This disclosure relates to synthetic oligosaccharide subunits of the Pseudomonas exosaccharide Psi and uses thereof, e.g., for epitope mapping of anti-Psl antibodies, for identification of anti-Psl antibodies, and for use as vaccines. In one aspect a synthetic oligosaccharide subunit of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Psl oligosaccharide is provided, comprising the trisaccharide of formula I.

Use of a TNFR1-FADD-caspase8-caspase3 pathway inhibitor in preparation of a medicament for treating an immune system related disease caused by autoinducer, a method for screening a medicament for treating an immune system related disease caused by autoinducer and a method for treating an immune system related disease.

This disclosure relates to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. More specifically, this disclosure relates to improved rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical samples for efficient and versatile analysis and reliable results.

The present invention features biomarkers capable of diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease and methods of using such biomarkers to diagnose and selecting treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Provided are VHH or nanobodies that specifically bind to cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitory factor (Cif), and uses thereof for diagnosis and treatment of Pseudomonas infection.

Binding agents able to disrupt bacterial biofilms of diverse origin are described, including monoclonal antibodies secreted by human B lymphocytes. Methods to prevent formation of or to dissolve biofilms with these binding agents are also described. Immunogens for eliciting antibodies to disrupt biofilms are also described.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and compositions useful for in vivo and/or in vitro profiling of proteases present in the lung. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of in vivo enzymatic processing of exogenous molecules followed by detection of detectable markers as representative of the presence of active proteases associated with a lung disease, for example, lung cancer and lung infections. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for production of a lung disease signature and diagnosis of lung disease.

Binding agents able to disrupt bacterial biofilms of diverse origin are described, including monoclonal antibodies suitable for administration to a selected species, and antibody mimics including aptamer nucleic acids. Methods to prevent formation of or to dissolve biofilms with these binding agents are also described. Immunogens for eliciting antibodies to disrupt biofilms are also described.

Provided among other things is a sampling system for determining an amount or type of contamination a narrow, elongated passageway in a medical device, said sampling system comprising: (a) a fluid supply system that supplies to said passageway a sampling liquid for flowing through said passageway and a gas for flowing through said passageway; and (b) a receiving container that receives liquid from said passageway, wherein said sampling liquid is sterile, wherein said sampling liquid is configured to allow recovery of viable pathogens from the passageway, and wherein said sampling liquid comprises an amount and selection of surfactant effective to enhance the dislodgement of Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from the narrow passageways.

A method for determination of the growth rate of biofilm using an electrical impedance analyses is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: bringing a culture medium fluid in contact to an electrode structure, having biofilm grown within the fluid culture medium with the biofilm arranged in distance to the electrodes structure, so that the fluid culture medium is placed between the growing biofilm and the electrode structure; measuring the impedance of the electrodes structure over a monitoring time, and determining the growth rate of the biofilm as a function of the reduction rate of the impedance values measured on the electrode structure.