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 a Mitrecin A polypeptide useful in prevention and treatment of one or more bacteria. Also provided is a method to kill or prevent growth of one or more bacteria comprising contacting the one or more bacteria with a Mitrecin A polypeptide. The target bacteria can be selected from the group consisting of a Gram-positive bacterium, a Gram-negative bacterium, or both. In one embodiment, the present invention is drawn to a polynucleotide encoding a Mitrecin A polypeptide, a vector comprising the polynucleotide, a host cell comprising the polynucleotide, or a composition comprising the Mitrecin A polypeptide, the polynucleotide, the vector, or the host cell.

Agents, compositions, methods and kits useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Staphylococcal intramammary infection are disclosed. The agents, compositions, methods and kits are derived from genes expressed during Staphylococcal intramammary infection, and more particularly genes SACOL0442, based on the gene nomenclature from the Staphylococcus aureus COL (SACOL) genome.

Sampling systems that include an absorbent material a preservative, such as an analyte preservative, as well as related materials and methods, are disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing and treating Staphylococcus aureus in a subject. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention comprise leukocidin E and/or D proteins or polypeptides and anti-leukocidin E and/or D antibodies. The invention further relates to methods of identifying inhibitors of LukE/D cytotoxicity and inhibitors of LukE/D-leukocyte binding.

This invention relates to a sensor that detects bacteria cells comprising (a) a primary negatively charged, nanoparticulate sensing material; (b) a secondary positively charged, fluorescent sensing material; (c) a housing; and (d) at least one illuminator; wherein said housing contains said primary negatively charged, nanoparticulate sensing material, said secondary positively charged fluorescent sensing material and a sample potentially comprising bacteria in aqueous medium, wherein said illuminator provides light of at least one pre-specified wavelength .sub.i to excite at least said secondary positively charged, fluorescent material, wherein said secondary positively charged, fluorescent material electrostatically attached to bacteria cells provides at least one fluorescent response at a second different wavelength .sub.n wherein both i and n are integers, wherein said negatively charged, nanoparticulate sensing material electrostatically attached to said fluorescent material suppresses fluorescing of said fluorescent material at said second wavelength .sub.n; and wherein said housing permits illumination of the contents of said housing by said illuminator and wherein said housing further permits the detection of a fluorescent response at a second wavelength .sub.n. The negatively charged material includes (dsDNA coated) spherical AuNPs and graphene oxide (GO). The positively charged fluorescent material includes water soluble cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes (COPE) or positively charged peptide/polymer labeled with fluorescence dye. The sensor makes use of the FRET phenomenon between the primary and secondary sensing materials. The sensor allows making a distinction between living and dead bacteria and can measure the total bacteria count. A method for detecting bacteria utilizing the sensor is another part of the invention.

Agents, compositions, methods and kits useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Staphylococcal intramammary infection are disclosed. The agents, compositions, methods and kits are derived from genes expressed during Staphylococcal intramammary infection, and more particularly genes SACOL0029, based on the gene nomenclature from the Staphylococcus aureus COL (SACOL) genome.

The present disclosure is directed to leukotoxin-binding antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof. The antibodies and fragments can be used, for example, to detect leukotoxin and/or in methods of treating and preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for use in modulating, including inhibiting the growth and/or reducing the virulence of, gram-positive bacteria. The present invention provides methods and compositions for disrupting the cell wall and/or cell membrane in gram-positive bacteria such that cell wall or cell membrane target(s) are rendered exposed or accessible and sensitive to a modulation thereof. Methods for modulation of one or more gram-positive bacterial cell wall or cell membrane targets in a gram-positive bacteria are provided comprising disrupting the cell wall such that the cell wall or cell membrane target, which is particularly a sortase, is rendered exposed or accessible and sensitive to a modifying, modulating or binding agent, which is particularly an antibody or fragment thereof, wherein the cell wall or cell membrane target is inaccessible or relatively insensitive to the modifying, modulating or binding agent in the absence of cell wall disruption.

Sampling systems that include an absorbent material a preservative, such as an analyte preservative, as well as related materials and methods, are disclosed.