The present invention provides sensor cells comprising a receptor that binds to an analyte indicative of the presence of an agent, where binding of the analyte to the receptor triggers a detection event that is indicative of the presence of the agent. In certain embodiments, the detection event is appearance of a reporter detectable by the naked eye. The present invention also provides uses of such sensor cells for detecting the presence of an agent in a sample.

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.

The present application discloses proteins or peptides and methods of using such proteins or peptides to evaluate the immune status of a patient. In one embodiment, proteins or peptides may be used to detect endogenous calnexin specific CD4 T cells. In one preferred embodiment, the proteins or peptides may comprise peptide-MHCII tetramers (pMHC tetramers).

Molecules compounds are provided having the structure in Formula I, or a salt thereof, wherein n1 is independently 0, 1, 2, or 3; n2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20; n.sup.3 is from 0, 1, 2, or 3; n.sup.4 is 0 or 1; and n.sup.5 is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and wherein X is O, N, or S; Y, Z, XX, and YY are the same or different and are independently O or S; ZZ comprises nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or selenium; and wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 are as described herein. Methods are also provided for the synthesis of and use of the provided molecules in applications for diagnostic testing.

The disclosure features pharmaceutical compositions, methods, and kits featuring dosing regimens and CD101, or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt or neutral form thereof (e.g., CD101 acetate).

An object of the present invention is to provide means for correctly measuring zygomycota. The present inventors have found that conventionally difficult zygomycota measurement can be performed through subjecting an untreated specimen to an acid treatment. The present invention provides a method for measuring zygomycota, the method including measuring zygomycota in a specimen that was subjected to an acid treatment; an agent for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; a method for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; and a reagent kit for measuring zygomycota.

The present disclosure provides for microbial testing devices, methods for making microbial testing devices, methods for growing and testing microbial cultures and methods for testing compounds for antimicrobial activity.

Methods for identifying fungal species by analysis of fungal membrane lipids, such as glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols, using mass spectrometry ionization patterns are disclosed.

A system for determining an amount of fungal particles in air in a building includes including: an air inlet connected to a filter for filtering particles having a size of 1-120 m; means for collecting fungal particles from the filtered particles and transferring the collected fungal particles to at least one sample cuvette; means for dry denaturation of the fungal particles; means for producing a voltage change of the dry denaturised fungal particles and means for detection of voltage changes caused by the dry denaturised fungal particles to obtain voltage change data; means for collecting a sample; means for wet denaturation of the fungal particles subsequent to the detection of voltage changes. The system further includes at least two of means for immunological detection of the fungal species in the sample to obtain immunological data; means for measuring glucose concentration of the sample to obtain glucose concentration data; means for measuring light emission of the sample to obtain light emission data.

Materials and methods for detecting and treating Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) are provided herein. For example, materials and methods for enriching and detecting biomarker antigens (e.g., polypeptides and/or glycans) from Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, the fungi that cause Valley Fever, are described herein, as are methods for treating an individual for Valley Fever based on the results of the described detection methods.