The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) 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-sptciric 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.

Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis are disclosed. The compositions generally comprise polypeptides comprising Leishmania antigens as well as polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides.

Acetylcholine and its receptors appeared in evolution before development of a nervous system. Cholinergic agonists functions include proliferation, differentiation, and cell-to-cell contact in protozoa] as well as vertebrate cells. Animal models for infection by Apicomplexan parasites require cell-to-cell contact followed by differentiation of parasite and host cells to produce clinical disease. Experimental infections are produced by introducing parasite infected leukocytes into a host. Binding cholinergic receptors on the parasites and leukocytes with levamisole HCl induces non-progressive infections and absence of signs of disease.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of identifying compounds useful in modifying the activity of Aldolase. The method includes providing a first model comprising Aldolase or residues of the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1 said residues being at amino acid positions selected from the group consisting of 10-13, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 47, 48, 51, 52, 60, 63, 66, 79, 84, 85, 92, 93, 103, 106-109, 112-117, 138, 142, 146, 148, 151, 153, 179, 182, 183, 185, 186, 194, 196, 197, 198, 199, 208, 226-228, 231-269, 270, 272, 277-283, 285-289, 294, 295, 297-299, 301-304, 306-310, 312, 313, 316, 317, 319, 321, 323, 326, 330, 344, 345, and 347, providing one or more candidate compounds, evaluating contact between the candidate compounds and the first model to determine which of the one or more candidate compounds have an ability to bind to and/or fit in the first model, and identifying compounds which, based on said evaluating, have the ability to bind to and/or fit in the first model as compounds potentially useful for modifying the activity of Aldolase. The present invention also discloses compounds and compositions which modify the activity of Aldolase, or a complex between Aldolase and TRAP. Methods of treating or preventing malaria, or an infection by apicomplexan organisms are also disclosed.

We have developed a modified indirect ELISA (MI-ELISA) using the spherical body protein-4 (SBP4) of Babesia bovis to detect antibody against diverse isolates through all infection stages in cattle. This SBP4 MI-ELISA was evaluated for sensitivity and specificity against field sera and sera from cattle infected experimentally with various doses and isolates as well as in detecting acute and persistent infection. The diagnostic specificity of the SBP4 MI-ELISA using IFA-negative sera was 100%, significantly higher than the RAP-1 cELISA (90.4%); the diagnostic sensitivity of the SBP4 MI-ELISA was 98.7% using the IFA-positive sera, in contrast to that of the RAP-1 cELISA at 60%. Results demonstrate excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the novel SBP4 MI-ELISA for cattle with acute and long-term carrier infections. Use of the SBP4 MI-ELISA assay in countries that have B. bovis-endemic herds will be pivotal in preventing the spread of this disease to non-endemic herds.

Among several illnesses common to pets such as dogs that can also affect humans, American trypanosomiasis, commonly known as Chagas disease, is a parasitic 20 condition caused by the hemoflagellated protozoa, Trypanosoma cruzi. Active transmission is through triatomine vectors known as kissing bugs, which are prevalent in North and South America. Diagnostic methods, systems, test strips, test kits, and other immunoassay materials are provided for the detection of antibodies to one or more specific parasites of veterinary and human concern in biological samples, including those that are responsible for Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), Leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum), and Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis).

Compositions and methods for detecting Trichomonas vaginalis are provided.

The invention relates to methods for detecting target DNA sequences, particularly for detecting Leishmania infection, comprising a recombinase-polymerase isothermal amplification and detection by electrochemistry. The invention also relates to kits and oligonucleotides for performing said methods.

Compositions and methods for detecting Trichomonas vaginalis are provided.

The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.