The invention relates to a method for detecting the proportion of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in a complex sample. The bacteria are detected according to the Gram signal thereof. The invention enables distinction between species of Gram-positive bacteria and species of Gram-negative bacteria in a complex sample. The invention also relates to a kit for marking Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, particularly for use in flow cytometry, particularly for complex samples such as human or animal microbiota samples.

Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

The present invention is directed to Clostridium difficile toxin-specific antibodies, compositions, and uses thereof. The anti-toxin antibodies may be specific for TcdA. The invention also includes methods of treating a Clostridium difficile infection, methods of capturing Clostridium difficile toxins, and methods of detecting Clostridium difficile toxins.

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 NI 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 disclosure relates to wireless detection of analytes (such as bacteria) labeled by electrically, dielectrically, or magnetically active nanoparticles, for example in quality control monitoring for food supply chain management. The disclosed apparatus includes a detection vessel or vial, a resonant sensor tag, an inductively coupled reader to induce and detect resonance in the sensor tag, and an active nanoparticle for labeling. The disclosed wireless detection apparatus and methods use active nanoparticles for the development of wireless sensor systems which can be designed to be compatible with the existing RFID technology infrastructure. For example, commercial RFID readers (e.g., hand-held) used for tracking and tracing operation can be used with the disclosed apparatus to induce and measure a corresponding resonance frequency.

The present invention relates to a reagent kit for detecting biofilm in test tissue, the reagent kit comprising:

(a) a pretreatment liquid comprising at least one surfactant selected, from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants,

(b) a staining liquid comprising a dye, and

(c) a decolorizing liquid comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants;

wherein after a membrane is brought into contact with the test tissue and released from contact, the pretreatment liquid (a), the staining liquid (b), and the decolorizing liquid (c) are brought into contact with the contact surface of the membrane in this order.

In various embodiments nanoparticle drug delivery vehicles are provided that specifically deliver a cargo to a target pathogenic organism. In certain embodiments the drug delivery vehicle comprises a mesoporous silica nanoparticle comprising a plurality of pores and an outer surface through which the pores are disposed; a cargo disposed in the pores; one or more antigens attached to the surface of the nanoparticle; an antibody that specifically binds the antigens and are bound to the antigens, wherein the antibody inhibits diffusion of the cargo out of the pores and permit release of the cargo when the drug delivery vehicle is in the presence of the antigen or a pathogen displaying the antigen.

Methods and kits for the detection of toxic cyanobacteria in a sample by analyzing the sample for the presence antibodies raised in a host, where the presence of antibodies is indicative of toxic cyanobacteria, are described.

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and/or Ehrlichia canis.

Described herein are engineered microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules, kits comprising the same and uses thereof. Some particular embodiments of the microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules comprise a carbohydrate recognition domain of mannose-binding lectin, or a fragment thereof, linked to a portion of a Fc region. In some embodiments, the microbe-targeting molecules or microbe-binding molecules can be conjugated to a substrate, e.g., a magnetic microbead, forming a microbe-targeting substrate (e.g., a microbe-targeting magnetic microbead). Such microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates and the kits comprising the same can bind and/or capture of a microbe and/or microbial matter thereof, and can thus be used in various applications, e.g., diagnosis and/or treatment of an infection caused by microbes such as sepsis in a subject or any environmental surface. Microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates can be regenerated after use by washing with a low pH buffer or buffer in which calcium is insoluble.