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.

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetic bacteria. The invention further provides eukaryotic cells engineered with single-celled organisms to allow for multimodal observation of the eukaryotic cells. Each imaging method (or modality) allows the visualization of different aspects of anatomy and physiology, and combining these allows the imager to learn more about the subject being imaged.

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetic bacteria. The invention further provides eukaryotic cells engineered with single-celled organisms to allow for multimodal observation of the eukaryotic cells. Each imaging method (or modality) allows the visualization of different aspects of anatomy and physiology, and combining these allows the imager to learn more about the subject being imaged.

The invention generally relates to a system for isolating or separating a target from a sample. In certain aspects, processes performed by the target capture system include introducing a plurality of magnetic particles, in which a plurality of the particles include at least one binding moiety specific to a target, into a sample to form at least one target/particle complex and applying a magnetic field to isolate the magnetic particle/target complexes from the sample. The process starts at inputting a sample into the system and ends at delivering a capture target or nucleic acids of the target into a container for further analysis.

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetic bacteria. The invention further provides eukaryotic cells engineered with single-celled organisms to allow for multimodal observation of the eukaryotic cells. Each imaging method (or modality) allows the visualization of different aspects of anatomy and physiology, and combining these allows the imager to learn more about the subject being imaged.

The invention generally relates to a system for isolating or separating a target from a sample. In certain aspects, processes performed by the target capture system include introducing a plurality of magnetic particles, in which a plurality of the particles include at least one binding moiety specific to a target, into a sample to form at least one target/particle complex and applying a magnetic field to isolate the magnetic particle/target complexes from the sample. The process starts at inputting a sample into the system and ends at delivering a capture target or nucleic acids of the target into a container for further analysis.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the influenza A virus are described, which have the advantageous and unpredicted property of being able to bind a plurality of subtypes of the influenza A virus. One preferred embodiment is the antibody designated as Fab28, which displays a neutralizing activity against a plurality of subtypes of the influenza A virus. Anti-idiotype antibodies directed against the monoclonal antibodies described herein, immunogenic or vaccine compositions comprising the monoclonal antibodies of the invention are also described, as well as therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic applications for the monoclonal antibodies described herein. The monoclonal antibodies can also be used for testing antibody preparations to be used as vaccines.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the influenza A virus are described, which have the advantageous and unpredicted property of being able to bind a plurality of subtypes of the influenza A virus. One preferred embodiment is the antibody designated as Fab28, which displays a neutralizing activity against a plurality of subtypes of the influenza A virus. Anti-idiotype antibodies directed against the monoclonal antibodies of the invention, immunogenic or vaccine compositions comprising the monoclonal antibodies of the invention are also described, as well as therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic applications for the monoclonal antibodies of the invention. The monoclonal antibodies of the invention can also be used for testing antibody preparations to be used as vaccines.

The present invention relates to novel strains of avian reovirus that were isolated from clinical cases of viral arthritis/tenosynovitis in chickens in the southeast United States. The invention is directed to these novel group 1 and group 2 avian reoviruses, diagnostic assays using antibodies and/or nucleotide- or amino acid-specific components of such viruses, such as the S1 gene encoding the sigma C protein, and to vaccines that protect chickens from disease caused by such viruses.

An electrochemical sensor and a method for detecting pathogenic metabolites such as viral or bacterial metabolites are presented. The electrochemical sensor includes a first electrode modified with oligosaccharide molecules. In the detection method, a first electrode modified with oligosaccharide molecules is provided and a sample is applied on the first electrode. An electrochemical response is then measured using the first electrode to detect pathogenic metabolites in the sample.