A method for characterizing stem cell differentiation includes harvesting differentiation media supernatant containing secreted analytes from key time points during a stem cell differentiation, performing at least one of a qualitative and a quantitative analysis of the differentiation media supernatant with respect to at least one secreted analyte, and identifying trends in analyte expression based on at least one of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the differentiation media supernatant.

A method for characterizing stem cell differentiation includes harvesting differentiation media supernatant containing secreted analytes from key time points during a stem cell differentiation, performing at least one of a qualitative and a quantitative analysis of the differentiation media supernatant with respect to at least one secreted analyte, and identifying trends in analyte expression based on at least one of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the differentiation media supernatant.

The present invention relates to a microorganism which can act as a biomarker of alcoholic fatty liver disease, and relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating alcoholic fatty liver disease, a food composition for preventing or improving alcoholic fatty liver disease, or a probiotics composition for preventing or improving alcoholic fatty liver disease, comprising the strain as an active ingredient.

Devices for the propagation or storage of microorganisms are provided including a first layer that has a first portion of a surface of the first layer, to which a first water-swellable gelling agent comprising a first clay is affixed. The devices further include a second layer that is separable from the first layer and has a first portion of a surface of the second layer, to which a second water-swellable gelling agent is affixed. Methods for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample are provided. The methods include providing a device, separating the first layer from the second layer, adding an aliquot of a sample containing at least one microorganism onto the first or second water-swellable gelling agent to form an inoculated device, laminating the first layer back to the second layer, and incubating the inoculated device. Kits and methods of making the devices are also provided.

Devices for the propagation or storage of microorganisms are provided including a first layer that has a first portion of a surface of the first layer, to which a first water-swellable gelling agent comprising a first clay is affixed. The devices further include a second layer that is separable from the first layer and has a first portion of a surface of the second layer, to which a second water-swellable gelling agent is affixed. Methods for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample are provided. The methods include providing a device, separating the first layer from the second layer, adding an aliquot of a sample containing at least one microorganism onto the first or second water-swellable gelling agent to form an inoculated device, laminating the first layer back to the second layer, and incubating the inoculated device. Kits and methods of making the devices are also provided.

Methods and kits are provided for analyzing a fluid with a flow cytometer to determine the concentration of a target component in the fluid. At least two bead groups are combined with the fluid, wherein each of the bead groups includes surface-functionalized beads that have a different size from the other bead groups. The target component can bind to the functional groups on the beads, and the beads with the targets can be counted with the flow cytometer. Based on the numbers of beads with targets in each group, a most probable number (MPN) of the target component can be determined.

A method for determining a quantity G.sub.inhib quantifying the inhibitory capacity of a molecule on a type of microorganism includes: preparing a plurality of samples, including microorganisms of the type, a nutrient medium for the microorganism and an initial amount of the molecule per microorganism increasing in a range [Q.sub.min, Q.sub.max] as a function of a classification of the samples; measuring the growth of the microorganisms in the samples as a function of time; and determining the quantity G.sub.inhib as a function of the measurements of the growth. Determination of the quantity G.sub.inhib includes: for each sample, calculating a value reflecting the growth of the microorganism of said type based on measurements of growth; classifying the values calculated for the samples as a function of the classification of the samples; and determining the quantity G.sub.inhib as a function of the variation of the classified values.

A disposable microbe-collecting carrier cartridge and a carrier treating apparatus which efficiently convert microbes collected on a carrier into a solution and prevent variations in the amount of retrieval of microbes upon concentration on a filter are provided. A cartridge formed of an upper lid having a plurality of through holes, a container in an inverted-cone shape having both of a liquid storage sink unit having a filter at the bottom and an air suction path, and a support base for setting up a thermoplastic carrier, and a carrier treating apparatus formed of a dispensing nozzle for liquid supply, a liquid supply mechanism, a liquid heating mechanism, and a suction pump for filtration are prepared. Warm water is supplied onto the filter set up on a bottom surface of the inverted-cone-shaped. The contact with the warm water causes the carrier to be solated filtered through the filter.

A system that non-destructively and quickly determines a degree of senescence of cells to be cultured by utilizing the discovery that when cells are adhered to a surface of a culture substrate in a culture medium, the degree of cytoplasm spreading on the culture substrate is indicative of the degree of senescence. The degree of the spreading can be detected based on a result of brightness, reflectance, or image processing, and the degree of senescence is determined. It is also possible to determine the degree of senescence from a rate of the spread.

A biomass containment device (BCD) and methods of measuring microbial growth or enzyme activity in the presence of insoluble substrates using the BCD is described. The BCD is compatible with microbial growth and enzyme assays, is sterilizable, is reusable, and the size can be varied to fit any container.