The present invention provides an in vitro method for concentrating infectious pathogens found in a biological sample obtained from an individual who is suspected of being infected with the pathogens. Provided herein is also an in vitro method for reducing or eliminating blood cells from a sample obtained from an individual suspected to being infected with an infectious pathogen. The present invention also provides a method for diagnosing malaria and a method for determining if an individual is infected with a pathogen. Provided herein is also a concentrator and a kit for use with the methods.

Provided are methods for preparing a biological sample for analysis for the presence of a virus, or an exosome or other extra-cellular vesicle, by matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). The preparation involves mixing the sample with at least one cationic viral envelope/vesicle disruptor compound, or at least one disulphide reducing agent, or a combination thereof; and at least one mass spectrometry grade solvent. Also provided are methods for analysing a biological sample for the presence of a virus, or an exosome or other extra-cellular vesicle, using MALDI-ToF MS once prepared.

Disclosed are compositions, methods and systems for detecting MRSA, for example MRSA nasal colonization. In certain embodiments, the methods use bacteriophage-based amplification of the signal in detection of bacteria and other microorganisms to detect MRSA. The methods for detecting MRSA may include preparing an assay comprising a selective agent and a cocktail comprising at least two different types of recombinant bacteriophages, incubating the sample in the assay, capturing an indicator protein product, and detecting an indicator protein product produced by the recombinant bacteriophage, wherein positive detection of the indicator protein product indicates that MRSA is present in the sample.

The present invention relates to a low-cost, thermally reversible valve for paper-fluidic diagnostic devices. In particular, this invention demonstrates a tunable valve mechanism fabricated by wax-ink printing and localized heating via thin-film resistors to sequentially release liquids through a cellulose or nitrocellulose membrane. The wax-ink valve can obstruct fluid flow for a sustained time and are thermally actuated to release a controlled amount of liquid past the valve. This integrated paper-fluidic diagnostic assay device requires minimal user involvement, can be easily manufactured and tuned to meet various fluid delivery timing and incubation needs.

Provided is a test system including at least the following: permeabilising means and/or lysis of at least one pathogen and/or at least one cell, means for capturing and/or making parts of the pathogens and/or cells, means for localising, immobilising and/or enriching at least one component of a pathogen and/or a cell, means for image processing preferably including an optical magnifying unit, enabling an optical reading out of at least one means for localising, immobilising and/or enriching can be carried out.

An open-cell foam structure that is impregnated with a disinfectant and used to remove pathogens from air, water, and surfaces, and kill the pathogens

Nanostructured model device of energy sensing and monitoring apparatus comprises arrays of orderly nanotubes parallel oriented forming 3D cross-bar with vertically oriented nanopillars membrane through self-assembly affixed onto an electrode; the membrane comprises active sites of an innate Heat Shock Protein (HSP) cross-linked with conductive polymers on an electrode to be able to monitor toxic protein β-amyloid (Aβ) energy landscape change, and the reversed membrane potential was restored in the presence of an antibiotic drug. By depositing the HSP60 polymer mixtures on a top of a MMP-2 membrane, it promoted a moonlighting protein network that was able to 97.3% impaired Aβ refolding with imprecision 0.05%, which was not depending on antibiotic drug's concentration, wherein to be able to maintain the RMP.

A system for obtaining clearance comprises a mechanism to identify the user and generate an identification signal; an analytical toilet comprising a bowl to receive excreta from the user; an analyzer configured to analyze the sample to detect one or more antibodies in a sample of the excreta or sputum and to generate an analysis signal; a processor configured to receive the identification signal and the analysis signal; determine therefrom the status of the user with respect to the one or more antibodies; and transmit a report to an authority, the report comprising the identity and the status of the user with respect to the antibodies detected. A method for obtaining clearance comprises linking a user to an analytical toilet; receiving a sample of excreta from the user in the analytical toilet; analyzing the sample of excreta in an analytical toilet to detect one or more antibodies; processing results from the analytical toilet and determining the status of the user with respect to the antibodies detected; submitting the identity and the status of the user with respect to the antibodies detected to an authority.

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 having a pH greater than 8 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 include nucleic acid assays, protein assays, and bioassays. The airborne agent collectors can be used for the detection and identification of nucleic acid from cells or organisms of any type in fixed structures and in mobile, portable devices or machines.

The present invention relates to a low-cost, thermally reversible valve for paper-fluidic diagnostic devices. In particular, this invention demonstrates a tunable valve mechanism fabricated by wax-ink printing and localized heating via thin-film resistors to sequentially release liquids through a cellulose or nitrocellulose membrane. The wax-ink valve can obstruct fluid flow for a sustained time and are thermally actuated to release a controlled amount of liquid past the valve. This integrated paper-fluidic diagnostic assay device requires minimal user involvement, can be easily manufactured and tuned to meet various fluid delivery timing and incubation needs.