Nippon Meat Packers, Inc.

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Seiko Instruments Inc

Hiroshi Murakami

Koji Toyomura

Tamotsu Shigehisa

Yoichi Takahagi

Tatsuya Fujimura

Shigeru Wakiyama

Teruo Suzuki

Kenichi Ogawa

Hiroshi Bando

Fumiki Sakai

Wataru Mizutani

Shingo Ichimura

Takashi Wakatsuki

Yasuhiro Ihara

Shunsuke Hosokawa

Masakuni Kawada

A novel lactic acid bacterium strain is found, which has a high IgA production-inducing ability and a high immunostimulating activity, and belongs to the genus. Thus, provided is an excellent lactic acid bacterium preparation for foods or feeds, which has a high enteric colonization rate. Specifically disclosed are: a novel lactic acid bacteriumNHRD IHARA (FERM BP-11090) which has a high IgA production-inducing ability and a high immunostimulating activity; and a lactic acid bacterium preparation for enhancing the production of immunoglobulin A, which comprises a culture of the bacterium strain, an extract of the bacterium strain, or a product of any treatment of cells of the bacterium strain.

Lactic acid bacterium having high immunoglobulin-A-inducing ability

This invention provides a nonhuman transgenic mammal carrying transgene comprising the regulatory genes capable of functioning in the hyperacute rejection-occurring local cells and gene encoding human N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III), or a nonhuman transgenic mammal carrying transgene comprising the regulatory genes and genes encoding GnT-III and the human complement inhibitor. Because of reduced &#x3b1;-Gal antigens in the hyperacute rejection-occurring local cells or because of both reduced &#x3b1;-Gal antigens and expression of the human complement inhibitor, the transgenic mammal of this invention can effectively inhibit the hyperacute rejection caused by discordant xenotransplantation. Consequently, this invention provides the transgenic mammal suitable for organ transplantation.

Transgenic mammals

This invention provides transgenic mammals other than man carrying the gene of the human complement inhibitor (DAF/CD55) and expressing the human complement inhibitor in their organs and tissues, particularly in their endothelial cells. This invention provides nonhuman transgenic mammals useful as laboratory animals in the medical and pharmacological fields and/or sources of organs, tissues, cells and the like for medical treatment of man.

Transgenic non-human mammals expressing the human complement inhibitor (DAF/CD55)

This invention is related to the DNA encoding the porcine complement inhibitor (pMCPcDNA), the porcine complement inhibitor expressed by the DNA, and a method for screening for the porcine complement inhibitor. pMCPcDNA can be obtained by preparing a cDNA library from porcine vascular endothelium and screening for cDNA encoding the porcine complement inhibitor. pMCPcDNA of this invention is useful for production of the porcine complement inhibitor by genetic recombination and for analysis for the promoter region of the porcine complement inhibitor.

DNA encoding porcine complement inhibitor

The present invention provides the base sequence defined as Sequence No. 1, DNA comprising a part of the sequence, or DNA containing the sequence, and relates to a promoter gene of the porcine complement inhibitor. In generating transgenic pigs transformed with human complement inhibitor and/or such thrombosis-inhibiting factors as thrombomudulin (collectively termed the complement inhibitor), DNA of the invention can effectively be used to express the complement inhibitor by integrating the gene into the upstream part of the human complement-inhibitor gene. Since hyperacute rejection, which occurs on transplanting a porcine organ or tissue to man, can be prevented, xenotransplantaion of the porcine organs and tissues to man will become possible. Therefore, the problem of the lack of donors for transplantation can be solved.

Promoters for swine complement inhibitors

An ozone beam generation apparatus includes an ozonizer for forming an ozone-containing gas through the ozonization of an oxygen-containing gas; a refrigerator for liquefying or solidifying only ozone present in the ozone-containing gas; a vessel for storing the liquefied or solidified ozone; a temperature controller for contorting the temperature of the storing vessel and for gasifying the liquefied or solidified ozone; and a piping system for transporting-the gasified ozone to a desired device. The apparatus makes it possible to steadily and safely supply pure ozone to an apparatus for oxidation treatment.

Ozone beam generation apparatus and method for generating an ozone beam

In the production of a tunneling probe tip having a sharp point by utilizing electropolishing, the present invention has enabled the production of a platinum tunneling probe tip always produceable in an identical conical form having high point sharpness without scattering in the shape caused by the anisotropy of crystal face with respect to the rate of polishing during polishing of a platinum material through adoption of a two-stage polishing process, which comprises subjecting a platinum tunneling probe tip material to a primary polishing for primary shaping of the tunneling probe tip material into a tunneling probe tip form, and then subjecting the shaped material to a secondary polishing for sharpening of the point with a mixed acid comprising sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid.

Method of manufacturing a platinum tip

A relative displacement control apparatus provides both coarse and extremely fine precise control over displacements between a sample and a detecting probe as required, e.g. in operations of optical instruments, analyzing instruments and scanning tunneling microscopes. This precise fine displacement is produced through a double-lever-action which is created substantially by means of an arm assembly preferably with a piezoelectric drive for precise displacement control, a support pivotally holding the arm assembly, a rigid arm fixed solidly atop the support and a pointed stop or 'foot' fixed in the proximity of the free end of the rigid arm.

Growing community of inventors

Tsukuba, Japan

Hiroshi Murakami