The present invention relates generally to probiotics, in particular probiotics capable of bio-converting olive polyphenols. The invention relates to a method of selecting a probiotic strain or probiotic strain mixture. Further aspects of the invention include the use of a probiotic strain to increase the bio-efficacy of olive polyphenols and a composition comprising a probiotic strain for use in the potentiation of a therapeutic effect and/or a prophylactic effect of oleuropein.

A method for detection of active form of analytes in a sample and/or for determination of ability of tested substances to bind to the active site of these analytes has the following steps: a) analyte or group of analytes from the sample is immobilized on the surface of a solid carrier; b) analyte or group of analytes is incubated with a detection probe; c) then the solid carrier is washed to remove unbound detection probe; and subsequently, the amount of bound detection probe is determined.

An article that can be used for biomaterial capture comprises (a) a porous substrate; and (b) borne on the porous substrate, a polymer comprising interpolymerized units of at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to the monovalent groups so as to link at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms.

An antibody and/or binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody and/or binding fragment thereof specifically binds to an epitope of a αKlotho polypeptide, optionally a folded αKiotho or optionally with a dissociation constant (K.sub.D) of about 2 nM or less, as measured by competitive ELISA assay, methods 0 of making and using to diagnose kidney diseases.

The invention provides compounds with enhanced permeability for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.

The present invention to provides methods, kits, and compositions for: i) detecting the level of 3-bromotyrosine in a sample that has been treated to liberate 3-bromotyrosine from 4-O-glucuronide-3-bromotyrosine, and/or ii) detecting the level of 4-O-glucuronide-3-bromotyrosine, and/or the combined level of both 4-O-glucuronide-3-bromotyrosine and 3-bromotyrosine, in a sample that has not been treated to liberate 3-bromotyrosine from 4-O-glucuronide-3-bromotyrosine. In certain embodiments, such detected levels are used to: i) identify the presence, severity, or risk of an eosinophilic disorder (e.g., asthma or a TH2-high eosinophilic disorder); ii) identify therapy effective for treating asthma or an eosinophilic disorder; or iii) identify patients suitable for treatment with therapeutic agents targeted to asthma or an eosinophilic disorder.

Disclosed are LIMP-2 peptides, LIMP-2 polypeptides, variants thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the LIMP-2 peptides, LIMP-2 polypeptides, or variants thereof. The disclosed peptides and polypeptides preferably comprise an amino acid sequence that is sufficient for providing a biological activity associated with LIMP-2, which may include binding and/or activating biological molecules such as β-glucocerebrosidase and binding viral protein 1 (VP1) of enterovirus 71 (E71) or coxsackievirus A16 (CA16). Also disclosed are methods of using the LIMP-2 peptides, LIMP-2 polypeptides, and variants thereof as therapeutics for treating diseases and disorders associated with β-glucocerebrosidase activity in subjects in need thereof.

Provided are azido-BODIPY compounds of formula (I), cyclooctyne-based fluorogenic probes of formula (IV), and activity-based probes of formula (VI). These compounds undergo azide-alkyne cycloadditions (AAC) with to form triazolyl products. The provided compounds are useful for detection and imaging of alkyne-, or azide-containing molecules. Methods for detection and imaging biomolecules using compounds of the present disclosure are disclosed.

The invention provides fluorescence-quenched substrates of exo-glycosidase enzymes. The invention also provides methods for imaging exo-glycosidase enzymes activity within cells.

Some embodiments provided herein relate to combined assays. In some embodiments, an assay for identifying influenza type A or influenza type B is combined with an assay for determining the sensitivity of an influenza neuraminidase to an antiviral drug.