The present invention relates to the diagnosis, the prevention and the treatment of demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), in particular disorders exhibiting altered levels of antibodies directed against α1-3-galactose, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The diagnosis of MS and CIS still suffers from a lack of reliable biomarkers and there is cure for these diseases, except medication acting on the immune component of the overt disease, with the usual side effects of the immunosuppression or anti inflammation intended to relieve the associated symptoms. The inventors showed that there is a significant decrease in the levels of antibodies directed against α1-3-galactose in individuals having a MS or a CIS. In addition, the present invention relates to the prevention and/or the treatment of a demyelinating disorder of the CNS in an individual, comprising a step of administering a compound suitable for generating an immune reaction directed against α1-3-galactose in the said individual. Large cohorts of human individuals having MS or CIS have been studied and compared to matched cohorts on the basis of age and gender.

The invention relates to an activated form of procaine, and the use of the activated procaine, or salts or solvates thereof, to label amine-containing compounds, such as N-glycans, amine-containing amino acids, amine-containing peptides, amine-containing proteins, or other amine-containing compounds in a sample. Use of activated procaine as a label allows for sensitive detection of compounds labeled with it both by fluorescence and by mass spectrometry.

The invention relates to compositions of a deacetylated poly N-acetylated glucosamine (dPNAG) of Staphylococci. The dPNAG may be isolated from natural sources or synthesized de novo. The invention also relates to the use of dPNAG as a vaccine for inducing active immunity to infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, other related coagulase-negative or coagulase-positive Staphylococci, and other organisms carrying the ica (intracellular adhesion) locus. The invention further provides methods of use for antibodies directed to dPNAG, particularly for inducing passive immunity to the same class of infections.

Disclosed is a fluorescently labeled polysaccharide. The fluorescently labeled polysaccharide is formed by covalently coupling a polysaccharide to a fluorescent dye having a structure as shown in Formula I. A stable covalent bond is form between the polysaccharide molecule and the fluorescent dye molecule. The fluorescently labeled polysaccharide has high stability in serum and other detection environments, has high biocompatibility, and is applicable to the detection of carbohydrate molecules inside and outside cells. Due to a large Stokes shift of the fluorescent dye molecule, the fluorescently labeled polysaccharide has advantages of high fluorescence stability, high fluorescence quantum yields, and achieves high signal-to-noise ratios in imaging results. Further disclosed is a method for preparing the fluorescently labeled polysaccharide. The method has mild reaction conditions and high reaction selectivity, is simple to execute, and can be used to prepare a fluorescently labeled polysaccharide in high yield.

Provided herein are methods of diagnosing or monitoring the treatment of abnormal glycan accumulation or a disorder associated with abnormal glycan accumulation.

The present invention discloses a method of determining the presence of autoimmune disease with the use of glycan biomarkers. A method of improving the detection sensitivity of trace glycans from a mixture of glycans and a microfluidic chip therefor are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for detecting and measuring the presence of mono-nucleosomes and oligo-nucleosomes and nucleosomes that contain particular nucleotides and the use of such measurements for the detection and diagnosis of disease. The invention also relates to a method of identifying nucleosome associated nucleotide biomarkers for the detection and diagnosis of disease and to biomarkers identified by said method.

Provided herein are compositions and methods useful for the analysis and authentication of polysaccharide-rich herbs, such as Dendrobium officinale, Radix Astragali, Radix Angelica Sinensis, and related herbal products.

The invention relates to a method for detecting and measuring the presence of mono-nucleosomes and oligo-nucleosomes and nucleosomes that contain particular nucleotides and the use of such measurements for the detection and diagnosis of disease. The invention also relates to a method of identifying nucleosome associated nucleotide biomarkers for the detection and diagnosis of disease and to biomarkers identified by said method.

The present disclosure is directed dye compounds containing a hydrazinyl substituent and optionally, one or more negatively charged groups, such as sulfonate, phosphate, phosphonate, and/or carboxylate groups and dye compounds containing an aminooxy substitutent. The compounds are useful in the detection of analytes containing aldehyde and ketone groups, including, for example, glycans.