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

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

The invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant, for example, a bacterial endotoxin or a glucan, in a sample. In particular, the invention provides a test cartridge useful in the practice of hemocyte lysate-based assays for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant in a sample. In addition, the invention provides methods of making and using such cartridges. In addition, the invention provides a rapid, sensitive, multi-step kinetic hemocyte lysate-based assay for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant in a sample. In addition, the invention provides a glucan-specific lysate that can be used in a variety of assay formats, including, for example, a test cartridge, optionally configured to perform a kinetic assay.

Methods and solutions are disclosed for the quantification of mixed-linkage beta-glucan in plant biomass samples. Improved alkaline pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and glucose measurement parameters are provided that increase the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of mixed-linkage beta-glucan assays.

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 m to about 8 m in size or about 4 m to about 6 m, 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.

This disclosure provides, in one aspect, a method for analyzing a sample from a subject for a biomarker that is indicative of the subject's immune response to -glucan. Generally, the method includes obtaining a biological sample from a subject, analyzing the sample for a biomarker anti--glucan antibody compared to a reference standard, computing a Relative Antibody Unit (RAU) value for anti--glucan antibody in the sample, and identifying the subject as biomarker positive if the RAU value is greater than a predetermined RAU value for the biomarker anti--glucan antibody.

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.

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(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.)

This disclosure describes, in one aspect, a composition that includes a -glucan component and an antibody component that specifically binds to the -glucan. In another aspect, this disclosure describes a method of increasing a subject's response to -glucan immunotherapy. Generally, the method includes identifying the subject as a low binder of -glucan and administering to the subject a composition that comprises a -glucan moiety conjugated to the therapeutic antibody. In some cases, the therapeutic antibody can be an anti-tumor antibody.

Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. Actively growing mold releases the carbohydrate cell wall component (1.fwdarw.3)--D-Glucan into the air. The invention recognizes that the airborne fraction is that which affects respiratory health and selectively tests for a free form which is soluble in aqueous medium. The sample to be analysed is preferably collected by the electrokinetic propulsion method described, but any air sampling method such as filtration, impactor or impingement may be applicable.