Chiron Corporation

Other

Cetus Corporation

Eastman-kodak Company

Bayer Corporation

Patrick J Sheridan

Michael S Urdea

Brian David Warner

Thomas Horn

Mark L Collins

Chu-an Chang

Joyce A Running

Will Bloch

John W Sutherland

Louis M Mezei

Robert J Goodson

John Todd

Julio C Gagne

Mary L Anderson

David G Kern

A two piece helmet with optional airbag is split along a vertical axis between the sides of the helmet to ease removal in the event of an injury. A series of aligned orifices in the helmet portions are joined by a removable cable. The cable ends are attached to each other to secure the helmet portions or to each of the helmet portions. The cable is accessed through removable panels that may also be used to tension the cable. Alternate means for joining the helmet portions include a series of lateral exterior latches opened by the cable. The helmet liner has two overlapping portions to minimize noise and improve weather sealing. An optional inflatable air bag is fitted to a lower perimeter of the helmet. A proximity sensing system will inflate the airbag when the vehicle is in motion and the helmet is displaced a certain distance from the vehicle.

Two piece helmet with optional airbag

Methods are provided for substantially reducing background signals encountered in nucleic acid hybridization assays. The method is premised on the elimination or significant reduction of the phenomenon of nonspecific hybridization, so as to provide a detectable signal which is produced only in the presence the target polynucleotide of interest. In addition, a novel method for the chemical synthesis of isoguanosine or 2&prime;-deoxy-isoguanosine is provided. The invention also has applications in antisense and aptamer therapeutics and drug discovery.

Reduction of nonspecific hybridization by using novel base-pairing schemes

Methods and compositions for enhancing the chemiluminescence from a stable 1,2-dioxetane triggered to produce a chemiluminescence are disclosed. Indirect, competitive nucleic acid hybridization assay formats are also described that employ these methods and compositions.

Enhancement of alkaline phosphatase with SDS in chemiluminescent

A method of preparing a homogeneous alkaline phosphatase-oligonucleotide probe conjugate having high specific enzyme activity for use in nucleic acid hybridization assays is disclosed. Indirect, competitive nucleic acid hybridization assay formats are also described.

Oligonucleotide probe conjugated to a purified hydrophilic alkaline

Methods are provided for substantially reducing background signals encountered in nucleic acid hybridization assays. The method is premised on the elimination or significant reduction of the phenomenon of nonspecific hybridization, so as to provide a detectable signal which is produced only in the presence the target polynucleotide of interest. In addition, a novel method for the chemical synthesis of isoguanosine or 2'-deoxy-isoguanosine is provided. The invention also has applications in antisense and aptamer therapeutics and drug discovery.

Reduction of nonspecific hybridization by using novel base-pairing

Nucleic acid probes are immobilized on polystyrene surfaces such as the wells of microtiter plates for use in solution phase nucleic acid sandwich hybridization assays, particularly those using large branched DNA amplification multimers, by: (a) cleansing the surface by washing it sequentially with a strong acid, a strong base, and water, (b) passively adsorbing a polypeptide having primary amino groups onto the cleansed surface, and (c) covalently bonding the probe to the adsorbed polypeptide via a base-stable bifunctional crosslinking agent, and (d) subjecting the surface to conditions that simulate the hybridization conditions used in the assay.

Nucleic acid probes immobilized on polystyrene surfaces

Process for immobilizing nucleic acid probes on polystyrene surfaces

This invention utilizes beads in sample preparation to increase the precision of nucleotide hybridization assays.

Use of beads to improve nucleotide hybridization assays

A convenient method for the quantitative determination of a DNA polymerase includes contacting an aqueous test specimen suspected of containing the enzyme with the following: a single-stranded DNA template present in a concentration of at least about 10.sup.-8 molar bases, a DNA primer complementary to the template, a source of a metal polymerase cofactor, sufficient deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates to synthesize double-stranded DNA in the presence of the polymerase, and a colorimetric or fluorescent dye which is capable of providing a detectable signal when a primed single-stranded nucleic acid is converted to double-stranded DNA by the polymerase. The rate of signal generation is then measured and can be correlated with the level of DNA polymerase in the specimen using graphical or mathematical means. The results of this method are precise, having a covariance of less than about 10%. A test kit includes the reagents needed for carrying out this method.

Quantitative determination of a DNA polymerase and a test kit useful in

Useful for visualizing biological materials in a solid phase, on a gel, or in a liquid phase is a solid salt of the meriquinone of benzidine or a substituted benzidine. An immobilized or dissolved complex of a polymeric anion and the meriquinone of benzidine or a substituted benzidine having controllable solubility may also be employed. Preferred are meriquinone salts and complexes of 3,3,5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine. For visualization, the benzidine or substituted benzidine is oxidized to its meriquinone at pH 3 to 7 in the presence of an effective anion or polymeric anion, an oxidation catalyst, and an effective amount of oxidant to form a solid salt or immobilized complex of the meriquinone under conditions where the meriquinone solubility lies below about 10.sup.-5 M.

Growing community of inventors

San Leandro, CA, United States of America

Patrick J Sheridan