The present invention relates to DNA sequences encoding Vmp-like polypeptides of pathogenic Borrelia, the use of the DNA sequences in recombinant vectors to express polypeptides, the encoded amino acid sequences, application of the DNA and amino acid sequences to the production of polypeptides as antigens for immunoprophylaxis, immunotherapy, and immunodiagnosis. Also disclosed are the use of the nucleic acid sequences as probes or primers for the detection of organisms causing Lyme disease, relapsing fever, or related disorders, and kits designed to facilitate methods of using the described polypeptides, DNA segments and antibodies.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for easily and efficiently producing cellulose beads which have pore shape suitable for an adsorbent and of which adsorption performance is excellent without using highly toxic and highly corrosive auxiliary raw material and without industrially disadvantageous cumbersome step. The method for producing porous cellulose beads according to the present invention is characterized in comprising (a) the step of preparing a fine cellulose dispersion by mixing a low temperature alkaline aqueous solution and cellulose, (b) the step of preparing a mixed liquid by adding a crosslinking agent to the fine cellulose dispersion, (c) the step of preparing an emulsion by dispersing the mixed liquid in a dispersion medium, (d) the step of contacting the emulsion with a coagulating solvent.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for easily and efficiently producing cellulose beads which have pore shape suitable for an adsorbent and of which adsorption performance is excellent without using highly toxic and highly corrosive auxiliary raw material and without industrially disadvantageous cumbersome step. The method for producing porous cellulose beads according to the present invention is characterized in comprising (a) the step of preparing a fine cellulose dispersion by mixing a low temperature alkaline aqueous solution and cellulose, (b) the step of preparing a mixed liquid by adding a crosslinking agent to the fine cellulose dispersion, (c) the step of preparing an emulsion by dispersing the mixed liquid in a dispersion medium, (d) the step of contacting the emulsion with a coagulating solvent.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique to create novel engineered protein ligands that, when immobilized through a lysine residue (its side chain -amino group) which allows for efficient immobilization to a carrier, show the optimum binding capacity and binding efficiency to a target molecule. The present invention provides an engineered protein having a sequence obtained by replacing all the lysine residues in Protein A, which is the most typical protein ligand, with other amino acids, and adding lysine at a terminal; and an affinity separation matrix in which such an engineered protein is immobilized on a water-insoluble carrier by reductive amination or the like. This affinity separation matrix is characterized by its high binding capacity to a target molecule even when the immobilized amount of the ligand is small.

A method for immobilizing a ligand on a formyl group-containing insoluble base material includes producing an imine by mixing the ligand and the formyl group-containing insoluble base material, and reducing the imine by using a borane complex, wherein the ligand comprises an amino group and has a specific affinity for a target compound, and wherein the borane complex has a Lewis base ligand having pK.sub.a of 6.5 or less.

A method for immobilizing a ligand on a formyl group-containing insoluble base material includes producing an imine by mixing the ligand and the formyl group-containing insoluble base material, and reducing the imine by using a borane complex, wherein the ligand comprises an amino group and has a specific affinity for a target compound, and wherein the borane complex has a Lewis base ligand having pK.sub.a of 6.5 or less.

Haemostatic materials are described, particularly haemostatic materials comprising an oxidised cellulose substrate covalently immobilised to a plurality of fibrinogen-binding peptides. Methods are described for covalently attaching fibrinogen binding peptides to oxidised cellulose substrates ad other substrates that have carboxyl groups on their surface.

Haemostatic materials are described, particularly haemostatic materials comprising an oxidised cellulose substrate covalently immobilised to a plurality of fibrinogen-binding peptides. Methods are described for covalently attaching fibrinogen binding peptides to oxidised cellulose substrates ad other substrates that have carboxyl groups on their surface.

An object of the present invention is to develop techniques to create novel engineered protein ligands that maximize the binding capacity and binding efficiency to a target molecule of affinity separation matrices on which the protein ligands are immobilized. The present invention provides protein ligands (variants) that can be immobilized on carriers in a manner shown in schematic FIG. 1(4)-(15), as well as antibody affinity separation matrices obtained by immobilizing such a protein ligand on a water-insoluble carrier. The affinity separation matrices are characterized by their excellent binding capacity and binding efficiency to a target molecule.

An object of the present invention is to develop techniques to create novel engineered protein ligands that maximize the binding capacity and binding efficiency to a target molecule of affinity separation matrices on which the protein ligands are immobilized. The present invention provides protein ligands (variants) that can be immobilized on carriers in a manner shown in schematic FIG. 1(4)-(15), as well as antibody affinity separation matrices obtained by immobilizing such a protein ligand on a water-insoluble carrier. The affinity separation matrices are characterized by their excellent binding capacity and binding efficiency to a target molecule.