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

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

The invention relates to certain methods for the determination of an antigen content of a first antigen in a mixture comprising two or more antigens. The invention also relates to a potency test for an antigen in a combination vaccine. The method allows the determination of the antigen content in a mixture additionally comprising antibodies that are capable of binding with the antigen.

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

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 invention is intended to provide an immunochromatographic analyzer that enables a quick and easy, high-sensitivity detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and thus more reliable and faster diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia. The immunochromatographic analyzer according to the present invention is for detecting Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and includes a sample adding section, a label-substance retaining section, a chromatographic medium section having a detection section, and an absorbing section. The label-substance retaining section and the detection section contain an antibody that strongly recognizes domain III of P30 protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Disclosed is a novel method of detecting a test subject by an immunoassay, in which low sensitivity due to using a monoclonal antibody is improved in spite of using a monoclonal antibody in the immunoassay. The method of detecting a test subject is a method of detecting a test subject having two or more kinds of antigens which enable detection of said test subject, which method is performed by an immunoassay such as a sandwich method, using a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which recognizes the two or more kinds of antigens.

Disclosed herein are mycobacterial-specific biomarkers and methods of using such biomarkers for diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in a mammal. This disclosure further provides methods for differentiating a vaccinated mammal from a non-vaccinated mammal or from an infected mammal, methods to distinguish M. ap. and M. bovis infections, sets of biomarkers for use in the disclosed methods, and kits.

-Lactamase substrates and methods for using the substrates to detect -lactamase and to diagnose tuberculosis.

The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for Ureaplasma infection prevention and/or treatment. In specific cases, the invention concerns vaccines for Ureaplasma, including DNA vaccines. In certain embodiments, the invention regards vaccines directed towards the multiple-banded antigen(s) of Ureaplasma.