In one aspect, a method of detecting a pathogen, e.g., Listeria bacterium, Chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and/or HPV, in a sample is disclosed, which comprises bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding to the pathogen, monitoring electrical resistance of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of the pathogen in said sample by detecting a change in said electrical resistance indicative of interaction of the pathogen with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer. For example, a decrease of the electrical resistance of the graphene layer can indicate the presence of the pathogen in the sample under study. In some embodiments, a method according to the present teachings is capable of detecting pathogens, such as Listeria bacteria, Chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and HPV in a sample at a concentration as low as 4 cfu per 100 grams of a sample.

The disclosure is directed to kits and methods for amplifying and detecting human papilloma virus (HPV) of genotype 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and/or 68 in a sample, which comprises a variety of combinations of forward oligonucleotide primers, reverse oligonucleotide primers, and oligonucleotide probes.

A nucleic acid probe set is disclosed. The nucleic acid probe set comprises a detection probe and a capture probe, and the detection probe and the capture probe both include a nucleotide sequence that is extracted from a conserved region of a genome sequence belong to a BK virus. A nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay for using in detection of BK virus is also disclosed. The nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay comprises: the forgoing nucleic acid probe set, a test strip, and a streptavidin (SA) solution. Experimental data have proved that, the nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay can be adopted for conducting a BK virus detection on a sample that is collected from environmental water, sewage water, drinking water, urine, or serum.

Natalizumab is a safe and efficacious treatment for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's Disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Rare occurrences of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy during treatment suggest the possibility that it may be related to natalizumab treatment. Monitoring for JCV and informing caregivers and patients about the manifestations of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy can improve the safety of natalizumab therapy.

The invention relates to methods of assessing a patient's risk of developing Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for storing a biological sample, such as a urine sample. DNA molecules in a biological sample mixed with a storage reagent of the present disclosure can be kept stable for a surprisingly long time. In addition, also provided are compositions and methods for extracting DNA from a biological sample, such as a urine sample. Compared to commercialized products, compositions and methods of the present disclosure are more effective for DNA extraction, suitable for DNA extraction of large urine samples and easy to realize automatic DNA extraction.

The present invention relates to a method for discrimination of p16.sup.INK4a overexpressing metaplasias from neoplastic or preneoplastic p16.sup.INK4a overexpressing lesions by determination of the level of high risk HPV encoded gene-products such as e.g. HPV E2 and/or HPV E7 molecules in biological samples in the course of cytological testing procedures. The method thus enables for reduction of false positive results in the p16.sup.INK4a based detection of anogenital lesions in cytological testing procedures.

In one aspect, a method of detecting a pathogen, e.g., listeria bacterium, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and/or HPV, in a sample is disclosed, which comprises bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding to the pathogen, monitoring electrical resistance of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of the pathogen in said sample by detecting a change in said electrical resistance indicative of interaction of the pathogen with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer. For example, a decrease of the electrical resistance of the graphene layer can indicate the presence of the pathogen in the sample under study. In some embodiments, a method according to the present teachings is capable of detecting pathogens, such as listeria bacteria, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and HPV in a sample at a concentration as low as 4 cfu per 100 grams of a sample.

A compound comprising, in combination: a cell surface binding ligand or internalizing factor, such as an IL-13Rα2 binding ligand; at least one effector molecule (e.g., one, two, three or more effector molecules); optionally but preferably, a cytosol localization element covalently coupled between said binding ligand and said at least one effector molecule; and a subcellular compartment localization signal element covalently coupled between said binding ligand and said at least one effector molecule (and preferably with said cytosol localization element between said binding ligand and said subcellular compartment localization signal element). Methods of using such compounds and formulations containing the same are also described.

The present application describes and claims a novel method for identifying and stratifying the risk of developing a BK virus nephropathy (“Nx BK-v” below) in patients having undergone a kidney transplant. This method uses an index combining at least three bio-markers: i) the intensity of the anti-BK-v memory T lymphocyte response (memory T lymphocytes which are specific to v, hereinafter “LTm anti-BK-v”), ii) the number of occurrences of incompatibility in the HLA alleles of class I and class II between the donor and the recipient of the graft, taking into account iii) the viral charge of the BK-v virus in the whole blood of the patient. The present method allows a very precise evaluation of the risk of developing an Nx BK-v during the months following the test with the aim of optimising the immuno-suppressive treatment in order to better preserve the transplanted kidney.