The present invention provides a method for quantitatively detecting β-1,3-1,6-glucan separately from β-1,3-glucan and β-1,3-1,4-glucan. The present invention is a method for measuring β-1,3-1,6-glucan, the method including: a step for mixing β-glucan in a test sample, a molecule that specifically binds to a β-(1.fwdarw.3) bond, and a molecule that specifically binds to a β-(1.fwdarw.6) bond to form a complex containing the molecule that specifically binds to a β-(1.fwdarw.3) bond and the molecule that specifically binds to a β-(1.fwdarw.6) bond; a step for detecting the complex; and a step for measuring the amount of β-1,3-1,6-glucan in the test sample, on the basis of the results of the detection.

The β-glucan-binding protein contains an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.

This disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method for identifying β-glucan binding to immune cells of a subject. Generally, the method includes obtaining a blood sample from the subject, the blood sample comprising immune cells, adding soluble β-glucan to at least a portion of the blood sample and incubating the mixture under conditions allowing the soluble β-glucan to bind to the immune cells, and detecting soluble β-glucan hound to the immune cells. In another aspect, this disclosure describes a method that generally includes identifying the subject as a low binder of β-glucan, and co-administering to the subject a soluble β-glucan and an antibody preparation capable of converting the subject from a low binder to a high binder.

The object of the present invention is an anti-xylan sulfate antiserum having an antibody titre of between 1/10000 and 1/15000, and obtainable using a specific immunization method, and use thereof in one or more ELISA methods for determining xylan sulfate levels in biological fluids.

A problem to be solved is to perform an immunoassay method for BG in a biological sample simply operated and having a sensitivity equivalent to that of a Limulus reagent.

The problem can be solved by combining a pretreatment of a biological samples with an alkaline solution and a use of anti-BG monoclonal antibody specifically reacting with BG.

Methods, compositions and cells are provided that identify and isolate a population of adult non-embryonic progenitor cells having multilineage potential, physical diameters of about 2 μm to about 8 μm in size or about 4 μm to about 6 μm, and expressing at least one of the stem cell associated genes among Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3 or Stella. Methods are also provided that identify and isolate populations, which are subsets or subpopulations of progenitor adult stem cells within the population of the adult stem cells which is a heterogeneous population, the methods including contacting the adult stem cells with a ligand specific for at least one of: CD99, tetraspan, ICAM4, full-length MUC1, and truncated MUC1 receptor, in which a presence of a surface protein on the cells that bind to the ligand identifies the population which is the subset of the differentiated progenitor adult stem cells.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a means for making highly sensitive and stable measurements possible using electrochemical measurement methods. This problem is resolved by providing: a labeling substance represented by general formula (1) and used to label a substrate; a measurement substrate that is formed by being labeled using the labeling substance; a method of measuring using electrochemical measurement methods that use the measurement substrate; and a reagent kit that includes as components the labeling substance and/or the measurement substrate. ##STR00001##
(In general formula (1), R.sub.1 is either H or an alkyl group (C.sub.mH.sub.2m+1), m is an integer of 1-4, R.sub.2 is an alkyl group (C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1), and n is an integer of 1-4.)

The application provides heat-treated Limulus amebocyte lysates useful for detecting -glucans.

This disclosure provides, in one aspect, dosing strategies for soluble -glucan immunotherapy to optimize acute immunopharmacodynamic responses for the immunotherapy and/or subject. It also provides a method for analyzing a sample from a subject for a biomarker to identify the appropriate dosing strategy for soluble -glucan immunotherapy. Generally, the method includes obtaining a biological sample from a subject, analyzing the sample for a biomarker anti--glucan antibody level or immunopharmacodynamic response level, classifying the subject into a subgroup based on the biomarker anti--glucan antibody level or immunopharmacodynamic response level and identifying the appropriate dosing strategy based on the subgroup classification.

The invention relates to a colorimetric method for detecting bacterial or fungal pathogens by detecting peptidoglycan or (1-3)--D-glucan in a sample.