The present disclosure relates generally to detection of contamination of a sample or diagnosis of subject based upon detection or quantification of amino acid sequences in a sample, specifically to the identification and use of molecular biomarkers for Candida albicans biofilm infections.

Methods and compositions for detecting Coccidioidomycosis featuring amino acids 105-310 of the Cts1 protein or amino acids 111-310 of the Cts1 protein; or peptide sequences that are similar to amino acids 105-310 of the Cts1 protein or similar to amino acids 111-310 of the Cts1 protein. Compared to standard immunodiffusion testing of undiluted sera for these antibodies, the present invention shows specific detection above non-immune sera at 1:100 dilution. The methods and compositions of the present invention help reduce the non-specific antibody binding unrelated to acquiring a coccidioidal infection, thereby providing a more sensitive test for early coccidioidal infection because signal could be distinguished at lower intensity, avoiding confusion with nonspecific antibody binding.

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 a method of identifying a specific yeast species in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering DNA of the yeast species from the patient tissue or body fluid, amplifying the DNA, hybridizing a probe to the DNA to specifically identify the yeast species, and specifically identifying the yeast species. The invention also relates to a method of identifying a yeast mycotoxin in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering the yeast mycotoxin from the patient tissue or body fluid, contacting the yeast mycotoxin with an antibody directed against the yeast mycotoxin, and identifying the yeast 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 yeast infection, and to develop an effective treatment regimen for the patient.

Methods for sorting cells include: arranging microparticles into an array on a substrate in a microfluidic device, in which the microparticles each include multiple reference markers; introducing multiple cells to the array of microparticles under conditions that enable at least some of the cells to adhere to the microparticles; removing the microparticles, to which the cells are adhered, from the substrate; transferring the microparticles, to which the cells are adhered, to a detection region; and detecting, for each of two or more microparticles that pass through the detection region, a microparticle feature; and sorting the two or more microparticles based on the detected features, in which the detected features are related to a phenotype of the cells.

Head smut is one of the most devastating diseases in maize, causing severe yield loss worldwide. The present invention describes the fine-mapping of a major QTL conferring resistance to head smut. Markers useful for breeding, and methods for conferring head smut resistance are described. Nucleic acid sequence from the genetic locus conferring head smut resistance is disclosed. Genes encoding proteins conferring head smut resistance are disclosed.

Disclosed herein is an expression system for the production and secretion of biologically active clot-specific streptokinase (CSSK) protein in methylotrophic yeast. Yeast-expressed CSSK protein displays improved plasminogen activation and fibrin selectivity. Further disclosed are methylotrophic yeast transformed with at least one copy of functional cDNA sequence encoding CSSK adjunct with modified signal sequence which results in secretion of mature and correctly processed CSSK.

The technology provided herein relates to multiplex methods and kits for detecting different analytes and different subgroups/variations of an analyte in a sample, as well as in vitro methods for screening, identifying and/or testing a substance and/or drug and in vitro methods for diagnosis of a disease, and an optical multiplexing system.

Present invention provides monoclonal antibody against chitin oligomer through hybridoma technique. Antibodies abovementioned can be used as tools to fungal infection diagnostic and treatment. Pharmaceutical compositions and fungal infection treatment kits are also disclosed, including antibodies abovementioned. Moreover, fungal infection diagnostic method is also disclosed, using antibodies abovementioned and their use in drug preparation to treat fungal infections.

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.