A VAMP epitope suitable for generating an antibody against a VAMP C-terminal neurotoxin cleavage product. Method of using such an epitope to generate an antibody against cleaved VAMP. Method of using such an antibody to assay for cleavage of a VAMP by clostridial neurotoxin.

Methods and apparatus for detecting, quantifying, enriching, and/or separating bacterial species in fluid sample are provided. The fluid sample is provided as input to a microfluidic passage of a microfluidic device, wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least one electrode disposed adjacent to the microfluidic passage. The at least one electrode is activated to capture bacteria in the sample using dielectrophoresis, wherein the capture efficiency of bacteria is at least 99%.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying subjects treated with or considered for treatment with checkpoint blockade therapeutic agents that are at higher or lower risk for developing checkpoint therapy associated colitis, by analyzing the intestinal microbiome of those subjects. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the abundance of certain intestinal microbiota of the phyla Bacteroidetes, including the bacteria in the families Bacteroidaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Barnesisllaceae, and/or an increase or decrease in microbial genetic pathways involved in polyamine transport and/or B vitamin biosynthesis (e.g., (riboflavin (B2), pantothenate (B5) and thiamine (B1)) are associated with the likelihood of developing checkpoint therapy associated colitis.

An antibiotic susceptibility testing device of gram-negative bacteria, as well as a corresponding method, are discussed. The device has a temperature control unit (including a constant temperature chamber) and a contactless conductivity-based measurement system. Disposable glassy or PVC tubes are used as test vessels for AST. In the performance of AST assay, appropriate kind of liquid medium containing identical amount of target bacterial cells and target antibiotics at different concentrations are loaded into test tubes, following by incubation in the device at a setup temperature. The bacterial growth profile is monitored by collecting the differential values (ΔC) of conductivity of liquid medium, which depend on the proliferation of viable cells. Outcome of ΔC indicates whether the target bacterial cells are completely inhibited by the test antibiotic or not, enabling the user to judge the value of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) simply.

Systems and methods for characterizing biological specimens, which may involve identifying a cell type or state corresponding to a disease or health condition of a subject. A biological specimen is subjected to electromagnetic radiation for spectroscopic analysis such as Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to determine the relative abundance of proteins or amino acids in the cells, which is used in a comparison to previously stored relative abundance data of a database to automatically identifies at least one of cell type and/or cell state of the cells (or the disease/health state of the subject with the disease state including the possibility of virus infection, or drug susceptibility of a subject to bacteria or fungus). The method may also be employed with biological entities or cellular structures such as exosomes and even protein or nucleic acid fragments to determine disease states or health states of the subject.

The invention encompasses kits and rapid methods for real-time multiplex detection and identification of one or more pathogens using glass well plates that include chemically modified surfaces to capture the presence of one or more pathogens from a small sample and magnetic microbeads with modified surfaces for capturing of pathogens within a volume of sample and collecting with an external magnet.

The present disclosure relates generally to peptide reporter constructs of SNAP-25, which are useful in determining the activity of botulinum toxins, and methods of using the same.

This disclosure provides isolated or recombinant polypeptides that are useful to vaccinate individuals suffering from chronic/recurrent biofilm disease or as a therapeutic for those with an existing infection. The individual's immune system will then naturally generate antibodies which prevent or clear these bacteria from the host by interfering with the construction and or maintenance of a functional protective biofilm. Alternatively, antibodies to the polypeptides can be administered to treat or prevent infection. Bacteria that cannot form functional biofilms are more readily cleared by the remainder of the host's immune system and/or traditional antibiotics.

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions utilizing upper-airway microbiota for diagnosing individuals at risk for asthma exacerbations. Further provided herein are probiotic compositions and methods for treating asthma by administering microorganisms that are associated with decreased risk of asthma exacerbations.

An assay device is provided for use in determining the presence of a target analyte in a sample. The assay device comprises a solid platform comprising a fibrous mat, the solid platform impregnated with a first FRET chromophore. An antibody-FRET chromophore conjugate is immobilized on a surface of the solid platform, wherein the antibody-FRET chromophore conjugate comprises an antibody affixed to a second FRET chromophore. The first FRET chromophore and the second FRET chromophore are selected to provide an energy transfer from one to another when located within a Förster distance with respect to each other, thereby forming a FRET donor-acceptor chromophore pair. In a further aspect, a method of detecting a target analyte in a sample is provided. In yet a further aspect, packaging sheet materials and packaging articles employing the assay device under certain conditions are provided.