Disclosed is a composition for extracting mycotoxins or aflatoxins from a food sample. The methods using the composition to detect and analyze the aflatoxins are also provided.

Non-invasive methods are provided herein for diagnosing samples as including a fungus, including fungal infection or contamination, with specific monoclonal antibodies capable of detecting molecules associated with fungi in the sample, such as a biological or environmental sample. These molecules can be identified using various methods, including but not limited to antibody based methods, such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), or a lateral flow immunoassay.

The invention relates to a method for labeling specifically living microorganisms in a sample comprising microorganisms, the method comprising the steps of: a) incubating said microorganisms of said sample with at least one modified monosaccharide compound comprising a first reactive chemical group capable to chemically react with a second reactive group, so that a residue bearing said first reactive group is incorporated into such microorganisms, and b) contacting said residue incorporated in the microorganisms, with a labeling molecule comprising a said second reactive group, for generating the chemical reaction of said first reactive group of said residue incorporated within said living microorganisms with said second reactive group of said labeling molecule, resulting in a covalent link, characterized in that the said modified monosaccharide compound has the following formula (I), or a salt thereof: X can be O, NH or S, preferably O and NH, and R1 and R2 can be independently H, OH, NH.sub.2, OH and NH.sub.2 being substituted or not by protecting groups thereof, preferably substituted by alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acyl, formyl or imidoyl groups, and R3 is H or an alkyl chain in C.sub.1 to C.sub.4, each carbon being substituted or not substituted by OH or NH.sub.2 substituted or not by protecting groups thereof, preferably by alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acyl, formyl or imidoyl groups, andat least one of X, R1, R2 and R3 groups, preferably R3, being substituted by a said first reactive group Ra.

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Methods are provided for preparing patient samples for direct detection and identification of microorganisms in the patient samples using multiplex immunoassays. The method includes enzymatic treatment of the patient sample, boiling and centrifugation of the sample to provide a treated sample that may be used in an immunoassay. There are also provided immunoassay compositions and systems for the direct detection and identification of microorganism in patient tissue.

Assays used in conjunction with a thermal contrast reader are disclosed. In the assay, the test strip includes materials that can develop a thermal response if a target analyte is present in a sample. Linear flow assays include nanoparticles with high affinity binding to the analyte. Binding of the nanoparticles with an analyte in the sample is detected using thermal contrast. Analytes over a broad range of concentrations are detected in the linear flow assays. Methods of detecting target analytes and kits comprising lateral flow assays and thermal contrast reader are also disclosed.

This disclosure provides, in one aspect, a method for analyzing a sample from a subject for a biomarker that is indicative of the subject's immune response to -glucan. Generally, the method includes obtaining a biological sample from a subject, analyzing the sample for a biomarker anti--glucan antibody compared to a reference standard, computing a Relative Antibody Unit (RAU) value for anti--glucan antibody in the sample, and identifying the subject as biomarker positive if the RAU value is greater than a predetermined RAU value for the biomarker anti--glucan antibody.

The present invention relates to the expression of polypeptides using Yarrowia lipolytica, in particular the secretion of expressed polypeptides into either the extracellular space or the surface of the Y. lipolytica host cell wall. The invention also extends to the use of the polypeptides so expressed in biotechnological applications. The present invention provides an expression construct for the expression of polypeptides using at least a single Yarrowia lipolytica yeast cell, the expression construct having at least one expression cassette, the expression cassette including an acid extracellular protease secretion signal sequence and flanking zeta sequence recombination sites.

A probe is provided comprising a core and a plurality of probe elements; each probe element within the plurality of probe elements extending from the core and comprising a fluorophore and a binding moiety. Methods of use of the probe and kits comprising the probe are also provided.

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.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and devices for detecting targets in a sample. A plurality of targets in a sample and a plurality of particles may be provided in a volume and configured to bind to one another to form bound particle-target complexes. In some embodiments, the volume may also include one or more density gradient or two or more density media which may form an interface. The bound particle-target complexes may experience a density shift and separation in the density media relative to unbound targets and/or unbound particles. In some such embodiments, the bound particle-target complexes may settle at the interface formed by the density media. In some embodiments, the separated bound particle-target complexes may then undergo concentration, extraction, and analysis steps.