections are also provided. Further provided are diagnostic assays for detecting deseases related to the presence of FabH nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides in a host. Also provided are diagnostic assays for detecting polynucleotides encoding novel Fab family proteins and for detecting such polypeptides in a host.
Abstract:
Four types of microorganisms, i.e., "aerobic-light" bacteria, "aerobic-dark" bacteria, "anaerobic-light" bacteria, and "anaerobic-dark" bacteria, are allowed to coexist and symbiose in mutual coprosperity in a given space under artificial conditions, which has hitherto been regarded as impossible in the conventional simple, double and parallel double fermentation techniques. This method cuts off all of oxidation, deterioration, and putrefaction, creates only the reduction process of fermentation, decomposition and synthesis and the antioxidation process (oxidation and reduction being simultaneously present), utilizes the function and substrate possessed by the microorganisms and information as informational microbial engineering, and freely uses proliferation, induction, and fermentation to permit all the aerobic and anaerobic organisms to coexist and symbiose in mutual coprosperity.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to nucleic acids which encode polypeptides that bind with specificity to plasminogen and which correspond to regions of streptokinase. The invention is also directed to vectors and hosts which express such nucleic acids and to the polypeptides themselves. The binding of various purified, cleaved recombinant streptokinase fragments to 125I-plasminogen is shown. In addition, the invention is directed to the use of the claimed polypeptides in assays which detect the presence of plasminogen. Streptokinase fragments which retain their ability to activate plasminogen may be used therapeutically.