Terragen Diversity, Inc.

Terragen Discovery Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

The University of British Columbia

Nzym, Inc.

Julian E Davies

Barbara Waters

Geeta Saxena

Leonard Katz

Ronald J Young

Uwe Von Ahsen

Richard Kao

Stephen B Delcardayre

Renee Schroeder

The present invention concerns a method for detecting the presence of a ribosome inactivating protein in a sample. The method comprises contacting a sample suspected of containing a ribosome inactivating protein with a 2'-O-methylated oligonucleotide substrate having a GAGA tetraloop wherein 'A' is a deoxyribonucleoside comprising a fluorescent adenine derivative or analog base capable of emitting a fluorescence when released from the nucleoside, 'A', and detecting the presence of the fluorescent adenine derivative or analog base released from the tetraloop as an indication of the presence of the ribosome inactivating protein in the sample. The present invention is also directed to an assay kit and a reagent useful for carrying out the steps of the above method.

Method for detecting ribosome inactivating proteins

Lichen-derived organic acids such as vulpinic acid and usnic acid have been found to be effective inhibitors of eukaryotic protein kinase activity. Thus, eukaryotic protein kinase activity present in a sample or organism can be inhibited by adding to the sample or organism an effective inhibitory amount of a lichen-derived organic acid.

Method for inhibiting eukaryotic protein kinases

A number of bacterial cultures were screened for the ability to inhibit sporulation using a strain Streptomyces 85E. Evaluations of the cultures which tested positive in this assay led to the discovery that lipopeptide biosurfactants such as surfactin and viscosin are effective inhibitors of eukaryotic protein kinase activity. Thus, a method for inhibiting eukaryotic protein kinase activity present in a sample or organism includes the step of adding to the sample or organism an effective inhibitory amount of a lipopeptide biosurfactant.

An isolated and purified Coenzyme A disulfide reductase (CoADR) is provided. Oligonucleotides encoding the CoADR, vectors and host cells containing such oligonucleotides are also provided. In addition, antibodies reactive with the CoADR are provided, as are methods of isolating the CoADR, producing recombinant CoADR, using CoADR for screening compounds for CoADR-modulating activity, and detecting organisms which produce CoADR a test sample. Methods for identifying a gene encoding a CoADR are also provided.

Coenzyme A disulfide reductase, and inhibitors thereof useful as

The invention described herein provides for methods of screening for compounds that can be used to prevent or inhibit the growth of microbial eukaryotes, particularly plant or animal pathogens. The screening methods of the invention involve the step of screening compounds for the ability to inhibit Group I intron I splicing. In addition, to directly screening for compounds that inhibit Group I intron splicing, the screening methods of the invention include screening for compounds that bind to prokaryotic 16S ribosomal RNA because of the correlation, described herein, between group I intron inhibition and binding to prokaryotic 16S ribosomal RNA. The range of possible compounds for screening by the screening methods of the invention is preferably limited to 2-deoxystreptamine derivatives. Another aspect of the invention is to provide methods of treating or preventing infections with eukaryotic microbes by administering an effective amount of a compound that inhibits group I intron splicing. These compounds may be obtained by the screening methods of the invention.

Use of antibiotics of the type 2-deoxystreptamine substituted with

Materials can be assayed for activity as an inhibitor of post-translational protein phosphorylation by adding the material to a growing culture of a prokaryotic organism such as a streptomycete; allowing the culture to grow for a period of time in the presence of the material; and observing the culture for altered development relative to development of the prokaryotic organism grown in the absence of the material. Observation of altered development is indicative that the material has activity as an inhibitor of post-translational protein phosphorylation. In particular, the material to be tested can be added to a growing culture of the prokaryotic organism by placing a carrier disk bearing the material on a freshly seeded plate. Inhibition of the development of aerial mycelia and spore formation is an indicator that the material has activity as an inhibitor of post-translational protein phosphorylation.

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Vancouver, Canada

Julian E Davies