A Treponema pallidum triplet antigen construct is disclosed which includes three Treponema pallidum antigens (TP15, TP17, and TP47), as well as a ten amino acid leader sequence (tag 261) and human copper zinc superoxide dismutase (hSOD). This construct is optimized for in vitro diagnosis of syphilis infection. Plasmids containing DNA encoding the triplet antigen, host cells, production methods, detection methods, and kits are also disclosed.

Disclosed is an accurate and stable immunoassay reagent using a glycerophospholipid and a method for stabilizing the reagent. The reagent for assaying an analyte in blood by immune reaction with an antigen when the analyte is an antibody or with an antibody when the analyte is an antigen, wherein a glycerophospholipid and a polyvinylpyrrolidone are incorporated into the immune reaction system.

Disclosed is an accurate and stable immunoassay reagent using a glycerophospholipid and a method for stabilizing the reagent. The reagent for assaying an analyte in blood by immune reaction with an antigen when the analyte is an antibody or with an antibody when the analyte is an antigen, wherein a glycerophospholipid and a polyvinylpyrrolidone are incorporated into the immune reaction system.

Method of localizing a sulfhydryl (SH) group containing biomolecule to the surface of a cell membrane by mixing in a volatile reaction buffer a molar excess of the sulfhydryl (SH) group containing biomolecule with a lipid conjugated maleimide of the structure F-S-L as defined in the specification to provide a reaction mix, incubating the reaction mix for a time and at a temperature sufficient to allow all the lipid conjugated maleimide to have reacted with the sulfhydryl (SH) group, and freeze-drying the reaction mix to remove the volatile reaction buffer and provide a reaction product. An aqueous solution of the reaction product is contacted with the cell membrane.

Method of localizing a sulfhydryl (SH) group containing biomolecule to the surface of a cell membrane by mixing in a volatile reaction buffer a molar excess of the sulfhydryl (SH) group containing biomolecule with a lipid conjugated maleimide of the structure F-S-L as defined in the specification to provide a reaction mix, incubating the reaction mix for a time and at a temperature sufficient to allow all the lipid conjugated maleimide to have reacted with the sulfhydryl (SH) group, and freeze-drying the reaction mix to remove the volatile reaction buffer and provide a reaction product. An aqueous solution of the reaction product is contacted with the cell membrane.

The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas-sptciric aldolase, GAPDH, -enolase and -actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas-sptciric aldolase, GAPDH, -enolase and -actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

Methods of treating a head and neck cancer are disclosed.

Methods of treating a head and neck cancer are disclosed.

A Treponema pallidum triplet antigen construct is disclosed which includes three Treponema pallidum antigens (TP15, TP17, and TP47), as well as a ten amino acid leader sequence (tag 261) and human copper zinc superoxide dismutase (hSOD). This construct is optimized for in vitro diagnosis of syphilis infection. Plasmids containing DNA encoding the triplet antigen, host cells, production methods, detection methods, and kits are also disclosed.