1. The virus LAVMAL comprising RNA corresponding to the cDNA of FIGS. 7A-7I.
2. The cDNA of FIGS. 7A-7I.
3. A DNA recombinant comprising the cDNA of claim 2.
4. A probe containing a nucleic acid sequence hybridizable with RNA of said LAVMAL virus of claim 1.
5. A method for identifying the presence in a host tissue of LAV virus which comprises hybridizing RNA obtained from said tissue with said probe of claim 4.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said probe can hybridize with RNA from said LAVMAL virus to identify said LAVMAL virus.
7. A peptide or fragment thereof whose amino acid sequence is encoded by an open reading frame of a cDNA sequence of the LAVMAL virus of claim 1.
8. The peptide of claim 7 encoded by a cDNA sequence from amino-acyl residue 37 to amino-acyl residue 130, or from amino-acyl residue 211 to amino-acyl residue 289, or from amino-acyl residue 488 to amino-acyl residue 530 of FIGS. 3A-3F and 7A-7I.
9. The peptide of claim 7 encoded by a cDNA sequence from amino-acyl residue 490 to amino-acyl residue 620 or from amino-acyl residue 680 to amino-acyl residue 700 of FIGS. 3A-3F and 7A-7I.
10. The peptide of claim 7 which comprises a protein or glycoprotein whose amino acid sequence is encoded by all or part of one of the following cDNA sequences of FIGS. 3A-3F and 7A-7I:
OMP or gp110 proteins, including precursors: 1 to 530;
OMP or gp110 without precursor: 34-530; and
TMP or gp41 protein: 531-877.
11. The peptide of claim 10 encoded by all or part of one of the following cDNA sequences of FIGS. 3A-3F and 7A-7I: 37-130, 211-289, 488-530, 490-620 or 680-700.
12. A method for the in vitro detection of the presence of an antibody directed against a LAV virus in a human body fluid, which comprises: contacting said body fluid with an antigen obtained from said virus LAVMAL of claim 1, said antigen consisting of a peptide or a fragment thereof whose amino acid sequence is encoded by an open reading frame of a cDNA sequence of FIGS. 7A-7I; and then detecting the immunological reaction between said antigen and said antibody.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said antigen detects said LAVMAL virus of claim 1.
14. The method of claim 12 which comprises the steps of:
a) depositing a predetermined amount of said antigen into a cup of a titration microplate;
b) introducing increasing dilutions of said body fluid into said cup;
c) incubating said microplate;
d) washing the microplate with a buffer;
e) adding into said cup a labelled antibody directed against blood immunoglobulins; and then
f) determining whether an antigen-antibody-complex has formed in said cup which is indicative of the presence of a LAV antibody in said body fluid.
15. A diagnostic kit for the in vitro detection of antibodies against a LAV virus, which kit comprises: an antigen consisting of a peptide of claim 7.
16. The kit of claim 15 wherein the antigen consists of a peptide of said LAVMAL virus of claim 1, encoded by the open reading frame of a cDNA sequence of said LAVMAL virus.
17. An immunogenic composition comprising: an antigen of the LAVMAL virus of claim 1 or an immunogenic peptide or fragment thereof encoded by RNA of said virus; and a physiologically acceptable carrier.
18. The immunogenic composition of claim 17 wherein said peptide is the gp110 envelope glycoprotein or a fragment thereof.
19. The immunogenic composition of claim 17 wherein the peptide comprises a protein or glycoprotein hwose amino acid sequence is encoded by all or part of one of the following cDNA sequences of FIGS. 3a-3F and 7A-7I:
OMP or gp110 proteins, including precursors: 1 to 530;
OMP or gp110 without precursor: 34-530; and
TMP or gp41:531-877.
20. The composition of claim 19 wherein the protein or glycoprotein is encoded by all or part of one of the following cDNA sequences of FIGS. 3A-3F and 7A-7I: 37-130, 211-289, 488-530, 490-620 or 680-700.
21. An antibody formed against a peptide of claim 7.
22. A cell transformed with a DNA recombinant of claim 3.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A hydrogen source comprising one or more hydrogen generating elements arranged in a pressure vessel and an ignition control system associated with the hydrogen generating element(s), wherein the one or more hydrogen generating elements comprise a plurality of pellets of an ignitable chemical mixture that on thermal decomposition evolve hydrogen gas, wherein the ignition control system comprises a plurality of igniters arranged to ignite the pellets on an individual basis, and wherein the ignition control system is arranged to control the rate of ignition of the pellets.
2. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source is man portable.
3. (canceled)
4. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein thermal insulation is provided within the pressure vessel to reduce heat transfer from the one or more hydrogen generating elements.
5. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, further comprising a regulator to control the flow of evolved hydrogen out from the pressure vessel.
6. A hydrogen source according to claim 5, wherein the regulator is integrated within the pressure vessel.
7. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, further comprising a filter to purify the evolved hydrogen.
8. A hydrogen source according to claim 7, wherein the filter is integrated within the pressure vessel.
9. A hydrogen source according to claim 7, wherein the filter is one of an activated carbon filter, a porous stainless steel filter or a sintered metal filter.
10. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the or each hydrogen generating element comprises a pellet holder provided with one or more recesses.
11. A hydrogen source according to claim 10, wherein the pellet holder comprises a rigid, porous material.
12. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein at least one hydrogen generating element further comprises a gas handling layer provided with channels arranged to direct the flow of evolved hydrogen.
13. A hydrogen source according to claim 12, wherein the gas handling layer comprises a metallic layer arranged to contact the inner surface of the pressure vessel, thereby conducting heat to the exterior.
14. A hydrogen source according to claim 4, wherein the thermal insulation comprises one or more of a felt layer, a ceramic, asbestos or rockwool.
15. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the one or more igniters comprise heated resistance wires or pyrotechnic igniters.
16. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the igniters are placed in contact with the pellets.
17. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the ignition control system comprises activation means to activate the igniters, which means are selected from a battery, an electrochemical cell, a fuel cell, capacitor or a power supply.
18. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the ignition control system further comprises a pressure transducer to determine the pressure of hydrogen within the pressure vessel.
19. A hydrogen source according to claim 18, wherein the output from the pressure transducer is used to trigger the decomposition of the pellets in order to maintain the pressure of hydrogen at a pre-set level or in response to demand from external equipment.
20. A hydrogen source according to claim 18, wherein the activation of the igniters is prevented if the output from the pressure transducer indicates that the pressure within the pressure vessel is above a safe limit.
21. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the ignition control system further comprises a temperature probe to determine the temperature within the pressure vessel.
22. A hydrogen source according to claim 21, wherein the activation of the igniters is prevented if the output from the temperature probe indicates that the temperature within the pressure vessel is above a safe limit.
23. A hydrogen source according to claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel is adapted to be rechargeable with replacement pellets for re-use.
24-25. (canceled)
26. Portable equipment comprising a hydrogen source according to claim 1.
27. Equipment according to claim 26 in the form of a fuel cell system.
28. (canceled)
29. A hydrogen source comprising one or more hydrogen generating elements arranged in a pressure vessel and an ignition control system associated with the hydrogen generating element(s), wherein the one or more hydrogen generating elements comprise a plurality of pellets of an ignitable chemical mixture that on thermal decomposition evolve hydrogen gas, wherein the ignition control system is arranged to control the rate of ignition of the pellets, and wherein the ignition control system comprises a plurality of igniters, one or more igniters being associated with each individual pellet to permit successive or simultaneous ignition of pellets in a controllable manner.
30. A hydrogen source comprising one or more hydrogen generating elements arranged in a pressure vessel and an ignition control system associated with the hydrogen generating element(s), wherein the one or more hydrogen generating elements comprise a plurality of pellets of an ignitable chemical mixture that on thermal decomposition evolve hydrogen gas, wherein the ignition control system comprises a plurality of igniters arranged to ignite the pellets on an individual basis and the pellets are sufficiently spaced or separated from one another to prevent cross-ignition, and wherein the ignition control system is arranged to control the rate of ignition of the pellets.