Nanoparticle-based nanosensors comprising supramolecular recognition sequences, protease consensus sequences, post-translationally modifiable sequences, or sterically hindered benzylether bonds for specific interaction with a biological marker, and methods for rapid diagnosis of lung conditions using specified panels of target biomarkers.

Disclosed is a method for measuring cholesterol by using a cholesterol dependent cytolysin (CDC), which is a cholesterol binding protein, and an antibody specifically recognizing HDL-C or LDL-C. The method according to the present application is capable of rapidly measuring low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins at low cost, and thus can be effectively applied in various fields requiring the measurement of low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins.

Improved processes for rationally-designing and producing biomolecules are disclosed herein. More specifically, disclosed processes comprise the steps of (i) selecting at least one biomolecule suitable for modification; (ii) obtaining at least one structure of the at least one biomolecule; (iii) simulating the molecular dynamics of the at least one structure to generate dynamic information about at least one position within the at least one structure; (iv) using the dynamic information to calculate a score for the at least one position; (v) comparing the score with at least one reference score to identify at least one target position within the biomolecule suitable for modification; and (vi) modifying the at least one target position. As proof-of-concept, the disclosed processes were used to rationally-design and produce maltooligosaccharide-detecting biosensors based on Streptococcus pneumoniae MalX, homogalacturonan breakdown product-detecting biosensors based on Yersinia enterocolitica TogB, and biosensors for observing conformational changes based on Escherichia coli EF-Tu.

The present invention relates to the total synthesis of saccharide structures contained in the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1, to glycoconjugates containing said saccharide structures obtained by total synthesis and to use of such glycoconjugates and pharmaceutical compositions thereof in the immunization against diseases associated with bacteria containing said saccharide structures in their capsular polysaccharide, and more specifically associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The present invention provides a recombinant protein capable of binding to complement factor H (CFH), and thereby inducing increased binding of C3d and C3b by bound CFH compared to unbound CFH.

Methods and medical devices for using utilising the same are also described.

Methods and compositions useful in treating neurodegenerative disorders are based on septapeptides and extended forms thereof (or portions thereof) that exhibit chemokine activity with respect to microglial cell precursors.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there are provided a sensor chip suitable for serological detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a method for detecting serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae using the sensor chip, a detection system that includes the sensor chip, and a method for detecting serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae using the detection system described herein.

The present invention relates to synthetic saccharides of general formula (I) that are related to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4 capsular polysaccharide and conjugates thereof. Said conjugate and a pharmaceutical composition containing said conjugate are useful for prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and more specifically of diseases associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4. Furthermore, the synthetic saccharides of general formula (I) are useful as marker in immunological assays for detection of antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.

Disclosed herein are compositions for assessing peptidoglycan biosynthesis in bacteria using modified dipeptides containing a bioorthogonal tag and applying novel post-labeling methods to label the bioorthogonal tag. The resultant, labeled peptidoglycan structures are amenable for identifying bacteria by microscopic visualization.

S. pneumoniae is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in young children, older adults, and those with conditions or medications that compromise their immunity. Since the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines, the disease burden of vaccine serotypes (STs) on invasive pneumococcal disease has reduced; however, the effect on the burden of CAP is less well known, potentially due to a lack of testing for pneumococcal STs.