The invention uses Elisa or similar assays for analysing a meningococcal vaccine. The assay uses antibodies which bind to meningococcal proteins within the vaccine, and in particular monoclonal antibodies which are bactericidal for meningococcus and/or which recognise conformational epitopes within the meningococcal proteins. By performing the assay on a series of dilutions of a test vaccine, and by comparing the results with those obtained using a reference vaccine of known potency, it is possible to determine the relative potency of the test vaccine. This value can be used as a parameter for determining whether a manufactured batch of a vaccine is suitable for release to the public, or whether it has experienced a production failure and so should not be used.

Methods and devices are provided for rapid detection in a sample of bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis). Methods and devices are also provided for the rapid detection of immune cells (CD3, CD4 and CD8 cells).

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.

Methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms are provided. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences, a plurality of epitope sequences joined by amino acid linkers to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of Trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas aldolase, GAPDH, -enolase and -actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

The present invention relates to Neisseria ORF2086 proteins, crossreactive immunogenic proteins which can be isolated from nesserial strains or prepared recombinantly, including immunogenic portions thereof, biological equivalents thereof, antibodies that immunospecifically bind to the foregoing and nucleic acid sequences encoding each of the foregoing, as well as the use of same in immunogenic compositions that are effective against infection by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

Certain embodiments are directed to paper/polymer hybrid microfluidic devices integrated with nano-biosensors for pathogen detection and infectious disease diagnosis.

The invention uses ELISA or similar assays for analysing a meningococcal vaccine. The assay uses antibodies which bind to meningococcal proteins within the vaccine, and in particular monoclonal antibodies which are bactericidal for meningococcus and/or which recognise conformational epitopes within the meningococcal proteins. By performing the assay on a series of dilutions of a test vaccine, and by comparing the results with those obtained using a reference vaccine of known potency, it is possible to determine the relative potency of the test vaccine. This value can be used as a parameter for determining whether a manufactured batch of a vaccine is suitable for release to the public, or whether it has experienced a production failure and so should not be used.

The invention relates to methods of producing, and compositions comprising, an isolated alpha (2.fwdarw.8) or (2.fwdarw.9) oligosialic acid derivative bearing a non-reducing end enriched for one or more de-N-acetyl residues and resistant to degradation by exoneuraminidase. A representative production method involves: (i) treating an alpha (2.fwdarw.8) or (2.fwdarw.9) oligosialic acid precursor having a reducing end and a non-reducing end with sodium borohydride under conditions for de-N-acetylating the non-reducing end; and (ii) isolating alpha (2.fwdarw.8) or (2.fwdarw.9) oligosialic acid derivative having one or more de-N-acetylated residues and a non-reducing end that is resistant to degradation by exoneuraminidase. Isolated alpha (2.fwdarw.8) or (2.fwdarw.9) oligosialic acid derivatives that comprise a non-reducing end de-N-acetyl residue are provided, as well as antibodies specific for the derivatives, compositions comprising the derivatives, kits, and methods of use including protection against and detection of E. coli K1 and N. meningitidis bacterial infection, and in diagnosing and treating cancer.

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.

This disclosure relates to a device to determine or quantify the presence of an analyte molecule, virus or cell of interest in a sample. The present disclosure also relates to a method to determine or quantify the presence of an analyte molecule, virus or cell of interest in a sample, a method of preparing the device of the disclosure, the use of the device of the disclosure for determining or quantifying the presence of an analyte molecule, virus or cell of interest in a sample and a kit of parts comprising the device of the disclosure.