A method and a kit for determining the amount of anammox bacteria in a bioreactor, comprising the steps of: i) removing a sample from the bioreactor; iii) mixing the sample with alkali; v) heating the samples to at least 60° C.; vi) separating solid components; vii) adding a reducing agent to the liquid phase; viii) measuring the translucence of the liquid phase in a spectrophotometer at three wavelengths ranging from 500 to 600 nm; ix) comparing the measured translucence to a reference spectrum.

The present invention relates to a diagnostic peptide and methods, kits and systems for the in vitro diagnostic of an infection in a subject. The methods using the peptide of the invention comprise the steps of: i) providing a bodily fluid sample, ii) contacting the bodily fluid sample with a peptide comprising a fluorescent agent having an emission wavelength of 650-900 nm and a non-fluorescent agent having an absorption wavelength of 650-900 nm, for quenching said emission of said fluorescent agent, and a cleavage site located between said fluorescent agent and first non-fluorescent agent, the cleavage site being specific for a viral protease, iii) monitoring the fluorescence in the range of 650-900 nm from the peptide in step ii), wherein an increase in fluorescence in the range of 650-900 nm is indicative for the presence of a viral protease in the sample.

The biological functionality of living microbial spores is modified using phenotypic engineering to endow the resulting modified spores with novel functionality that extends the usefulness of the spores for a variety of practical applications including, for example, sterility testing, the release of active compounds, and cell-based biosensing systems. An embodiment entails engineering Bacillus spores to acquire synthetic new functions that enable the modified spores to sense and rapidly transduce specific germination signals in their surroundings. The newly acquired functions allow the spores to perform, for example, as self-reporters of cellular viability, self-indicating components of cell-based biosensors, and in other analytical systems. Also disclosed are methods for testing adequate sterility of a system by using engineered spores.

A system for detecting microbial cells in a sample includes an apparatus configured to image at least one cell in the sample, and a cooling device. The apparatus includes a holder having an internal portion and an external portion which are configured so as to secure a membrane between the portions, and an imaging device disposed above the external portion and configured to permit examination of the at least one cell. The apparatus further includes a stage attachable to a stage platform configured to connect to a motor, and a projecting member projecting from an upper surface of the stage and configured to receive and exchange solution. The cooling device includes a thermoelectric cooling element and/or at least one tube configured to circulate a cooling medium beneath the stage so as to cool the sample.

A system and method for geophysical data collection, for use with resistivity and induced polarization. The system and method include the use of a single voltage reference wire to which all voltage recorders or nodes are connected by means of a piercing wire connector, the voltage recorders providing a measurement of the potential voltage between the reference wire and the ground and allowing for calculation of relative voltage potentials between adjacent recorders.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a metal, a metal aggregation inhibitor, and a colour changing agent. The metal is bindable to the colour changing agent to provide a change in colour on binding and/or release thereof.

A method for detecting, in a blood or tissue sample, dormant or cell wall deficient Mycobacterium species, said method including using a Ziehl Neelsen stain as hereinbefore defined, which includes treating the sample with carbol fuchsin, followed by treating the sample with a decolouriser and with a counter stain.

A method for determining the degree of sensitivity of a strain of fungus to an antifungal agent by using the possible change in a chitin level in a population of cells of a strain of fungus to an antifungal agent. The change is determined compared to the chitin level of a population of cells of said strain of fungus in the absence of antifungal agent.

A method for detecting a food spoilage microbe in a food sample comprising contacting a food sample with a peptide substrate, comprising a fluorescent agent having an emission wavelength of 650-900 nm, a non-fluorescent agent having an absorption wavelength of 650-900 nm, for quenching said emission of said first fluorescent agent, and a cleavage site located between said fluorescent agent and said non-fluorescent agent, b) monitoring the fluorescence of the sample containing the peptide substrate in step a), wherein an increase in fluorescence is indicative for the presence of food spoilage microbes.

The biological functionality of living microbial spores is modified using phenotypic engineering to endow the resulting modified spores with novel functionality that extends the usefulness of the spores for a variety of practical applications including, for example, sterility testing, the release of active compounds, and cell-based biosensing systems. An embodiment entails engineering Bacillus spores to acquire synthetic new functions that enable the modified spores to sense and rapidly transduce specific germination signals in their surroundings. The newly acquired functions allow the spores to perform, for example, as self-reporters of cellular viability, self-indicating components of cell-based biosensors, and in other analytical systems. Also disclosed are methods for testing adequate sterility of a system by using engineered spores.