Selective amplification of DNA in PCR exponentially increases the signal in molecular diagnostics for nucleic acids, but analogous techniques exist for signal enhancement in clinical tests for proteins or cells. Instead, the signal from affinity-based measurements of these biomolecules depends linearly on probe concentration. Substituting antibody-based probes tagged for fluorescent quantification with lasing detection probes would create a new platform for biomarker quantification based on optical rather than enzymatic amplification. Here, a viral laser is constructed which bridges synthetic biology and laser physics, and demonstrates viral-lasing probes for biosensing. At the transition to lasing, photon flux from the probes increases by five orders of magnitude and narrows spectral linewidth to below 5.0 nm. Viral-lasing probes display an unprecedented >1,000,000% increase in signal from only a 50% increase in probe concentration, using fluorimeter-compatible optics, and can detect biomolecules at clinically-relevant concentrations.

The present invention provides a method for identifying a synthetic classifier including contacting at least a first and second samples derived from different groups of a cohort with a first plurality of peptides. The first plurality of peptides includes a first subset of peptides defining at least one naturally occurring amino acid sequence, and a second subset of peptides defining a plurality of variants of the first subset of peptides. The plurality of variants includes, for each one of the first subset of peptides, a variant peptide having at least one of a substitution, a deletion, an insertion, an extension, and a modification. The method further includes selecting at least one of the plurality of variants from the second subset of peptides, and defining a synthetic classifier including the at least one of the plurality of variants that distinguishes between samples derived from the first and second cohorts.

Methods for separating blood plasma from whole blood in the absence of performing centrifugation are provided. The method combines mechanical filtration and blood cell aggregation and is adapted for use in POC clinical testing.

The invention provides diagnostic tests to distinguish between different pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases.

The present invention provides a method for identifying a synthetic classifier including contacting at least a first and second samples derived from different groups of a cohort with a first plurality of peptides. The first plurality of peptides includes a first subset of peptides defining at least one naturally occurring amino acid sequence, and a second subset of peptides defining a plurality of variants of the first subset of peptides. The plurality of variants includes, for each one of the first subset of peptides, a variant peptide having at least one of a substitution, a deletion, an insertion, an extension, and a modification. The method further includes selecting at least one of the plurality of variants from the second subset of peptides, and defining a synthetic classifier including the at least one of the plurality of variants that distinguishes between samples derived from the first and second cohorts.

The invention relates to a test system comprising at least one of the following means: permeabilising means (110) and/or lysis of at least one pathogen (10) and/or at least one cell (10), means for capturing (80) and/or making (90) parts (20 and/or 40 and/or 50) of the pathogens (10) and/or cells (10), means for localising, immobilising and/or enriching (120) at least one component (40 and/or 50 and/or 20 and/or 10) of a pathogen (10) and/or a cell (10), means for image processing (160) preferably comprising an optical magnifying unit (161), enabling an optical reading out of at least one means for localising, immobilising and/or enriching (120) can be carried out.

A device and method for performing low resource processing of biological or environmental samples is disclosed. The device uses high gradient magnetic separation to manipulate magnetic or paramagnetic beads for capture and isolation of analytes (proteins or nucleic acids) from solution. A disposable transfer pipette with tip containing a copper, aluminum or steel matrix is used to i) remove capture agent-coated magnetic beads bound to sample nucleic acids or proteins from the initial sample, ii) expose the analyte-bead complex to successive processing solutions and iii) separate the concentrated analytes from the beads in the final elution step.

The invention generally relates to methods for universal target capture.

The present invention provides a method of identifying components present in a preparation of virus particles, comprising: a) analyzing the preparation of virus particles with single molecule mass spectrometry to obtain a mass histogram; and b) interpreting the mass histogram of (a) to identify different components present in the preparation.

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.