(19)

(11)

EP 1 053 358 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 22.11.2000 Bulletin 2000/47 (21) Application number: 99905936.3 (22) Date of filing: 10.02.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12Q 1/70, G01N 33/53, G01N 33/566, C12N 7/00, C12N 15/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US9902/912 (87) International publication number: WO 9940/227 (12.08.1999 Gazette 1999/32)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 10.02.1998 US 74274 P (71) Applicant: THE UAB RESEARCH FOUNDATION Birmingham, AL 35294-0111 (US)	(72) Inventors: KAPPES, John, C. Birmingham, AL 35242 (US) WU, Xiaoyun Birmingham, AL 35242 (US) (74) Representative: Bryer, Kenneth Robert  K.R. Bryer & Co.7 Gay Street Bath BA1 2PH Bath BA1 2PH (GB)