The present invention refers to the use of gene sequences or portions thereof characterized in that the same belong to the classes of in vitro and ex vivo induced, repressed or conserved genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis currently infected human macrophages and to corresponding peptides or consensus peptides or proteins for the preparation of specific bio-markers for the diagnosis and prevention of active or latent disease.

The present invention broadly provides different compositions, kits, vectors, and methods including monoclonal antibodies directed to epitopes found within lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannoside 6 (PIM6) for the diagnosis and treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.

Compositions and methods for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection in a patient suspected of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for distinguishing between active and latent tuberculosis infection are provided. The methods may also be used to monitor progression of MTB infection or to monitor treatment of MTB infected patients. Changes in the expression level of genes are used to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of tuberculosis.

The disclosure provides methods, compositions, and kits for enhanced detection of microbes in samples and monitoring of antimicrobial activity in a subject.

The methods of the present invention exploit unique biochemical pathways present within infectious organisms to develop small molecule metabolic tracers. Labeled substrates created using these inventive methods were created. The labeled substrates can be used to determine whether a subject is infected with an infectious organism by imaging means, and with use of two or more such labeled substrates, methods of differentiating gram negative infection from gram positive infection, and methods of localizing and quantifying infectious disease burden are provided. The methods of the present invention can assist in the clinical decision to begin empiric antibiotic therapy, determine its efficacy, as well as the choice of antibacterial agents.

A method of diagnosing or monitoring Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, which method comprises detecting the presence of the polypeptide (MAP P900) encoded by the positive strand of IS900, or a fragment thereof, in a sample from a subject, wherein MAP P900, or a fragment thereof, is detected using an antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, that binds to MAP P900.

Disclosed is a nitrocellulose sheet having immobilized antibodies and lipid based antigens. Also disclosed is a kit including the nitrocellulose sheet. and a method using the sheet for detection of antibodies indicative of an infection.

The present invention is directed to antibacterial compositions and methods of use thereof, such as in the treatment of infectious diseases. Additionally, provided herein a method of screening molecules for identifying potential biologically active compounds.

The present disclosure is generally directed to methods and systems for the rapid detection of mycobacteria in samples using lectin-conjugated silica coated magnetic nanoparticles (SMNPs). In this work, carbohydrates on the cell wall of the mycobacteria serve as binding sites for lectins conjugated on the surface of lectin-conjugated SMNPs. As the target species of mycobacteria bind to lectin-conjugated SMNPs, a precipitate forms, which can be magnetically separated from the bulk test solution to visually indicate the presence of the target species of mycobacteria. The present disclosure is utilized as an inexpensive and rapid point of care system in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the methods and systems are integrated into a lateral flow assay for rapid detection of the target species of mycobacteria. In yet another embodiment, the methods and systems are utilized to create a microfluidic detection device with increased sensitivity to mycobacteria in a sample.

Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a housing including an internal area, a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position in a light tight manner within the internal area of the housing, a light source configured to project light onto the fluid sample within the container, and an optical sensor configured to move between different sensor positions while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the different sensor positions including at least two of: (i) a first sensor position for taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample; (ii) a second sensor position for taking a dark current or other background measurement; and (iii) a third sensor position for taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample.