A method of determining whether an individual is infected with a mycobacterial disease, the method comprising: (a) providing a system which comprises an antigen; (b) contacting the system with a sample obtained from the individual; and (c) detecting the presence or absence of binding of a biomarker in the sample with the antigen; wherein the antigen is an arabinose ester of a mycolic acid or an analogue thereof.

The present disclosure relates to aptamers, polynucleotides, and nuclei acid molecules, which include a polynucleotide sequence capable of specifically binding polypeptides participating in M. hyopneumoniae infection. Also provided are methods of using nucleic acid molecules, polynucleotides and synthetic antibodies directed there against for detection, treating and neutralization of M. hyopneumoniae infection.

The present invention aims at providing a specific antibody that can simply and rapidly detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae which is a causative bacterium of mycoplasma pneumonia, with high sensitivity, and also an immunological detection method and a kit containing the same antibody. The present invention makes it possible to diagnose infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae more rapidly and specifically than the conventional method, by producing an antibody recognizing a specific epitope of P30 protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and performing an immunological detection using the antibody. Also, the present invention enables easy and rapid detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and diagnosis of infection with the same at a hospital or the like without need of specialized instruments or skilled techniques.

The present invention relates to aptamers, polynucleotides, and nucleic acid molecules, which include a polynucleotide sequence capable of specifically binding polypeptides participating in M. hyopneumoniae infection. Also provided are methods of using nucleic acid molecules, polynucleotides and synthetic antibodies directed there against for detection, treating and neutralization of M. hyopneumoniae infection.

An object of the present invention is to provide an immunological detection method comprising carrying out an immunoreaction using an antibody to Mycoplasma pneumoniae protein P30, in which Mycoplasma pneumoniae is detected with high sensitivity. Provided is an immunological detection method for Mycoplasma pneumoniae using an antibody to Mycoplasma pneumoniae protein P30, the method comprising carrying out an immunoreaction in the presence of a polyoxyethylene alkyl amine. The immunological detection method that uses immunochromatography is also provided.

Generally, this disclosure relates to expression constructs that encode a reporter enzyme-affinity binding tag fusion protein that is produced after the construct is inserted into bacteriophage and the bacteriophage infects bacteria. In some embodiments, the fusion protein is captured and produces a detectable signal. Signal intensity may correlate with the number of bacterial cells in a fluid sample. Methods of detecting bacteria using the expression constructs, and microfluidic devices for detecting bacteria using the expression constructs are also disclosed.

Mycobacterial-specific biomarkers and methods of using such biomarkers for diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in a mammal are disclosed.

A method to determine if a pregnant woman is at risk of infection-associated spontaneous pre-term birth (sPTB), the method comprising the steps of: b) testing a sample of vaginal fluid for the presence of the following bacteria: iv) Ureaplasma parvum genotype SV3 and/or Ureaplasma parvum genotype SV6; v) Gardnerella vaginalis ; and vi) Lactobacillus iners wherein the presence of the bacteria indicates that the subject is at risk of sPTB.

[Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a detection marker that can simply and rapidly detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is a pathogen of mycoplasma pneumonia, at a high sensitivity, a specific antibody against the marker, and also an immunological detection method and a kit containing the antibody. [Solution] Infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae can be rapidly and specifically diagnosed by producing an antibody specifically reactive to P30 protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and performing an immunological assay using the P30 protein as a detection marker. The present invention enables easy and rapid detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and diagnosis of infection with the bacteria at a hospital or the like without need of specialized instruments or skilled techniques.

Mycobacterial-specific biomarkers and methods of using such biomarkers for diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in a mammal are disclosed.