This disclosure relates to methods for isolating bacterial cells, fungal cells, and single-celled parasites present in a blood sample containing higher eukaryotic cells; particularly wherein the microorganisms are present at a concentration significantly lower than the eukaryotic cells in the sample.

A computer-implemented method for determining a hygiene condition of an interior space is described. The method has the steps of: a) obtaining relative abundance of at least one bacterium of human health concern in an interior space; b) generating a Microbial Index of Interior Space (“Microbial Index”) for the interior space based on the relative abundance; and c) displaying an output indicative of the Microbial Index for determining a hygiene condition of the interior space. The Microbial Index is characterized by a function of the relative abundance of the at least one bacterium of human health concern defined by F(Σ.sub.i=1.sup.NP.sub.i), wherein N: Number of bacteria of human health concern identified in a microbial community in the interior space; P: Relative abundance of i-th bacteria of human health concern in the microbial community.

There is provided a molecule comprising a chain of seven or more contiguous units of 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-α-pyranose each pair of units joined by a C.sub.1-C.sub.2 or a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 link, the chain having a terminal end and a reducing end, wherein the pyranose ring in the unit of the chain most distal from the reducing end is linked to a cap structure. The cap structure is not a 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-α-pyranose. There are also provided vaccine compositions comprising the molecule and methods of vaccinating an animal against infection by a Brucella organism, including methods of distinguishing between a vaccinated and an infected animal. There are further provided novel methods of detecting the presence in a sample of an anti-Brucella antibody.

The invention relates to the production of biopharmaceuticals and, more particularly, to a novel method of monitoring for contamination of such products with components of any host cells used or involved in the manufacturing process. The method comprises a step of determining the presence in a biopharmaceutical (e.g. a therapeutic phage composition) of a ribosomal subunit protein unique to bacteria (or protein fragments thereof) or a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence derived from a gene encoding a ribosomal subunit protein unique to bacteria.

Provided are antibodies that bind to bacteria associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), methods of detecting the same, and methods of using the same for treating and/or preventing NEC. The antibodies that bind to bacteria associated with NEC are detected by, e.g., detecting binding of the antibody to a bacterium in a bacterial array that includes the bacteria associated with NEC.

Apparatus and methods of fabrication and use of highly effective laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes including for electrochemical sensing and catalysis. One example is a sensitive and label-free laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrode functionalized for a specific application. One example of functionalization with antibodies, an enzyme, or an ionophore to electrochemically quantify a target species The LIG electrodes were produced by laser induction on film having a carbon precursor (e.g. polyimide) in ambient conditions, and hence circumvent the need for high-temperature, vacuum environment, and metal seed catalysts commonly associated with graphene-based electrodes fabricated via chemical vapor deposition processes. These results demonstrate how LIG-based electrodes can be used for electrochemical sensing in general. Other examples of applications include, but are not limited to, ion-sensing, pesticide monitoring and detection, and water splitting, using the LIG-based electrode(s) adapted for those purposes.

The methods of the present invention include noninvasive methods for the isolation of antibody-producing cells from the gut and the use of the cells so-isolated to generate antibodies responsive to biomarkers for a number of health conditions. The responsive antibodies are chimeric secretory antibodies comprising IgA and IgG moieties that may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions after challenged with biomarkers thereof. In a preferred embodiment, stool samples may be obtained from patients suffering from HIV infection and cells may be isolated from the samples according to the methods described herein and reacted with antibodies responsive to HIV biomarkers. The diagnostic methods described herein allow for room temperature sample isolation for up to five days prior to diagnosis and are useful in detecting latent HIV that cannot be detected in blood samples. It is another object of the invention to generate therapeutic antibodies.

The disclosure, in some aspects, provides antigen-specific amino acid sequences for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species.

In one aspect, a method of detecting a pathogen, e.g., listeria bacterium, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and/or HPV, in a sample is disclosed, which comprises bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding to the pathogen, monitoring electrical resistance of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of the pathogen in said sample by detecting a change in said electrical resistance indicative of interaction of the pathogen with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer. For example, a decrease of the electrical resistance of the graphene layer can indicate the presence of the pathogen in the sample under study. In some embodiments, a method according to the present teachings is capable of detecting pathogens, such as listeria bacteria, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and HPV in a sample at a concentration as low as 4 cfu per 100 grams of a sample.

Provided are novel methods for screening and testing for pathogens in food, water, and bodily fluids using methods that are faster to complete than conventional methods of culturing and plating that require lengthy times in properly equipped labs. The invention utilizes specific, rapid and sensitive optical detection to capture small concentrations of the target bacteria and render them amenable for detection with various specific synthesis binding agents approaches. The technique merges capture and detection steps with quantification unit suitable to provide results in a relatively shorter time current detection methods.