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.

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.

The present invention provides for engineered molecular opsonins that may be used to bind biological pathogens or identify subclasses or specific pathogen species for use in devices and systems for treatment and diagnosis of patients with infectious diseases, blood-borne infections or sepsis. An aspect of the invention provides for mannose-binding lectin (MBL), which is an abundant natural serum protein that is part of the innate immune system. The ability of this protein lectin to bind to surface molecules on virtually all classes of biopathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans) make engineered forms of MBL extremely useful in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and sepsis.

The disclosure provides methods, compositions, and kits for enhanced detection of microbes in samples and monitoring of antimicrobial activity in a subject.

The present invention concerns an in vitro method for diagnosing invasive candidiasis (IC) in a subject which comprises detecting the presence of a Candida glycan and detecting the presence of antibody directed against a protein selected from the group consisting of fructose bisphosphate aldolase (Fba1), enolase 1 (Eno1), heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), hyphal wall protein (Hwp1), and mannoprotein 65 (Mp65) in a blood, plasma or serum sample of the subject. The invention also relates to a method of determining a suitable treatment regimen for a patient and to a kit for implanting the methods described herein.

Detection of grass pollen proteins such as Pas n 1, Sor h 1 and/or Cyn d 1 for the purpose of batch standardization of compositions comprising these grass pollen proteins, such as used for desensitization to these allergenic proteins. The methods may also be suitable for detecting or measuring levels of grass pollen proteins such as Pas n 1, Sor h 1 and/or Cyn d 1 in environmental samples such as air or water. Also provided is an antibody or antibody fragment engineered to bind Pas n 1 and one or a plurality of other grass pollen proteins such as Sor h 1 and/or Cyn d 1.

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.

Methods are provided for treating a subject for an infection by a pathogen expressing a CD47-like mimic protein on its surface. In particular, the methods comprise administering an agent that reduces the binding of the CD47 mimic protein on the pathogen to SIRPα on a phagocytic cell, wherein the agent is administered at an effective dose for increasing phagocytosis of the pathogen

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A method for extracting a mycotoxin, when present, from a sample. Compositions and methods include the use of high ionic strength compositions including compositions that include many amine and/or carboxyl groups such as protein based, amino acid based and polyethylene glycol based composition.

A method of detecting a presence, amount and/or type of a pathogenic organism in a substrate is provided. The method is effected by contacting a sample suspected as containing the pathogenic organism or a portion thereof with an electrode, thereafter contacting the electrode with an aptamer that selectively binds to said pathogenic organism; thereafter contacting the electrode with an agent that participates in an electrochemically detectable reaction and thereafter perform the electrochemical reaction while using the electrode. The electric signal produced by the reaction is indicative of a presence and/or amount of the pathogenic organism. Also provided are a sensing system and kits usable for practicing the method, and use of the method for determining a suitable agent for reducing a load of a pathogenic organism in a substrate.