Abstract:
Methods of detecting the absence or presence of a micro-organism in a sample comprising: contacting the sample with a nucleic acid molecule which acts as a substrate for nucleic acid modifying activity of the micro-organism in the sample, incubating the thus contacted sample under conditions suitable for nucleic acid modifying activity; and specifically determining the absence or presence of a modified nucleic acid molecule resulting from the action of the nucleic acid modifying activity on the substrate nucleic acid molecule to indicate the absence or presence of the micro-organism. Corresponding kits are also provided.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a composition for treating caner comprising an agent that inhibits the expression of MCAF1 gene or Sp1 gene, or an agent that inhibits the activities of MCAF1 protein or Sp1 protein. The present invention further provides a method for screening for an agent that inhibits the expression of MCAF1 gene or Sp1 gene, or an agent that inhibits the activities of MCAF1 protein or Sp1 protein.
Abstract:
The present invention provides fluorescent bicyclic compounds of the formula (I); wherein ring A, the broken lines -----, C 1 ----C 2 , R 4 and R 1 are as defined herein. The invention also relates to nucleoside and nucleotide analogues of said compounds, and their use as biological markers.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to the field of nucleic acid diagnostics and the identification of base variation in target nucleic acid sequences. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of such genotypic characterization of a target population of HIV and the subsequent association, i.e., correlation, of this information to phenotypic interpretation in order to correlate virus mutational profiles with drug resistance. The invention also relates to methods of utilizing the mutational profiles of the invention in drug development, i.e., drug discovery, drug design, drug modification, and therapy, treatment design, clinical management and diagnostic analysis.
Abstract:
A method for screening statins in their open acid form to determine the susceptibility of each tested statin to metabolic glucuronidation is provided. Also provided is a method for determining if a non-statin pharmaceutical drug co-administered with a statin that is susceptible to metabolic glucuronidation in its open acid form, will inhibit the glucuronidation of the statin and thereby increase the risk of an adverse drug interaction.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an HTS-appropriate test system for detecting the activity of cyclo-nucleotide-dependent protein kinases (cNPK) containing: a) at least one test compound; b) at least one appropriate cNPK substrate; c) at least one composition, which is to be incubated and which contains cNPK and ATP, optionally, phosphorylation reaction stoppers, and; d) an appropriate detection system for quantifying the phosphorylation of the cNPK substrate. The invention also relates to an HTS-appropriate test system for detecting the activity of VASP phosphatases containing: e) at least one test compound; f) at least one appropriate VASP phosphatase substrate; g) at least one composition, which is to be incubated and which contains VASP phosphatase, and; h) an appropriate detection system for quantifying the dephosphorylation of the VASP phosphatase substrate. The described test systems can be used for locating compounds, which modulate the activity of a cNPK or of a VASP phosphatase, from chemical or natural substance libraries.
Abstract:
A method for performing a diagnostic assay for the detection of the presence or amount of a microorganism within a sample matrix containing active DNA polymerase, is disclosed. The method utilizes the measurement of DNA polymerase extension activity, wherein the assay comprises the steps of incubating DNA polymerase in the sample matrix with a selected suitable substrate, and performing PCR cycling and detection via the use of a selected suitable nucleic acid probe, thereby to detect endogenous DNA polymerase extension activity in the sample matrix as an indication of the presence or amount of said microorganism.
Abstract:
The present invention embraces methods for identifying compounds that modulate the activity of telomerase. Compounds of the invention are identified by designing or screening for a compound which binds to at least one amino acid residue of the TRBD, "thumb," "finger," and/or "palm" domain; or FP-pocket, PT-pocket or Th-pocket of telomerase and testing the compound for its ability to modulate the activity of telomerase. Compounds selected for interacting with the T-pocket or Fingers-Palm pocket of telomerase are also provided.
Abstract:
Methods of identifying compounds having anti-viral activity against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and other hepadnavirυses are disclosed. In these methods, a mixture is formed comprising a candidate compound, a T3 domain of a hepadnavirus polymerase and/or an RT-1 domain of a hepadnavirus polymerase, and a nucleobase polymer. When more than one polymerase domain is used, the domains can be from the same species of hepadnavirus, such as Duck Hepatitis B Virus (DHBV), or from different species of hepadnavirus. Compounds having anti-viral activity against HBV are identified as compounds which interfere with the binding between T3 domain and a nucleobase polymer, or between an RT-1 domain and a nucleobase polymer.