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.

The present invention provides a method of identifying meningitis as either bacterial meningitis or aseptic meningitis in a subject, comprising: a) measuring the amount of complement C3, complement factor B, complement membrane attack complex (MAC) protein, complement C5b, complement C6, complement C7, complement C8, and/or complement C9 in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample obtained from the subject; and b) comparing the amount of complement C3, complement factor B, complement MAC protein, complement C5b, complement C6, complement C7, complement C8, and/or complement C9 measured in (a) with the amount of complement C3, complement factor B, complement MAC protein, complement C5b, complement C6, complement C7, complement C8, and/or complement C9 measured in a control sample, wherein an amount of complement C3, complement factor B, complement MAC protein, complement C5b, complement C6, complement C7, complement C8, and/or complement C9 measured in (a) that is greater than the amount of complement C3, complement factor B, complement MAC protein, complement C5b, complement C6, complement C7, complement C8, and/or complement C9 measured in the control sample identifies the meningitis in the subject as bacterial meningitis.

A colorimetric sensor for detecting bacteria and/or viruses includes one or more layers having a photonic crystal structure, a functional layer comprising a nanomaterial capable of generating bacteria- and/or viruses-bioresponsive surface plasmon overlapping the one or more layers having the photonic crystal structure. The bacteria- and/or viruses-bioresponsive nanomaterial of the functional layer is doped with proteinic substances or antibodies acting as virus receptors, or the colorimetric sensor comprises a receptor layer comprising proteinic substances or antibodies acting as virus receptors. The functional layer and receptor layer overlap each other. Alternatively, or in addition to, the colorimetric sensor comprises a plasmonic nanostructured layer comprising nanostructures such to generate plasmonic colors, overlapping the one or more layers having the photonic crystal structure.

Novel compounds carrying ligands capable of binding to counter receptors on relevant target cells are disclosed. The compounds possess a number of advantageous features, rendering them very suitable for a wide range of applications, including use as detection systems, detection of relevant target cells as well as a number of other methods. In particular, novel MHC complexes comprising one or more MHC molecules are disclosed. The affinity and specificity of the MHC-peptide complexes are surprisingly high. The possibility of presenting to the target cells a plurality of MHC-peptide complexes makes the MHC complexes according to the present invention an extremely powerful tool e.g. in the field of therapy and diagnosis. The invention generally relates to the field of therapy, including therapeutic methods and therapeutic compositions. Also comprised by the present invention is the sample-mounted use of MHC complexes and MHC multimers.

A rapid assay for determining the presence of bacteria in a sample, such as a contaminated food sample, is disclosed. The assay comprises contacting the sample with a bacteria-specific ligand associated with a substrate, wherein bacteria present in the sample bind the ligand; contacting the bound bacteria with a detection agent; detecting the presence of bacteria in the sample by measuring the quantity of detection agent associated with the sample.

Compositions and methods for the detection and identification of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever Borrelia sp. antibodies.

This document provides biomarkers of gut microbiota dysbiosis. Bacteria that are increased or decreased in gut microbiota dysbiosis can be used as biomarkers to predict dysbiosis in patients with diarrhea and/or to predict susceptibility to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). In addition, provided herein are compositions including at least three bacteria that are decreased in gut microbiota dysbiosis which can be used, for example, to restore heathy gut microbiota (e.g., by probiotic or by fecal microbiota transplant) to treat CDI.

The invention relates to methods and devices for quantitative determination of bacteria.

Provided are compositions, devices and systems, methods for assessing, treating and/or preventing an intraocular disease or disorder in a subject, wherein the etiology of the intraocular disease or disorder comprises infection of a microorganism in the intraocular space or cavity of the subject. Provided are compositions, devices and systems, and methods for assessing, treating and/or preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a subject, e.g., a human patient.

An imaging system and method for microbial growth detection, counting or identification. One colony may be contrasted in an image that is not optimal for another type of colony. The system and method provides contrast from all available material through space (spatial differences), time (differences appearing over time for a given capture condition) and color space transformation using image input information over time to assess whether microbial growth has occurred for a given sample.