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EP 0 975 768 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 21.01.1999 (43) Date of publication: 02.02.2000 Bulletin 2000/05 (21) Application number: 98924104.7 (22) Date of filing: 09.04.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/55, C12N 9/18, C12P 7/42, C12P 19/00, D21H 17/00, A23K 1/165 // (C12N9/18, C12R1:645) (86) International application number: PCT/EP9802/080 (87) International publication number: WO 9846/768 (22.10.1998 Gazette 1998/42)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 14.04.1997 GB 9707540 (71) Applicants: THE BABRAHAM INSTITUTE Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT (GB) THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU (GB)	(72) Inventors: FILLINGHAM, Ian, John OakhamRutland LE15 7DS (GB) HAZLEWOOD, Geoffrey, Peter Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1UG (GB) GILBERT, Harry, John Gateshead,Tyne & Wear NE9 5XS (GB) (74) Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE  Patent- und RechtsanwälteArabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)