Methods for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) are described. The methods can include detecting the presence of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath of subjects suspected of having IA.

The invention relates to biosensors for detecting odorants, especially a biosensor that mimics odorant detection by a mammal, for example, humans, dogs or cats. The field of the invention also related to the standardization of odors for scent, smell and taste using the biosensor of the invention, and the discovery of agonists, antagonists, and mixtures of odorants for creating new odors, masking odors, enhancing odors, and designing odors.

In one aspect, methods of generating human monoclonal antibodies that specifically binds to an allergen are provided. In some embodiments, the monoclonal antibodies are generated from sequences identified from isolated single B cells from a human subject who is allergic to the allergen.

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting microbial infection in mammalian subjects comprising treatment of a sample and detection of galactofuranose (galF)-containing antigenic components utilizing monoclonal antibodies. The methods disclosed provide for pretreatment of biological samples, such as urine samples, to maximize detection of galF antigens and improvement of sensitivity of galF antigen detection assays. The methods include minimizing intelectin-1 binding to galF antigens and improvement of monoclonal antibody binding. The detection methods are useful for identifying the presence of microbial antigens related to bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Coccidioides species, Cryptococcus species, Histoplasma species, and Leishmania species.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for tracking vegetation through the production and distribution cycle, and for distinguishing between plants or crops having different characteristics.

A method for determining whether a test sample contains a phytopathogenic fungus, which includes (a) putting the test sample on a front surface of a substrate having a through hole; the substrate having a cellulose film on the back surface thereof; the through hole has a cross-sectional area of not less than 7.065 square micrometers and not more than 19.625 square micrometers; and the cellulose film has a thickness of not less than 0.5 micrometers and not more than 3.7 micrometers; (b) leaving the test sample at rest after the step (a); (c) irradiating the cellulose film with ultraviolet light after the step (b); (d) bringing a back surface of the cellulose film into contact with a fungus color reaction reagent after the step (c); and (e) determining that the test sample contains the phytopathogenic fungus, if a color is given to the fungus color reaction reagent.

Described are compounds and methods useful in measuring membrane permeability and efflux transporter activity in bacteria, including multidrug resistance Gram negative bacteria.

Detecting at least one biomarker indicative of coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in a sample from a subject having or at risk for coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever).

The present disclosure relates to a method of separating a sample including a mycotoxin. The method includes flowing the sample through a column to load the sample on the column, washing the column to reduce impurities, eluting the mycotoxin from the column, collecting an eluted sample with the mycotoxin in a sample plate, sealing the eluted sample in the sample plate, transferring the sealed sample plate, removing the eluted sample from the transferred sample plate; and analyzing the removed eluted sample. The column can include an affinity resin, such as, for example, an immunoaffinity resin. The sample plate can be a 96-well plate.

A method of taking a skin sample can include placing an adhesive onto a portion of skin and lifting the adhesive from the skin. A skin sample may then be tested while still on the adhesive, for example, by inoculating the sample with a bacterium, fungus, virus, or a combination.