This invention provides methods and compositions, e.g., to reduce interference from non-specific binding sample constituents in a migration shift assay. Interference due to non-specific binding of sample constituents to an affinity substance (e.g., an affinity molecule or a conjugate of an affinity molecule and a charged carrier molecule) is prevented by, e.g., binding the constituents to charged polymers such as heparin sulfate. The present invention also provides methods to concentrate an analyte of interest with high concentration and to detect the analyte with high sensitivity, and further to optimize the reaction conditions for easily concentrating the analyte. Such objects of the present invention are attained, for example, by concentrating a complex of the analyte and a conjugate which is formed by contacting the analyte in a sample with an affinity molecule bound to a charged carrier molecule such as DNA.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.

Methods for detecting His-tagged proteins using metal ion-chelating nitrilotriacetate (NTA) probes and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes using a metal ion-loaded NTA probe coupled to a UV-excitable fluorophore with visible emission and the presence of His-tagged proteins in the sample is determined by exposing the gel following PAGE, to a UV-light source with naked human eye or bench camera visualization. The metal ion-loaded NTA-containing chelator head can be coupled to a fluorophore that is not UV-excitable (i.e., with the majority of emission and excitation in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The method includes separating proteins in a sample using PAGE, contacting the gel following electrophoresis with a composition containing a metal ion-loaded NTA probe coupled to the fluorophore, to allow binding of the probe to the His-tagged proteins, and detecting the presence of the probe and therefore of the His-tagged proteins.

Methods for detecting His-tagged proteins using metal ion-chelating nitrilotriacetate (NTA) probes and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes using a metal ion-loaded NTA probe coupled to a UV-excitable fluorophore with visible emission and the presence of His-tagged proteins in the sample is determined by exposing the gel following PAGE, to a UV-light source with naked human eye or bench camera visualization. The metal ion-loaded NTA-containing chelator head can be coupled to a fluorophore that is not UV-excitable (i.e., with the majority of emission and excitation in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The method includes separating proteins in a sample using PAGE, contacting the gel following electrophoresis with a composition containing a metal ion-loaded NTA probe coupled to the fluorophore, to allow binding of the probe to the His-tagged proteins, and detecting the presence of the probe and therefore of the His-tagged proteins.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the treatment of a subject undergoing therapy with an active that is naltrexone or a metabolite or analogue thereof, comprising: a. measuring the level of pERK in a sample obtained from the subject undergoing treatment; b. comparing the level of pERK with a reference,
wherein if the pERK level is increased compared to the reference, then the active is being administered at an effective level.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the treatment of a subject undergoing therapy with an active that is naltrexone or a metabolite or analogue thereof, comprising: a. measuring the level of pERK in a sample obtained from the subject undergoing treatment; b. comparing the level of pERK with a reference,
wherein if the pERK level is increased compared to the reference, then the active is being administered at an effective level.

Disclosed herein are compositions and uses thereof for detection of disease-related antibodies. The methods include contacting a biological sample with a solid support comprising one or more antigens that bind one or more therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and detecting the disease-related antibody in the biological sample using an electrophoretic method.

Disclosed herein are compositions and uses thereof for detection of disease-related antibodies. The methods include contacting a biological sample with a solid support comprising one or more antigens that bind one or more therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and detecting the disease-related antibody in the biological sample using an electrophoretic method.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.