Binding agents able to disrupt bacterial biofilms of diverse origin are described, including monoclonal antibodies secreted by human B lymphocytes. Methods to prevent formation of or to dissolve biofilms with these binding agents are also described. Immunogens for eliciting antibodies to disrupt biofilms are also described.

The present disclosure describes compositions and methods for increasing the abundance of commensal bacteria belonging to the order Clostridiales, including Blautia, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, Eubacterium, Holdemania and Dorea species, that are associated with reduced lethal GVHD and improved overall survival following bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The present disclosure, therefore, provides methods for reducing the likelihood, incidence or severity of GVHD by (1) avoiding the loss of endogenous beneficial species through antibiotic selection; (2) by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more Clostridiales associated with reduced GVHD to individuals who may lack or have lost those strains from their intestinal microbiota. Additionally, support for endogenous or reestablished Clostridiales related to reduced GVHD as a treatment option for reducing GVHD can also be provided in the form of nutritional supplementation, for example, sugars fermented by some species of Clostridiales with GVHD reducing activity.

A kit is disclosed for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections. One of the antibodies of the kit specifically binds to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) protein and another of the antibodies of the kit specifically binds to Procalcitonin (PCT) protein.

A tissue tester for providing an indication of the presence of disease including a first paper tissue sheet; and a filter patch treated with a color changing indicator affixed to the first paper tissue sheet. The tester may also consist of a single sheet of filter paper treated with a solution of turmeric and alcohol. The color indicator changes from yellow to brown when disease is indicated in respiratory secretions.

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, kits and compositions for determining the absence of a systemic bacterial infection (sepsis) in patients, particularly ones presenting to hospital emergency departments (ED) as outpatients, by measurement of the host immune response using peripheral blood. The are methods, apparatus, kits and compositions can be used in mammals for diagnosing, making treatment decisions, determining the next procedure or diagnostic test, or management of patients suspected of having an infection, including those presenting with fever or other signs of systemic inflammation. More particularly, peripheral blood RNA and protein biomarkers are disclosed that are useful for distinguishing between the host immune response to bacteria compared to the host immune response to other causes of systemic inflammation including trauma, burns, autoimmune disease, asthma, anaphylaxis, arthritis, obesity and viral infections. As such, the biomarkers are useful for distinguishing bacterial-associated systemic inflammatory response syndrome from non-bacterial systemic inflammation to provide clinicians with strong negative predictive value (>95%) so that sepsis can be excluded as a diagnosis in patients presenting to ED with clinical signs of systemic inflammation.

It has been demonstrated that the level of HBP increases in individuals that have bacterial meningitis. Accordingly, the level of HBP in an individual can be used to determine whether or not an individual has bacterial meningitis.

The invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid and polypeptides encoding collagenase I and collagenase II, methods for the preparation thereof and methods for the use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods related to releasing a composition comprising collagenase prior to therapeutic administration.

The invention provides epsilon toxin (ETX) produced by Clostridium perfringens type B or type D as a causative toxin for human multiple sclerosis (MS). The invention further identifies ETX binding receptor MAL for ETX mediated cell death and other toxin-logical activities in MS. Methods and compositions to prevent humans from multiple sclerosis (MS) and/or treating MS by directly or indirectly interfering with epsilon toxin (ETX), its binding receptor (e.g., MAL), or ETX-receptor interactions so as to inhibit or suppress downstream ETX mediated receptor signaling activities are provided. Also provided are various methods to detect, diagnose, monitor, assess multiple sclerosis (MS) by determining an expression level of ETX gene or its encoding protein in human patient suspected for and/or at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Stage-specific Borrelia antigens for diagnosing, treating and/or preventing Lyme disease are provided. The antigens include chimeric Borrelia antigen constructs and mutant recombinant proteins comprising OspC and OspE epitopes, respectively. The antigens are used in multiprotein assays that differentiate early, middle and late stage infection, and/or in vaccine preparations.

Described is an assay for diagnosing an infection such as peritonitis in a subject. The assay includes a binding molecule, such as an antibody that specifically binds to an inflammatory marker in a sample from the subject, and a second binding molecule that binds to a marker indicative of a pathogen in the sample. For diagnosing peritonitis in a subject, the pathogen will be at least one bacterium and/or fungus. Typically, the assay will be incorporated into a lateral flow device and may include a binding molecule that specifically binds to an antigen indicative of the presence of a specific pathogen species. The described assay(s) may further include filter(s), enriching antigen(s), and buffer(s). Also described are methods of diagnosing and treating peritonitis in a subject who is a peritoneal dialysis patient that include utilizing the herein described assay(s) or assay kit(s) to analyze the subject's peritoneal dialysis effluent.