PATENT ABSTRACTS

amount of analyte in the zone, applying a solvent to substantially the center of the zone to chromatographically separate the unbound labeled indicator from the zone, and measuring the amount of labeled indicator remaining in the zone.

4774175

I M M U N O C H E M I C A L M E T H O D S F O R T H E D E T E C T I O N O F

A N T I B O D Y A G A I N S T H T L V - I I I

Tse W Chang, Ikunoshi Kato, Pranab Chanda, Nancy Chang assigned to Centocor Inc

Gene segments of human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) were expressed in E. coli as peptides that are reactive with sera from patients with acquired immune deficiency syn- drome (AIDS). Among recombinant peptides one designated HTLV-III polypeptide 121, con- tained 85 amino acid residues encoded by a gene segment in the env-lor region of the HTLV-III genome. The polypeptide is strongly reactive with AIDS patient sera. The peptide produced and purified as a fusion protein on a large scale. Solid phase immunoassays employing this recombinant peptide as an immunoabsorbent can reliably and reproducibly detect antibodies in sera of patients with HTLV-III infection. In two representative serum panels, the assay detec- ted the presence of antibodies in 120 of 121 sera from patients with AIDS or AIDS-related com- plex (ARC), and only in 1 of 92 normal controls. Based upon HTLV-III polypeptide 121 as immunoreactive agent, sensitive and specific immunoassays for HTLV-III infection have been developed.

4774176

S E N S I T I V E T E S T S F O R M A L I G N A N C I E S B A S E D O N D N A

D E T E C T I O N

A Arthu Gottlieb

A more convenient, more sensitive test for detec- tion of certain malignancies in human and animal subjects is disclosed. Sera from test sub- jects is mixed with labeled DNA in the presence of an enzyme-conjugated matrix. Sera from nor- mal and cancerous subjects react differently with the matrix, permitting a diagnosis of the subject.

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4774177

I M M U N O A S S A Y M E T H O D F O R D E T E C T I O N O F A N T I B O D I E S

A N D A N T I G E N S

Janet M Marks assigned to Vet-Test Partners

A method for detecting the presence of antibody or antigen in a liquid sample suspected of con- taining the antibody or antigen. To a test panel comprising a nitrocellulose carrier having stably bonded thereto a microsized spot consisting of either a primary ligand for that antibody or an antibody for that antigen, is added sufficient li- quid containing non-specific globulin for the material of the spot, to block adjacent binding sites. Then a small liquid drop of the sample suspected of containing the antibody or antigen is added. After incubation of the panel, in tests for detecting an antibody, a drop of liquid con- taining labeled antiglobulin, which is an anti- immunoglobulin for that antibody, is added. In tests for detecting an antigen, the specific antibody-enzyme conjugate is added. After fur- ther incubation wash solution is added to the spot, and the test panel is assayed for presence of the label.

4774187

C E L L - C U L T U R E A P P A R A T U S

Jurgen Lehmann, Brunswick, Federal Republic Of Germany assigned to S Diessel Gmbh & Co; GBF Gesellschaft fuer biotechnologische For- schung m

The invention concerns an apparatus for growing cell cultures wherein the cultures are located in at least one liquid nutrient medium and the nutrient medium or media are in- troduced through at least one pump-driven feed line, and where a gas (oxygen, nitrogen, air or the like) is introduced into the head room above the liquid level of the closed container, the gas pre- ssure being kept constant in the head room, this apparatus being designed in such a manner as to prevent effectively injury to the free cells per- force ejected when evacuating the nutrient media. To that end the invention provides an overflow line communicating with the liquid in the container and terminating outside this con- tainer, its free end being located so much above the liquid level in the container that the pressure generated by the liquid column in the overflow line balances the gas pressure in the container head room.