United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Other

University of Toledo

Mississippi State University

Xavier University of Louisiana

Tulane Educational Fund

Thomas E Cleveland

Matthew E Burow

Stephen M Boue

John A McLachlan

Paul W Erhardt

Kanniah Rajasekaran

Jeffrey W Cary

Thomas J Jacks

Sadik Tuzun

Thomas E Wiese

Karl-Heinz Van Pee

Haibo Yao

Gregory A Cleveland

Rahul Khupse

Anne-Laure Moyne

Zuzana Hruska

Russell D Kincaid

Robert L Brown

Jefferey G Sarver

A system and method for fluorescence spectral imaging of target material to detect the presence of a contaminant (such as aflatoxin in corn) is provided. An ultraviolet light source is coupled with a light-excluding compartment. The fluorescence from the UV excited target passes through a filter (liquid crystal tunable, acoustic-optic tunable, a filter wheel, or other wavelength splitting device) and a lens, to a spectral imaging camera. Fluorescence spectral image data from the camera are analyzed by a computer and presented in human-readable form. Aflatoxin detection in contaminated corn kernels is based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift in the spectral range from 451 nm to 500 nm. Aflatoxin contamination level within the target material is quantified based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift and computed corn kernel pixel statistics.

Method and detection system for detection of aflatoxin in corn with fluorescence spectra

Two distinct methods are disclosed and claimed for synthesizing glyceollin I plus glyceollin II as a mixture and as their pure forms. Stereochemical isomers and various synthetic intermediates are also synthesized and claimed for their novel compositions of matter. All compounds and their mixtures are claimed for use in formulations that are useful to treat or prevent cancer, or that have utility as selective estrogen receptor modulators, such formulations including enhanced or medical foods, dietary supplements and ethical pharmaceutical agents.

Methods for synthesizing glycinols, glyceollins I and II, compositions of selected intermediates, and therapeutic uses thereof

The flavonoid family of phytochemicals, particularly those derived from soy, has received attention regarding their hormonal activity and their effects on human health and disease. The types and amounts of these compounds in soy and other plants are controlled by both constitutive expression and stress-induced biosynthesis. The health benefits of soy may therefore be dependent upon the amounts of the various hormonally active phytochemicals present. We have identified increased biosynthesis of the isoflavonoid phytoalexin compounds, Glyceollins I, II and III, in soy plants grown under stressed conditions (elicited soy), which exhibit marked anti-estrogenic effects on ER function. Here we demonstrate that specific glyceollins, isolated from elicited soy, displayed anti-estrogenic activity, suppressing basal and estrogen stimulated colony formation of ER-positive estrogen dependent breast cancer cells and inhibiting ER-dependent gene expression of progesterone receptor (PgR) and stromal derived factor-1 (SDF1/CXCL12). Examining the effects of glyceollin on in vivo tumor formation/growth we demonstrate the ability of glyceollins to significantly suppress basal and estrogen-stimulated tumor growth of ER-positive MCF-7 breast and BG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells in ovariectomized female nude mice. We further demonstrate that the effects of glyceollins on suppression of tumor growth correlate with inhibition of estrogen stimulated PgR expression. In contrast to the uterotropic activity of tamoxifen the glyceollins displayed no uterine agonist activity. The Glyceollin (I-III) compounds may represent an important component of the health effects of soy as well as represent novel anti-estrogens useful in the prevention or treatment of breast and ovarian carcinoma.

Antiestrogenic glyceollins suppress human breast and ovarian carcinoma proliferation and tumorigenesis

The present invention provides a method of making plants resistant to plant pathogens by transformation of host cells with a nucleic acid encoding a nonheme haloperoxidase. Transgenic plants which express a nonheme chloroperoxidase thereby resulting in enhanced resistance to phytopathogens are provided.

Transformation of plants with a chloroperoxidase gene to enhance disease resistance

The invention relates to two lipopeptides a1 and a2 produced by,and their use as an anitfungal agent against,Both peptides are cyclic, acidic and have broad range of antifungal and antimicrobial activity. Both peptides belong to the Bacillomycin D family. A method and composition for controlling aflatoxin contamination in plants susceptible to alflatoxin-producing fungi, like,or,is also disclosed.

Small peptides with antipathogenic activity, treated plants and methods for treating same

A lottery ticket scratching device is provided including a housing adapted to contain at least one battery and a motor assembly including a motor mounted within the housing and including a rotor. Also included is a scratch assembly in communication with the rotor and positioned at an opening of the housing for removing a film from a ticket upon the rotation of the scratch assembly. A switch is connected between the motor and the battery for selectively rotating the scratch assembly.

Portable ticket scratching device with vacuum

Growing community of inventors

Mandeville, LA, United States of America

Thomas E Cleveland