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 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 invention relates to in vivo systems and high throughput screening platform for drugs applicable in inborn error of metabolism (IEM) disorders. More specifically, the invention provides yeast screening system of candidate therapeutic compounds applicable in IEM disorders associated with accumulation of at least one metabolite. The systems of the invention comprise yeast cell/s that carry at least one manipulation in at least one yeast metabolic pathway, that leads to accumulation of said metabolite.

Disclosed herein are methods for detecting a biological or chemical entity in a sample, wherein the biological or chemical is associated with extracellular vesicles. The methods disclosed comprise the steps of (a) processing the sample, (b) using a detection assay to detect the presence of extracellular vesicles and to isolate the extracellular vesicles, (c) processing the extracellular vesicles to expose or release the biological or chemical entity, and (e) detecting the biological or chemical entity released from the extracellular vesicle. In certain embodiments, the extracellular vesicles are associated with proteins, glycoproteins, peptides, lipids, nucleic acids or other cellular components. The detection methods are useful for identifying the presence of microbial antigens related to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Coccidioides species, Cryptococcus species, and Histoplasma species.

The technology provided herein relates to multiplex methods and kits for detecting different analytes and different subgroups/variations of an analyte in a sample, for example in parallel by sequential signal-encoding of said analytes, 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.

Described herein are engineered microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules, kits comprising the same and uses thereof. The microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules can comprise a microbe surface-binding domain linked to a portion of an Fc region. Further, the microbe-targeting molecules can be conjugated to substrate (e.g., a magnetic particle) to form a microbe-targeting substrate. Such microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates and the kits comprising the same can be used in various applications, such as diagnosis and/or treatment of an infection caused by microbes. Moreover, the microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates can be easily regenerated after use.

A barrel defines a channel, and has an opening into the channel, and an outlet from the channel. A porous carrier disposed within the channel carries an albumin. A cellulosic stationary phase is disposed within the channel between the carrier and the distal region of the barrel. A lateral flow platform is coupled to the barrel such that a sample pad of the lateral flow platform is in fluid communication with the outlet. A sponge, coupled to a plunger, is configured to hold saliva. The plunger is dimensioned to compress the sponge within the channel such that the saliva is driven (i) out of the sponge and through the carrier, dissolving at least some of the albumin, (ii) with the dissolved albumin, into the stationary phase, and (iii) as an eluate, out of the stationary phase, through the outlet, and onto the sample pad. Other embodiments are also described.

An object of a device and a method for detecting a substance to be measured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is to conveniently detect a biological substance, such as a bacterium or a fungus. The detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a container that retains a solution containing a substance to be measured and a magnetic labeling substance that binds specifically to the substance to be measured, a flow generating unit that generates a flow in a first direction at least in the solution, a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field gradient in the solution, and a detection unit that detects composite particles, based on motion of particles in a predetermined region in the solution, the composite particles including the substance to be measured and the magnetic labeling substance bound together.

This invention relates to methods and compositions for detecting, quantifying, or identifying mycotoxins. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and compositions for detecting, quantifying, or identifying a gliotoxin, or a derivative thereof, a mycotoxin of a Penicillium species, or a mycotoxin of a Chaetomium species, in the tissues or body fluid samples of patients.

A problem to be solved is to perform an immunoassay method for BG in a biological sample having a sensitivity equivalent to and a reactivity similar to a Limulus amebocyte lysate reagent. The problem can be solved by an immunoassay method for β-D-glucan in a biological sample, comprising assaying β-D-glucan in the biological sample by using a monoclonal antibody binding to (1.fwdarw.3)-β-D-glucan having a degree of polymerization of 4.