In one aspect, a method of detecting a pathogen, e.g., Listeria bacterium, Chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and/or HPV, in a sample is disclosed, which comprises bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding to the pathogen, monitoring electrical resistance of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of the pathogen in said sample by detecting a change in said electrical resistance indicative of interaction of the pathogen with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer. For example, a decrease of the electrical resistance of the graphene layer can indicate the presence of the pathogen in the sample under study. In some embodiments, a method according to the present teachings is capable of detecting pathogens, such as Listeria bacteria, Chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and HPV in a sample at a concentration as low as 4 cfu per 100 grams of a sample.

The present invention relates to novel bacteriophages that are specific for Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and to methods for producing non-replicative transduction particles (NRTPs) derived from these bacteriophages and to the use of the NRTPs for detection of A. baumannii.

In one aspect, a method of detecting a pathogen, e.g., listeria bacterium, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and/or HPV, in a sample is disclosed, which comprises bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding to the pathogen, monitoring electrical resistance of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of the pathogen in said sample by detecting a change in said electrical resistance indicative of interaction of the pathogen with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer. For example, a decrease of the electrical resistance of the graphene layer can indicate the presence of the pathogen in the sample under study. In some embodiments, a method according to the present teachings is capable of detecting pathogens, such as listeria bacteria, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and HPV in a sample at a concentration as low as 4 cfu per 100 grams of a sample.

The present invention provides means and products for the stimulation of an immune response against tumors in a subject in need thereof. More specifically the invention provides immunogenic compositions containing bacterial outer membrane vesicles loaded with tumor antigens, fusion proteins comprising a bacterial protein and a tumor antigen, and isolated bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) containing said fusion proteins. The fusion proteins, OMVs and immunogenic compositions according to the invention are used in the prevention and treatment of tumors.

A composition is provided comprising N. meningitidis outer membrane vesicles, wherein said outer membrane vesicles are enriched with at least one antigenic component. The composition is suitable for use in vaccines and for treatment of infection, particularly meningococcal infection, demonstrating a broad spectrum of protection. A number of preferred antigenic components are described and include antigenic proteins and proteoglycans derived from N. meningitidis.

The present invention is directed to polyclonal antibodies, specific for the capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X (NmX), wherein said antibodies are suitable for in vitro detection of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X in biological fluids without culture. The invention also concerns said polyclonal antibodies in different diagnostic tests and methods, in order to detect NmX. The invention discloses also a rapid diagnostic test for detecting NmX in a biological fluid, as well as a method for obtaining polyclonal antibodies useful for detecting NmX in biological fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, serum and urine

Methods and compositions useful in treating neurodegenerative disorders are based on septapeptides and extended forms thereof (or portions thereof) that exhibit chemokine activity with respect to microglial cell precursors.

The prior art of diagnosis of meningitis is based on the preparation of CSF and treated by Gram stain to show the shape of the bacteria by optical microscopy, then make a laboratory culture for the CSF to confirm the results as FIG. 2.

An apparatus for the diagnosis of meningitis comprises; Power source; Standard sliding glass; Digital camera chip; Microprocessor chip; Software for image processing; Software to analyze image features; Programs for automated learning; Digital screen; The system of diagnosis meningitis uses image processing and automated learning. The methodology included five stages starting with the preparation of the CSF scan and dyeing it by the appropriate dye and digitizing it through a high-magnification scanning camera, then treated, segmenting and isolating the areas of interest by the image processing program, extracting the features and selecting the appropriate features for the classification, finally classification of meningitis.

The present invention relates to proteins derived from Acinetobacter baumanii, nucleic acids encoding the proteins, antibodies specific for the proteins as well as methods of therapy, prophylaxis, and diagnosis that utilise the proteins, nucleic acids, and antibodies.

Disclosed herein are peptide inhibitors of AniA. Pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed that include one or more peptide inhibitors of AniA and/or nucleic acids encoding the same. The pharmacological inhibition of AniA should disable anaerobic respiration and augment the ability of existing antimicrobials to clear the pathogen. Thus, also disclosed are methods of inhibiting and/or treating infection from N. gonorrhoeae.