A method to detect the presence of parent brevetoxin (BT) and brevetoxin metabolites (BTXs) in shellfish and aquatic samples is provided. The method may include contacting a sample with a binding molecule comprising an aptamer, and determining if the binding molecule binds a Brevetoxin antigen in the sample.

This invention relates to recombinant human antibody molecules. The antibodies bind fungal antigens, for example from Candida spp. Human antibody encoding genes targeting clinically relevant Candida epitopes have been isolated from single B cells from carefully selected donors and screened with specified types of protein or cell wall extract. The panel of purified, fully human recombinant IgG1 mAbs generated displayed a diverse range of specific binding profiles and demonstrated efficacy in a disease model. The fully human mAbs and derivatives thereof have utility in the generation of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

Provided are methods for identifying surface-exposed epitopes of fungal cell wall proteins, and related peptide antigens, suitable for the development of antifungal antibodies. The methods allow for the detection of surface-exposed epitopes that are particularly highly expressed in drug-resistant fungal pathogens, and in pathogens exposed to antifungal drugs. Also provided are antifungal antibodies which may be derived by these methods. The methods and antibodies find use in the treatment of treating and diagnosing fungal infections, such as candidiasis, aspergillosis cryptococcosis, and Mucormycosis.

A concentration agent for microorganisms is provided that contains both lanthanum and carbonate. Additionally, articles that include the concentration agent and methods of concentrating a microorganism using the concentration agent are provided.

Provided herein are methods for detecting an Aspergillus protease in a sample, diagnosing a subject with aspergillosis caused by an Aspergillus infection based on the presence of an Aspergillus protease in a sample, and methods of aspergillosis treatment that incorporate these diagnostic methods. In certain embodiments, the Aspergillus protease is Asp f2, and the Aspergillus infection is caused A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. versicolor, A. niger, or A. terreus. Also provided herein are antibodies and kits for use in these methods, including novel antibodies specific for Asp f2.

Methods for using focused light scattering techniques for the optical sensing of biological particles suspended in a liquid medium are disclosed. The optical sensing enables one to characterize particles size and/or distribution in a given sample. This, in turn, allows one to identify the biological particles, determine their relative particle density, detect particle shedding, and identify particle aggregation. The methods are also useful in screening and optimizing drug candidates, evaluating the efficacy and dosage levels of such drugs, and in personalized medicine applications.

The invention provides methods for preparing a conifer seedling with increased tolerance to a pest. A conifer seedling is inoculated with an isolated endophyte when the conifer seedling is susceptible to colonization by the endophyte.

In order to identify a novel gene responsible for parthenocarpy and to provide use of the gene, the parthenocarpy regulatory gene of the present invention includes a polynucleotide (1) that encodes an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, (2) that encodes an amino acid sequence (i) having a sequence identity of 75% or higher relative to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, (3) that encodes an amino acid sequence in which 1 to 98 amino acids are substituted, etc. in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or (4) that is hybridized with a polynucleotide, which has a sequence complementary to the polynucleotide for encoding the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 under a stringent condition.

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.

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting microbial infection in mammalian subjects comprising treatment of a sample and detection of galactofuranose (galF)-containing antigenic components utilizing monoclonal antibodies. The methods disclosed provide for pretreatment of biological samples, such as urine samples, to maximize detection of galF antigens and improvement of sensitivity of galF antigen detection assays. The methods include minimizing intelectin-1 binding to galF antigens and improvement of monoclonal antibody binding. The detection methods are useful for identifying the presence of microbial antigens related to bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Coccidioides species, Cryptococcus species, Histoplasma species, and Leishmania species.