Institut Pasteur

Maurice Hofnung

David Perrin

Agnes Ullmann

Eric Gilson

Jean-Marie Clement

Philippe Quillardet

Richard D'Ari

Olivier Huisman

A test kit for the identification of various bacterial species groupings comprises a DNA probe which can identify palindromic units specific to particular bacterial species or species groupings. Such probes are highly specific for particular species or species subgroups. Accordingly, specific identification of bacteria may be achieved.

Bacterial diagnostic probe

A method for the detection of the mutagen effect of a substance or composition by producing culture of a micro-organism harboring a recombinant of a sfi gene and of a gene coding for a dosable enzyme in the presence of said substance or composition and measuring the activity of the dosable enzyme induced under the control of the sfi gene. When the latter is activated due to the mutagen character of said substance or composition, measuring the activity of a distinct enzyme synthesized by the microorganism and coded by a gene not involved in the activation process of the sfi gene and measuring the variation of the ratio of the activity of the abovesaid dosable enzyme to the activity of said distinct enzyme. Then comparing the variation that of the ratio of the activities of the same enzyme in a culture of the same microorganism, but in the absence of the mutagen substance.

Method for detecting the mutagenicity of substances susceptible of

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Paris, France

Maurice Hofnung