A lateral flow assay is capable of detecting and differentiating viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In some preferred embodiments, bimodal methods and devices determine if an infection is bacterial and/or viral. A dual use two strip sample analysis device includes a first lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect MxA and a low level of C-reactive protein and a second lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect high levels of C-reactive protein. In some preferred embodiments, the sample is a fingerstick blood sample.

The present invention relates to a novel antibody against HERV-K envelope that targets a conserved region not affected by glycosylation or by native conformation, and its use in diagnostics and/or in therapy.

Immobilization and magnetic extraction of pathogens and pathogen components The application describes a method for reducing the concentration of pathogens and/or pathogen components in an aqueous or body fluid sample. Specifically, the method relates to incubating the sample with superparamagnetic iron-based particles attached to a target binding peptide and immobilising the superparamagnetic iron-based particles with a magnetic field and thereby separating the pathogen-bound and/or pathogen component-bound superparamagnetic iron-based particles from the sample. Furthermore, the application relates to a method for identifying pathogens in an aqueous or body fluid sample a use of superparamagnetic iron-based particles for reducing the concentration of pathogens and/or pathogen components in an aqueous or body fluid sample. In addition, a use of superparamagnetic iron-based particles for identifying pathogens in an aqueous or body fluid sample is disclosed. Finally, superparamagnetic ironoxide nanoparticles (SPION's) are disclosed, wherein the SPIONs are linked to a target binding peptide. wherein the target is a pathogen, and/or a pathogen component.

A lateral flow test device includes a test chamber having a detection aperture. The lateral flow test device also includes an optical detector configured to receive light from an assay test strip through the detection aperture when the assay test strip is provided in the test chamber. The test chamber is configured for manual feed of at least a portion of the assay test strip passed the detection aperture. The optical detector is configured to detect one or more tracking features associated with the assay test strip so as to determine when at least a test line on the assay test strip is detectable through the detection aperture.

An apparatus and method for characterizing a target, e.g., microbial samples or biological toxins, includes labeling the target with a biomolecular recognition construct and measuring an atomic-spectra signal of the biomolecular recognition construct. The method can include heating the labeled target before measuring the atomic-spectra signal. The atomic-spectra signal can be measured by performing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The atomic-spectra signal can be measured by performing spark induced breakdown spectroscopy. The biomolecular recognition construct can be prepared by tagging a biological scaffolding with a metal atom or ion. In an aspect in which the target includes a microbial sample, the biological scaffolding can include an antibody against epitopes present on bacterial surface, the antibody linked to a heavy metal. In an aspect in which the target includes a biological toxin, the biological scaffolding can include an antibody against the biological toxin linked to heavy metals.

The object is to provide a lysis method, lysis treatment solution, detection method using an immunochromatographic device, and detection kit comprising an immunochromatographic device for detecting whether causative bacteria of mastitis are coliform bacteria or not by using milk of a livestock animal. There is provided a method for lysing coliform bacteria, which comprises the step of mixing a lysis agent containing a lytic enzyme, and at least one kind of anionic surfactant, and preferably further containing at least one kind of nonionic surfactant, with milk obtained form a livestock animal to lyse coliform bacteria existing in the milk. The lytic enzyme is preferably lysozyme.

Air flow systems, devices and methods for monitoring airborne agents include airborne agent collectors. Airborne agent collectors for collecting and detecting the presence and/or identification of an airborne agent(s) include a soluble and hydrophilic polycaprolactone (PCL) that has been treated with a base (e.g., a base having a pH greater than 8 (e.g., NaOH, NaHCO.sub.3, KOH, Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, and CA(OH).sub.2) and in some embodiments, also treated with a neutralizing agent for increasing hydrophilicity. Detection and identification of airborne agents captured by an airborne agent collector can be performed using any suitable analytical protocols. Such protocols are well known in the art, and include nucleic acid assays, protein assays (e.g., mass spectrometry), and bioassays (e.g., in vitro and in vivo assays). The airborne agent collectors can be used for the detection and identification of nucleic acid from cells or organisms of any type (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi) in fixed structures (e.g., homes, sports arenas, theaters, buildings such as offices, laboratories, hospitals, schools, airports, train stations, bus stations, etc.) and in mobile, portable devices or machines (e.g., aircraft, automobiles, air-freshener, air-purifier, air re-circulator, vacuum cleaner, etc.).

A lateral flow assay is capable of detecting and differentiating viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In some preferred embodiments, bimodal methods and devices determine if an infection is bacterial and/or viral. A dual use two strip sample analysis device includes a first lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect MxA and a low level of C-reactive protein and a second lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect high levels of C-reactive protein. In some preferred embodiments, the sample is a fingerstick blood sample.

Novel means that enables detection of the monocytogenes bacterium alone distinctly from other bacteria belonging to the genus Listeria with sufficiently high accuracy is disclosed. The present inventors intensively analyzed the genome of the monocytogenes bacterium to identify two genes (the lmo0084 gene and the lmo2736 gene) as target regions with which the monocytogenes bacterium can be specifically detected distinctly from other bacteria belonging to the genus Listeria utilizing a nucleic acid amplification method. By a further intensive study of the base sequences of these two genes, primer setting regions for highly accurate, specific detection of the monocytogenes bacterium alone were identified, and preferred particular examples of PCR primer sets, LAMP primer sets, and real-time PCR primer-probe sets were established.

A lateral flow assay is capable of detecting and differentiating viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In some preferred embodiments, bimodal methods and devices determine if an infection is bacterial and/or viral. A dual use two strip sample analysis device includes a first lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect MxA and a low level of C-reactive protein and a second lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect high levels of C-reactive protein. In some preferred embodiments, the sample is a fingerstick blood sample.