The purpose of the present invention is to: provide an agent that effectively suppresses inhibition of antigen-antibody reaction in an immunoassay using a sample containing a body fluid, in particular, a component derived from a biological mucosal membrane, such as saliva; and to suppress false positive and false negative results in the immunoassay. The present invention provides an agent for suppressing inhibition of immune reaction, characterized in that the agent comprises a compound of the following (1) or (2): (1) Sulfonic acid compound of the formula R.sup.1SO.sub.3H or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group; a straight-chain C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group substituted with an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group; and an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group.); and (2) Quaternary ammonium ion of the formula N.sup.+R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R.sup.2-R.sup.5 are each independently a straight-chain C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group, or an aryl group substituted with at least one straight-chain C.sub.5-C.sub.30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group.); wherein the agent is capable of suppressing immune reaction inhibitory action caused by a body fluid in an immunoassay sample.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved method for screening of asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects with Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis with related risks and/or disturbed gastric function based on whole blood samples, sample collection time and sample storage temperature, as well as relevant biomarker content analysis.

There is provided novel peptides for use in diagnosis of CagA+ H. pylori infection or the prediction of risk for gastric cancer. The peptides bind antibodies from CagA+ H. pylori patients with high specificity and sensitivity, and can be used for example in a diagnostic kit.

Described herein are methods and systems for detecting and/or distinguishing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease. The methods and systems can utilize the detection of anti-CdtB antibodies and/or anti-vinculin antibodies to detect IBS, distinguish IBS from IBD and/or celiac disease. Further described are methods for selecting a therapy to treat IBS, IBD or celiac disease.

An in vitro method enables determination of the antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylorifor in a biological sample isolated from an individual. The method includes amplifying at least one portion of at least one gene of Helicobacter pylori. The at least one gene includes at least one mutation site responsible for resistance to an antibiotic. A kit can be used for performing the method.

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for the identification of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms in food and environmental samples. The disclosure solves existing challenges encountered in identifying food borne pathogens, including pathogens of the Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Escherichia genera in a timely and efficient manner. The disclosure also provides methods for differentiating a transient versus a resident pathogen, correlating presence of non-pathogenic with pathogenic microorganisms, distinguishing live versus dead microorganisms by sequencing.

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for the identification of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms in food and environmental samples. The disclosure solves existing challenges encountered in identifying food borne pathogens, including pathogens of the Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Escherichia genera in a timely and efficient manner. The disclosure also provides methods for differentiating a transient versus a resident pathogen, correlating presence of non-pathogenic with pathogenic microorganisms, distinguishing live versus dead microorganisms by sequencing.

The present invention refers to the in vitro use of a microfluidic kit or device comprising a support or substrate, wherein said support or substrate comprises at least one channel in the substrate, the channel comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a flow-path connecting the inlet and outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet together define a midplane; and a portion of the flowpath travels transversely across the midplane, wherein the portion of the flowpath that travels transversely across the midplane includes a recognition site or sensing area for detecting a target analyte; for detecting an analyte as a result of the heat generated by metal nanoparticles when they are irradiated with an external light source.

A microorganism identification method includes steps of: obtaining a mass spectrum through mass spectrometry of a sample including microorganisms; reading, from the mass spectrum, a mass-to-charge ratio m/z of a peak associated with a marker protein; and identifying which bacterial species of the genus Campylobacter are included in the microorganisms in the sample based on the mass-to-charge ratio m/z. The microorganism identification method is further characterized in that at least one of the following 18 marker proteins is used as the marker protein, S10, L23, S19, L22, L16, L29, S17, L14, L24, S14, L18, L15, L36, S13, S11 (Me), L32, and L7/L12.

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for the identification of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms in food and environmental samples. The disclosure solves existing challenges encountered in identifying food borne pathogens, including pathogens of the Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Escherichia genera in a timely and efficient manner. The disclosure also provides methods for differentiating a transient versus a resident pathogen, correlating presence of non-pathogenic with pathogenic microorganisms, distinguishing live versus dead microorganisms by sequencing.