A method of detecting fluorescence from bacteria suitable for determining the presence of faeces or other fluorophores, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating a target with fluorescence excitation light having an excitation wavelength and monitoring for the emission of fluorescence light from the target at wavelengths longer than the excitation wavelength.

The present invention relates to the field of antigen binding proteins and the use of such antigen binding proteins in an assay. More particularly, it relates to antigen binding proteins which bind to an epitope of Protein E and antigen binding proteins which bind to an epitope of PilA. The present invention also relates to assays (particularly in vitro assays) for assessing binding to Protein E and/or PilA and the potency of vaccines containing Protein E and/or PilA. In particular the invention relates to in vitro relative potency assays used in the release of a vaccine to the public.

The present invention relates to the field of bacterial Surface (S)-layer proteins, in particular to compounds capable of disrupting the bacterial S-Layer, specifically the S-Layer of Bacillus anthracis. More particularly, the invention provides for single domain antibodies for diagnosis and treatment of infection caused by pathogens with an S-Layer, in particular of Bacillus anthracis infection. The invention relates to S-Layer protein binding agents inhibiting bacterial growth and interrupting S-Layer assembly, useful in the treatment of bacterial infection, more specifically treatment of anthrax disease.

A method for determining the risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome for a woman is provided comprising the steps of measuring a level of TM7-H1 and optionally one or more of BVAB1, Sneathia amnii, and Prevotella cluster 2 in a vaginal sample obtained from the woman, and identifying the woman as having an increased risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes, if the levels are increased compared to corresponding standard control levels. Methods for the prophylactic treatment of subjects identified as being at increased risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome are also provided.

Disclosed herein is a method of detecting and identifying antigens that are shed into human bodily fluids during infection. The disclosed method allows circulating antigens associated with a particular infection to be detected within minutes or hours from testing as compared to days required with the current methods. Methods of identifying diagnostic indicators/targets for a given condition or disease are disclosed which include immunizing a veterinary subject with biological fluids obtained from a human infected with particular antigens to identify diagnostic targets for immunoassay. Also disclosed are methods of diagnosing and monitoring a B. burgdorferi-associated condition, such as Lyme disease. Point-of-care immunoassays are also provided that can be used to diagnose or monitor the efficacy of a B. burgdorferi-associated condition treatment. These immunoassays can also be used for rapid diagnosis of infection produced by B. burgdorferi, such as Lyme disease.

A lateral flow assay strip and a molecular diagnostic methods are disclosed. The lateral flow assay strip includes a sample pad (100), a conjugate pad (200), a test pad (300), a control pad (400), and an absorption pad (500). The sample pad (100) receives a sample containing at least one among amplicons each labelled with at least one tag and amplicon precursors each labelled with a tag. The conjugate pad (200) includes a first conjugate (C1) attached in a flowable manner and having an indicator and a detector bound to the indicator. The test pad (300) includes a test line with a first trapping molecule fixed. The control pad (400) includes a control line with a second trapping molecule fixed. The lateral flow assay strip is used to detect amplicons such as nucleic acids amplified by using a primer or an amplicon precursor such as dNTP, on which one type of tag is labelled.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, kits, and systems for rapid detection of a microorganism of interest on a surface, including medical devices. Cocktail compositions of recombinant bacteriophages can be used to detect potentially harmful bacteria. The specificity of recombinant bacteriophages for binding microorganisms allows targeted and highly specific detection of a microorganism of interest.

Described are a number of aptamers that are specific to bind with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and associated methods.

Described are a number of aptamers that are specific to bind with peptidoglycan (“PGN”) with specificity over counter-targets lipopolysaccharides (“LPS”) and lipoteichoic acid (“LTA”), and associated methods.

A toothbrush for brushing a user's teeth is a T-shaped member having a handle forming a lower part of the T and a head forming the upper, transverse part of the T. A plurality of bristles extends outwardly from a surface of the head. A combination of at least the head and the plurality of bristles together provides about a 45-degree brushing angle relative to a side surface of a tooth of a user.