The invention is directed to methods for identifying targets for antimicrobial and antiproliferative compounds as well as methods for identifying novel compounds for treating cancer and microbial infections.

Embodiments provided herein include methods, compositions, and uses of aromatic alcohols to increase the potency of antifungal agents.

Methods and apparatus for rapid, culture free pathogen detection. The methods utilize optical spectroscopy techniques to identify and/or characterize pathogens in a sample via the detection of unique properties and/or analytes that are specific to particular pathogens.

The present invention is directed to antibodies binding to and neutralizing Candida and methods for use thereof.

This invention relates to recombinant human antibody molecules. The antibodies bind fungal antigens, for example from Candida spp. Human antibody encoding genes targeting clinically relevant Candida epitopes have been isolated from single B cells from carefully selected donors and screened with specified types of protein or cell wall extract. The panel of purified, fully human recombinant IgG1 mAbs generated displayed a diverse range of specific binding profiles and demonstrated efficacy in a disease model. The fully human mAbs and derivatives thereof have utility in the generation of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

The present invention provides for engineered molecular opsonins that may be used to bind biological pathogens or identify subclasses or specific pathogen species for use in devices and systems for treatment and diagnosis of patients with infectious diseases, blood-borne infections or sepsis. An aspect of the invention provides for mannose-binding lectin (MBL), which is an abundant natural serum protein that is part of the innate immune system. The ability of this protein lectin to bind to surface molecules on virtually all classes of biopathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans) make engineered forms of MBL extremely useful in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and sepsis.

The present invention provides for engineered molecular opsonins that may be used to bind biological pathogens or identify subclasses or specific pathogen species for use in devices and systems for treatment and diagnosis of patients with infectious diseases, blood-borne infections or sepsis. An aspect of the invention provides for mannose-binding lectin (MBL), which is an abundant natural serum protein that is part of the innate immune system. The ability of this protein lectin to bind to surface molecules on virtually all classes of biopathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans) make engineered forms of MBL extremely useful in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and sepsis.

The invention is directed to methods for identifying targets for antimicrobial and antiproliferative compounds as well as methods for identifying novel compounds for treating cancer and microbial infections.

A method to determine if a pregnant woman is at risk of infection-associated spontaneous pre-term birth (sPTB), the method comprising the steps of: b) testing a sample of vaginal fluid for the presence of the following bacteria: iv) Ureaplasma parvum genotype SV3 and/or Ureaplasma parvum genotype SV6; v) Gardnerella vaginalis ; and vi) Lactobacillus iners wherein the presence of the bacteria indicates that the subject is at risk of sPTB.

A β-1,6-glucanase mutant which is a mutant of β-1,6-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.75), wherein a Glu residue located at a position corresponding to Glu (E)-321 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted by an amino acid residue X or a Glu (E) residue located at a position corresponding to each of Glu (E)-225 and Glu (E)-321 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted by an amino acid residue X, wherein the amino acid residue (X) is selected from the group consisting of Gln (Q), Gly (G), Ala (A), Leu (L), Tyr (Y), Met (M), Ser (S), Asn (N), and His (H); and a method for measuring β-1,6-glucan, including measuring β-1,6-glucan bonded to the mutant.