Proxies for physiological states of tissue are provided. Accordingly, there are provided methods of determining host AMP landscape, establishing a profile indicative of tissue status, and identifying proxies for tissue status in AMP profiles of samples of secretions, exudates and/or excretions of the tissue. Also provided are methods for determination of disease severity and chronology.

Provided is a method wherein an affected tissue and a normal tissue obtained from the vicinity of the affected tissue are left at rest in a culture medium, and a disease-specific biomarker is searched for in an exudate therefrom. A biomarker specific to renal cell carcinoma has been found by this method.

A method of detecting epithelial cancer is described that includes the steps of: (a) determining the level of beta defensin 3 (BD-3) and beta defensin 2 (BD-2) in a suspect sample obtained from a subject; (b) comparing the level of BD-3 to BD-2 determined in the suspect sample to obtain a suspect BD-3/BD-2 ratio, (c) comparing the suspect BD-3/BD-2 ratio to a healthy BD-3/BD-2 ratio to obtain a diagnostic BD-3/BD-2 ratio; and (d) characterizing the subject as having epithelial cancer if the diagnostic BD-3/BD-2 ratio is greater than 1. A microfluidic device for detecting epithelial cancer using the diagnostic BD-3/BD-2 ratio is also described.

The invention relates to in vitro methods for testing formulations or active ingredients for preventing the harmful effects of UV on children's skin, in particular children aged three or less. The inventors have developed methods for evaluating the in vitro efficacy of formulations in preventing the harmful effects of UV on the skin of children aged three or less, using a skin model specifically capable of reproducing the characteristics of the skin of children of this age.

A targeted DEFA5 antibody is disclosed herein. The targeted DEFA5 antibody has a high degree of specificity with DEFA5 protein, particularly with peptide sequences of the P, B, and/or M binding sites of the DEFA5 protein. The targeted DEFA5 antibody may be incorporated into an assay for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease in a subject suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. The assay may be provided in a kit. The targeted DEFA5 antibody may be used in a method for measuring the level of DEFA5 or DEFA5 expression in a sample collected from a subject, and determining, based on the level of DEFA5 or DEFA5 expression, whether the subject is suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. A treatment may be based on the determination of whether the subject has ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease.

A method of detecting epithelial cancer is described that includes the steps of: (a) determining the level of beta defensin 3 (BD-3) and beta defensin 2 (BD-2) in a suspect sample obtained from a subject; (b) comparing the level of BD-3 to BD-2 determined in the suspect sample to obtain a suspect BD-3/BD-2 ratio, (c) comparing the suspect BD-3/BD-2 ratio to a healthy BD-3/BD-2 ratio to obtain a diagnostic BD-3/BD-2 ratio; and (d) characterizing the subject as having epithelial cancer if the diagnostic BD-3/BD-2 ratio is greater than 1. A microfluidic device for detecting epithelial cancer using the diagnostic BD-3/BD-2 ratio is also described.

Method of diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease are disclosed herein. Inflammatory bowel disease can be treated and diagnosed using cathelicidin peptides and detection agents thereof. Specifically, method of treating and diagnosing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are disclosed herein.

A targeted DEFA5 antibody is disclosed herein. The targeted DEFA5 antibody has a high degree of specificity with DEFA5 protein, particularly with peptide sequences of the P, B, and/or M binding sites of the DEFA5 protein. The targeted DEFA5 antibody may be incorporated into an assay for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in a subject suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. The assay may be provided in a kit. The targeted DEFA5 antibody may be used in a method for measuring the level of DEFA5 or DEFA5 expression in a sample collected from a subject, and determining, based on the level of DEFA5 or DEFA5 expression, whether the subject is suffering from ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. A treatment may be based on the determination of whether the subject has ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

A method of using alpha defensins as a biomarker to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of ventriculitis. This biomarker can help improve diagnostic accuracy and decrease unwarranted empirical broad spectrum antibiotic use in suspected external ventricular drains (EVD)-associated ventriculitis.