A sensor device for detecting an antigen in a fluid sample includes a sensor including a substrate and a sensor medium on the substrate. The sensor medium includes a plurality of single-walled carbon nanotubes having an enriched semiconducting content and one or more antibody fragments immobilized on the plurality of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Each of the one or more antibody fragments includes an active binding site for the antigen. The sensor device further includes electronic circuitry including at least one measurement system in operative connection with the sensor to measure a variable providing a measure of change in at least one property of the sensor medium which is dependent upon the presence of the antigen.

The gene responsible for encoding SERT has a functional polymorphism at the 5-regulatory promoter region, which results in two forms, long (L) and short (S). The LL-genotype is hypothesized to play a key role in the early onset of alcohol use. The present invention discloses the differences in treatment and diagnosis based on the L or short genotypes as well as on a single nucleotide polymorphism of the SERT gene, the 3 UTR SNP rs1042173. The present invention demonstrates the efficacy of using the drug ondansetron and similar drugs for treatment based on variations in the polymorphisms of the SERT gene as well as methods for diagnosing susceptibility to abuse of alcohol and other addiction-related diseases and disorders.

The invention features all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-related compounds capable of associating with Pin1 and methods of identifying the same. The invention also provides methods of treating a condition selected from the group consisting of a proliferative disorder, an autoimmune disease, and an addiction condition characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels, Pin1 degradation, and/or reduced Pin1 Ser71 phosphorylation in a subject by administering a retinoic acid compound. Additionally, the invention features methods of treating proliferative disorders, autoimmune diseases, and addiction conditions (e.g., diseases, disorders, and conditions characterized by elevated Pin1 marker levels) by administering a retinoic acid compound in combination with another therapeutic compound. The invention also features a co-crystal including Pin1 and a retinoic acid compound. Finally, the invention also provides methods of developing and identifying enhanced Pin1-targeted ATRA-related compounds based on the newly defined unique binding pockets in the Pin1 active site revealed from the co-crystal structure, structure-activity relationship, and structural modeling.

Methods of diagnosing excessive alcohol use are disclosed herein. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to methods of diagnosing excessive alcohol use by identifying expression levels of various serum biomarkers. In some embodiments, expression levels of these biomarkers are affected by alcohol use even up to 30 days after consumption of alcohol.