In some embodiments, the invention provides A method for detecting or identifying a leaky gut syndrome in a patient, comprising providing a sample of a GI barrier of the patient; analyzing the sample to determine the status of the GI barrier; and categorizing the patient GI barrier status as normal or abnormal, wherein an abnormal GI barrier status identifies the patient as having leaky gut syndrome. In some embodiments, the patient is human.

A probe for measuring the activity of caspase-1 according to the present disclosure can specifically image cells or tissues where inflammatory response is induced because it is cleaved by reacting specifically with the active caspase-1 enzyme in vivo and in vitro and re-emits fluorescence. The probe for measuring the activity of caspase-1 can be used for various purposes, such as for imaging of cells or tissues where inflammatory response is induced, as a drug carrier, for screening of a drug inhibiting inflammatory response, etc.

The probe for measuring the activity of caspase-1 is applicable both in vivo and in vitro, and can be used for various applications such as high-throughput screening for new drug development, early diagnosis of diseases, etc.

Provided are a method of screening an inhibitor of caspase activity by lipopolysaccharide and a method of screening a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases or sepsis using the same. Accordingly, it is possible to develop a caspase-4-specific inhibitor.

Methods and diagnostic compositions for detecting and monitoring meningiomas.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect one or more of Follistatin-related protein 3, Basigin, Cathepsin B, and Tenascin as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker assays in renal injuries.

Disclosed are methods for diagnosing a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a subject. In some embodiments, the method involves assaying a sample from the subject to detect inflammasome activation, wherein an increase in inflammasome activation in the sample compared to a control is an indication of MDS in the subject. The disclosed methods can further involve treating the subject for MDS if an increase in inflammasome activation is detected.

Methods and materials for specific imaging of active enzyme in a live or intact cell are disclosed. The enzyme of interest tagged to reporter protein (donor) is exogenously expressed in a cell. The conversion of proenzyme to active enzyme (containing reporter protein) is achieved upon applying an appropriate stimulus to the target cells. The activated enzyme is labelled with an activity-based probe carrying a fluorophore (acceptor). The covalent labelling of active enzyme by the activity-based probe creates a FRET pair which provides the opportunity to exquisitely image the function of an active enzyme. This method is used for specific imaging of the function of active caspase-3,-7,-8,-9 and cathepsin-B and also for profiling of inhibitors of caspases and cathepsin B.

Herein is reported a method for determining the binding interaction with a multimeric antigen of an antibody of the human IgG1 subclass that has at least two binding sites specifically binding to the antigen comprising the steps of 1) determining the binding affinity of the antibody for the multimeric antigen, and 2) incubating a mixture comprising the antibody and a polypeptide that is derived from lysine-gingipain of Porphyromonas gingivalis under conditions and for a time sufficient to cleave the antibody into Fabs and Fc-region, and determining the binding affinity of the Fabs of the antibody for the multimeric, whereby the binding affinity of the antibody to the multimeric antigen to be affinity-driven if the binding affinity determined in both steps are comparable and to be avidity-driven if the binding affinity determined in both steps are different.

Provided herein are compounds, enzyme substrates, compositions, kits, uses, and methods for detecting the presence or absence of a caspase enzyme, measuring the activity of a caspase enzyme, or detecting the presence or absence of apoptosis. The detection or measurement can occur through intracellular cleavage of a compound or enzyme substrate, which can lead to an increase in fluorescence, e.g., in the violet or red channel, through liberation of a nucleic acid binding dye from a peptide, such as liberation of a DNA-binding dye from a negatively charged peptide comprising a sequence recognized and cleaved by a caspase

The present disclosure features a condensation reaction and a luciferin-unmasking reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. In general, the condensation reaction involves reacting a bicyclic reactant with an aminothiol derivative, generating a luciferin or luciferin derivative. A luciferin can provide detectable luminescence. A luciferin derivative can be unmasked to provide detectable luminescence in a luciferin-unmasking reaction. The present disclosure provides bicyclic reactants and aminothiol derivatives suitable for use in the condensation reaction. The condensation and luciferin-unmasking reactions find use in a variety of applications, which are also provided.