Arrays of single molecules and methods of producing an array of single molecules are described. Arrays with defined volumes between 10 attoliters and 50 picoliters enable single molecule detection and quantitation.

There is provided a method of analyzing a biological sample component that allows easy and accurate quantification and counting of any of a plasma component and a blood cell component in a trace and unknown amount of a whole blood sample collected from a finger, for example. The method of the present invention is a method of analyzing a biological sample component in a trace amount of blood, comprising analyzing a diluent buffer into which the blood has been mixed and an internal standard substance and/or an external standard substance contained in the diluent buffer, calculating a dilution ratio, and analyzing a biological component in a plasma or serum component in the blood.

The present invention relates to a synbiotic composition comprising a probiotic bacterial strain and a prebiotic growth medium which is specific to the growth of the probiotic bacterial strain, wherein the bacterial strain is capable of producing the same growth medium by reverse enzyme reaction. The present invention also relates to methods of producing and screening for such compositions.

A method of extracting viable bacterial cells from a soil sample by mixing a dispersant-surfactant solution with a soil sample to form a soil slurry, adding the soil slurry to a centrifuge tube containing a density gradient medium, centrifuging the centrifuge tube to form a solvent layer above the density gradient medium, wherein the solvent layer comprises viable bacterial cells, extracting the solvent layer containing the viable bacterial cells, combining the extracted solvent layer with a PBS solution to form a PBS-cell mixture, filtering the PBS-cell mixture to form a cell filtrate, depositing the cell filtrate into a second centrifuge tube containing a quantity of the density gradient medium, centrifuging the second centrifuge tube to form a second solvent layer comprising the viable bacterial cells, and extracting the second solvent layer from the second centrifuge medium to form a second cell filtrate comprising the viable bacterial cells.

The present invention relates to a prebiotic composition comprising a microbially produced oligosaccharide, wherein the oligosaccharide is characterized by being selective for a pre-determined probiotic bacterial strain and also capable of being produced by the pre-determined probiotic bacteria by reverse enzyme action. The present invention also relates to methods of screening a composition suitable for use as a prebiotic and methods for screening of prebiotics for incorporation into synbiotic formulations.

Conjugates of 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene and its derivatives with enzyme cleavable groups are chromogenic substrates that form colored compounds when complexed with metal ions, e.g. iron ions, on cleavage by enzymes, and are useful in microbial detection and identification. The cleavage products form purple or red-brown colored complexes, that can easily be observed by the naked eye. Microbes can be grown in the presence of the substrates and the metal salts that provide the metal ion for complexing with the 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene product. Substituents in the naphthalene ring may affect the solubility of the substrates and also the diffusibility and color of the metal complexes. Some of the substrates yield soluble complexes on cleavage and are of particular value in liquid growth media. Other substrates produce less soluble complexes that are more suitable for use in solid agar media. Some substrates are new compounds, such as those having the general formula II ##STR00001## wherein one of the following applies i) m=0, R.sup.4R.sup.5=Z.sup.1H, Y.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of D-glucuronyl and D-ribofuranosyl; ii) m=2, each R.sup.6 is Br, R.sup.4R.sup.5H or Br, Z.sup.1H, Y.sup.1 is glycosyl or phosphate; iii) m=1, R.sup.6 is SO.sub.3X, X is H or M.sup.+ wherein M.sup.+ is an alkali metal cation or a non-metal cation, Y.sup.1 is glycosyl and R.sup.4R.sup.5=Z.sup.1H; iv) m=0, R.sup.4NO.sub.2, R.sup.5Z.sup.1H, Y.sup.1=glycosyl. Methods of synthesizing the substrates are described.

Arrays of single molecules and methods of producing an array of single molecules are described. Arrays with defined volumes between 10 attoliters and 50 picoliters enable single molecule detection and quantitation.

Methods that may be used for the electrochemical detection of multiple parameters, including chemical compounds. Further provided are cells that may be used in the electrochemical detection of multiple parameters, including chemical compounds, as well as a kit for the electrochemical detection of multiple parameters, including chemical compounds.

Arrays of single molecules and methods of producing an array of single molecules are described. Arrays with defined volumes between 10 attoliters and 50 picoliters enable single molecule detection and quantitation.

The present invention relates to a symbiotic composition comprising a probiotic bacterial strain and a prebiotic growth medium which is specific to the growth of the probiotic bacterial strain, wherein the bacterial strain is capable of producing the same growth medium by reverse enzyme reaction. The present invention also relates to methods of producing and screening for such compositions.