Disclosed are isothiocyanate (ITC)-detecting biosensors that utilize recombinant host cells containing an ITC responsive genetic element such as a saxA promoter, operably linked with a reporter element, such as a luxCDABE operon or ilux operon. Such biosensors can detect the presence of diverse ITCs in samples such as plant extracts, biofumigated soils and seed meal amended soils.

A β-1,6-glucanase mutant which is a mutant of β-1,6-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.75), wherein a Glu residue located at a position corresponding to Glu (E)-321 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted by an amino acid residue X or a Glu (E) residue located at a position corresponding to each of Glu (E)-225 and Glu (E)-321 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted by an amino acid residue X, wherein the amino acid residue (X) is selected from the group consisting of Gln (Q), Gly (G), Ala (A), Leu (L), Tyr (Y), Met (M), Ser (S), Asn (N), and His (H); and a method for measuring β-1,6-glucan, including measuring β-1,6-glucan bonded to the mutant.

Provided herein is a method of treating an individual afflicted with an inflammatory bowel disease utilizing Candida abundance as a biomarker of responsiveness. The method comprises determining levels of Candida in a sample from the gastrointestinal tract of an individual, and if the level of Candida is higher than a reference level, identifying the individual as suitable for microbiota transplantation therapy (MTT), and optionally, administering to such an individual the MTT, and in individuals having gastrointestinal tract Candida levels lower than a reference level, increasing the Candida levels prior to prior to administration of MTT.

A rapid, low-cost, portable and reliable method for on-site detection of deoxynivalenol (DON), a representative mycotoxin predominantly occurring in grains, would be helpful to control mycotoxin contamination. Herein, a paper-based microfluidic chip capable of measuring deoxynivalenol (DON-Chip) in foods, feeds and feed ingredients was developed. As discussed herein, the DON-Chip incorporated a colorimetric competitive immunoassay into a paper microfluidic device and used gold nanoparticles as a signal indicator. Furthermore, a novel ratiometric analysis method was used to improve signal resolvability at low concentrations of DON. Detection of DON in aqueous extracts from solid foods, feeds or feed ingredients was successfully validated with a detection range from 0.01-20 ppm (using dilution factors from 10-10.sup.4). Compared with conventional methods, the novel DON-Chip greatly reduces the cost and time of mycotoxin detection in the food and feed industry.

The present invention relates to aqueous compositions comprising cyclodextrins or carbohydrates. The present invention also relates to the use of such compositions in the binding and removal of mycotoxins from foodstuff. The invention also includes compositions that show a broad affinity for mycotoxins.

The present disclosure provides a biosensor for detecting the presence of and/or the amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen in a sample, comprising: a support structure; at least two interdigitated electrodes coupled to the support structure, wherein at least one of the interdigitated electrodes is functionalized with a linker coupled to at least one biological component that recognizes the at least one fungal plant pathogen; and an impedance measurement circuit coupled to the at least two interdigitated electrodes. The present disclosure also provides methods of detecting the presence of and/or the amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen in a sample, methods of making the biosensor described herein, as well as methods and uses of using the herein described biosensor for detecting the presence of and/or amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen.

Antibody-based binding agents derived from human and camelid immunoglobulins are described, as well as strains of yeast engineered to secrete the binding agents, and methods of treating and preventing Clostridium difficile infections using the engineered strains of yeast. These binding agents recognize and bind with specificity to Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or toxin B and in some cases exhibit toxin neutralizing activity. The binding agents include camelid V.sub.HH peptide monomers, linked groups of V.sub.HH peptide monomers, V.sub.HH peptide monomers joined to antibody Fc domains, and V.sub.HH peptide monomers joined to IgG antibodies.

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.

This invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying microbial DNA in the tissues or body fluid samples of patients. More particularly, the invention relates to two-step polymerase chain reaction based methods for identifying microbial DNA in the tissues or body fluid samples of patients, and compositions therefor. Microbial DNA can also be quantified using the methods described herein.

The invention relates to a method of identifying a specific fungal species in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering DNA of the fungal species from the patient tissue or body fluid, amplifying the DNA, hybridizing a probe to the DNA to specifically identify the fungal species, and specifically identifying the fungal species. The invention also relates to a method of identifying a mycotoxin in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering the mycotoxin from the patient tissue or body fluid, contacting the mycotoxin with an antibody directed against the mycotoxin, and identifying the myocotoxin. Both of these methods can be used to determine if a patient is at risk for or has developed a disease state related to a fungal infection, and to develop an effective treatment regimen for the patient.